For some odd reason, this morning I was hit with the idea of reading a blog I used to visit. The woman who writes there had a stroke suddenly a few years ago. Healthy, athletic, totally out of the blue for her to get ill in this way. Well, she's written sporadically since her stroke, and frankly, I'd quit reading her. No reason, but busyness on my part. This morning I got updated on her life and was so shocked. She's now living with her folks, and her husband and their children live in another city. She's not seen her children in almost a year. So sad. I don't know the details, and don't need to know, but it renewed my hatred for strokes. They're so devastating, and the destruction is all-encompassing. One of the results of my mom's stoke is her altered personality. It's often like nobody's at home. A blankness which makes me sad and angry at the same time, but it's the reality. To see my mom's puzzled expression infuriates me and that's the hard part. It's true and not something I can change. I think my anger is directed at the loss. My mom's physical self is present, but the nugget of her own self is gone for good.
Have to remember this is somebody's else life, both the blogger and my mom. Mine is full enough.
Saw secretly married son today. His birthday was last week, but this is the first time we'd seen him in a few weeks. He looked great, was tired, but we had a sweet visit. And talked to freshly gone son, Jacob, and he's having a wonderful time. Says it's hard to get used to nice folks. His job at the restaurant here was so stressful, and the language and all was a drain. Lots of profanity in a restaurant kitchen---the norm for most of them. A hard work environment. Well, where he is now, it's the opposite. Not to say it won't get stressful when the place opens for the summer, but he says it appears that folks care. A new situation for him. Plus the inner-city church he went to here was long on need and short on giving to the involved members. Jacob has a servant's heart, so was taken advantage of continually. So glad he's left that for this new job.
Now then. Tomorrow is a home day. Today was busy with going to Intercessory Prayer and then Bible Study tonight. Neat thing---Gary really got into this class (it ended tonight), being one of the main folks who pipes up and comments. He's getting over his angst with Anglicans and has grown accustomed to the rituals. He's not keen, but is okay with it. For that I'm deeply thankful. In time God has answered that prayer. I didn't see that coming.
Chickens tomorrow, white bean soup for dinner, maybe some dinner rolls and cornbread. A quiet day without added things to do. Sounds amazing.
