The Unexpected Turns of Life
On Monday afternoon, we picked our daughter, Ashley, up from the airport. She and Callan have been rotating trips out to California to care for my bedridden grandmother in California since last May and it was Ashley’s turn to come home. This time, however, Callan was not traveling to California. We were all going to be home in Texas together for a week so we could attend the SAICFF and SAICFA together.
The plan was for me to go to California on Sunday and take care of my grandmother for a couple of weeks and then we would start the rotation of girls again.
But, yesterday, our plans took a turn we didn’t expect. My dad called to tell me that they were going to put my grandmother in a home care facility. She will still be living in a home with a few other elders in need of care, but she will not be living in her own home any longer.
There are two sides to every coin. It is sad for me that my grandmother will not be able to die in her own home, when the Lord gives her her last breath.
It is sad for me that her family won’t be the ones caring for her in her last days. Though it has required some sacrifice and not always been easy, it has been, none-the-less, a blessing to care for my grandmother. It is sad for me to see this care end.
God has used this opportunity to grow both Ashley and Callan in their patience, their understanding, their ability to serve others rather than self. They have had the opportunity to check in on the 100 year old lady who lives alone across the street. They have had the opportunity to spend time with family members in California as well.
Callan has had the opportunity to do much studying. Both of the girls have done a lot of sewing. Studying and sewing are two things that are hard to do here with so little space and so much else to do.
But, on the other hand, it will be a good time of reunion to have our entire family living and working together again. It appears as if the Lord is reuniting us at the beginning of the year 2009.
This will require some adjustment for us. One of the four bunks in the girls’ end of the trailer has been vacated, for sleeping purposes, for the past 8 months. That space quickly became the desk/table/catch all for the many items that just cannot find a good home in our limited living space. Where did it come from, you ask? I have no clue! But, we’ve now got to find some place for these treasures.
Some of these treasures are the musical instruments we’ve acquired in the past year. Three violins and a harp, now need a designated safe place in our home that does not occupy sleeping space. Or else, one more girl needs to start sleeping on the floor of the “living area” of the 5th wheel along with the two little boys and one little girl.
Other items are school books, Bibles, books, stationary, pens, pencils, clothing, and just daily essentials. We will have to take a good look at what is occupying this valuable sleeping space and see what we can do to accommodate one more adult in our small space again.
Having both older girls home will allow us to get more accomplished on the homestead and in our business(es). That is good. We have many homestead projects and little time to get them done. So, we will have more personnel flexibility with everyone home. We also have some business ideas that the girls can be working on as well. We definitely need to get some income producing businesses off the ground here quickly.
Another silver lining is that we do not have to head out to California at o’dark’30 this Sunday morning to get there by Monday so I can care for my grandmother. This gives the opportunity to get some bids out and try to get some work flowing for January. It also gives us the opportunity to go pick up our cow sooner rather than later and get her acclimated to her new home and family.
Some of us will still be going to California, Lord willing. It will just be later rather than sooner. We’re just not sure how much later.
So, once more, we have the opportunity to attest to these truths:
Proverb 27:1
Boast not thyself of tomorrow;
for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
Melissa said:
Isn’t it amazing how God changes our course mid-stride. We deal constantly with this. I hope your grandmother adjusts quickly and easily to her new home and that the adjustments for your family go smoothly also.