Thank you for praying for our family during the last few months of traveling, separation, and preparing the house in Gorham for sale! It has been challenging, and we couldn't have done it without your prayers and help. God gave wisdom and strength when needed. The house is 99% cleaned out, and family & friends have graciously agreed to get the rest.

The children and I spent several hours with Mom & Dad on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. We talked about the important things--realtor info, and how Heaven is our real home.

We flew home to FL on Wednesday evening. Evan & Regan sat in the last row of the plane, and Danielle and I sat in front of them. My seatmate, Bill, was a terminally ill alcoholic, thirsty to hear about God. Danielle and I read Scripture aloud to him for at least a half-hour, so the people in front of us heard it too!! :-) When we stopped he asked for more. He drank continuously throughout the flight, and by the end was quite fuzzy--he was sure that I was an angel. But he asked me to contact him with info on a good church in Daytona, where he would be visiting his daughter. Please pray for Bill.

My dad is battling cellulitis in his leg, requiring daily trips to the hospital for IV antibiotics. Mom feels she has to go with him, so she has missed many of her own appointments this week. It also means someone has to drive them. Dad is irritable about the whole thing, which is hard for Mom to deal with. So they need prayer too.

Chris and Lois are planning to be back in New England in August, and visit us in Florida in September!

Cleaning out

The last few weeks, the cleaning-out process of Mom & Dad's house in Gorham has progressed steadily. My husband Jack and our children arrived on June 9 and Jack has been a great help. He is much better than I at staying focused on the task at hand and not getting distracted by reading all the fascinating things we find. :-)

Frankly, the situation is a strain on all of us. We would really appreciate your prayers. We are trying to spot items that Mom & Dad might want, particularly photos, and give those to them. However the sheer volume is staggering . . . boxes and boxes and boxes of photos. We have tried to sift through and take the "good" ones. This has not been satisfactory, as Mom wanted all those double prints and multiple similar photos to give to other people. (sigh) The problem is that their apt. simply does not have the space.

Mom has asked about other items as well, and it is hard to say, "Sorry Mom, that's gone." It is hard on her, because she feels that her home and possessions have been snatched away without her consent.

Tomorrow Jack and I and the children are going to Maine for Father's Day weekend. We will stay at Aunt Jane & Uncle Danny's farm Saturday night. Plans include a baby shower for my cousin's wife, eating out with Mom & Dad, and of course going to church with Mom on Sunday. Dad still hasn't gotten out to church.

Thanks so much for caring about our family! God is good. We need Him.

Happy 40th Anniversary, Mom & Dad

We have been increasingly concerned about Dad, as he has seemed more frail in the last couple of weeks. Yesterday he didn’t even feel up to getting washed and dressed.

But today was better!! Mom and Dad had a lovely 40th wedding anniversary today, thanks to our dear friends George and Kathy Melvin. George and Kathy drove to West Paris ME this morning, as I was driving there from NH, and we all went to church with Mom.

After church we returned to Mom & Dad’s apartment and picked up Dad, and then George and Kathy took us to Portland! They had made reservations at DeMillo’s floating restaurant, and we had a table with a beautiful view of the harbor. As Dad watched the ships coming and going, he became more interested and alert than he has been in quite awhile. And Mom enjoyed it immensely as well. She has always loved the ocean.

After leaving the restaurant, we poked around Portland. We watched a crane unloading a barge, saw fishermen tending their nets, and stopped at the Portland Head lighthouse before heading back to West Paris.

It was a great day. We have much to be thankful for!

Settling In

Mom and Dad are continuing to adjust to their new home. It has been a busy month with a number of doctor appointments in different places. We so appreciate those who have provided transportation for them.

Dad has been battling cellulitis in his legs, along with the pain caused by his spinal stenosis. He had a steroid shot in hopes of some relief, but unfortunately it did not help.

Mom saw a neurologist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock who believes that reducing her anti-seizure med dosage will relieve her lightheadedness and short-term memory loss. He said he would recommend that change to her PCP.

Mom is back online, which is very exciting for her. Her new e-mail address is maryjaneames(insert "at" sign)oxfordnetworks.net, and she is also on Facebook. Unfortunately she lost her e-mail address book, so she would love to hear from everyone so that she can have your address again.

I am flying North a week from tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing Mom and Dad (and Josey) in their nice new apartment. I'll be cleaning out the house in Gorham to prepare it to sell. Jack's parents are coming to Florida to help Jack with the kids while I'm gone. We all need and appreciate your prayers!

April 13 - In Their New Home

Thanks so much for praying for our family, as Mom and Dad transition from their home of 40 years in Gorham NH, to Ledgeview Living Center in West Paris ME.

Official "Moving Day" was Saturday, April 11--the day before Easter. We are so grateful to Mom's sisters, Rebecca, Betty, and Jane, for the incredible amount of work they have invested into getting Mom and Dad moved. They helped to convince, they helped to direct, they helped to prepare, they helped to pack, they helped to transport (including Josey the cat), and now they are helping to unpack.

Other friends and relatives helped on Saturday too--thank you to each one of you.

Mom was able to celebrate Easter at West Paris Baptist Church, where she and Dad met and were married! (Dad didn't feel up to going.) Now that will be their home church once again. Chris and Lois drove up from Virginia to spend Easter, and this week following, with them. Chris set up Mom's computer, and Lois will be able to take care of a few things that need doing at the house in Gorham also.

I have a ticket to NH on May 14 (thanks to Tim, a frequent flyer friend!!). I am looking forward to seeing Mom and Dad's new place!! I'll be staying in Gorham, cleaning out the house and preparing it for sale. Jack and the kids plan to come up mid-June. Jack will stay a couple weeks and then return to FL. The kids will stay with me if my job isn't finished. I'm hoping it will be.

Mom is anxious about finding new doctors. She and Dad have a number of appointments in Berlin and at Dartmouth-Hitchcock in the next month. Transportation is a bigger issue now, with the longer distances, so they really need to transition to providers who are closer to their new home. We are grateful to those who are helping to drive them--THANK YOU!!

Most of all, we are thankful to God Who has brought us this far and will not abandon us.

April 1, 2009 - Mom's home

Mom was released from the hospital yesterday afternoon, after a stress test showed no problem with her heart. I asked her, "So, how are we going to keep you from overdoing after you get home?" She laughed a little bit.

We are thankful for everyone who has offered to help Mom & Dad with their packing. We think it will work best if the efforts are coordinated so that a maximum of two people are helping at a time. That way it will be more low-key and manageable for Mom to give direction.

The exception of course will be Moving Day, April 11, when many hands will make light work!! We would really appreciate anyone who would be available that day.

Jack and I are working on planning our travel up there. Nothing is final yet but looks like I will go May 14, and Jack and the kids in early June. Jack is planning to stay two weeks, and the children and I may stay several weeks longer if necessary until the house is cleaned out.

Lois and Chris and their family will be there the month of June as well.

Thanks so much for your concern and prayers. They are a blessing and a great help!!!

Monday, March 30, 2009

My mom was taken to the hospital with chest pains again this afternoon. Her EKG looks normal and Dr. thinks it is stress-related. That is certainly understandable, since she is very anxious about their upcoming move to assisted living, and she is driving herself and working extremely hard.

I suggested she make lists of things she knew she would want, but I BEGGED her not to look in bags or boxes that she couldn't remember the contents. . . because that is all stuff she doesn't need, but once she had seen it she would want to keep it. And she won't have room for it in the new apartment.

Unfortunately, what I feared is exactly what is happening. And it has put her in the hospital.

Thankfully, she should be able to go home tomorrow, and we will keep trying to convince her to take it easy.

Thank you as always for your prayers. Jack and I are talking about when I'll be able to go to NH . . . It looks like early- to mid-May.