Up-Close-and-Personal

She came yesterday afternoon.  She looked kindly at my clutter and dust and agreed to come next Tuesday (and every two weeks) to clean our house.  Well, the downstairs anyway.  I can't bring myself to expose the upstairs situation to ANYone just yet.  I will ease into it.  I'm determined.

It's a new season of life for me.  One I didn't anticipate as a child, teen, young adult, busy parent or empty-nester.  One I choose with great pleasure and enthusiasm.  There is no way to actually  imagine all the implications of this choice, but my confidence and anticipation is strengthened by the complete support and involvement of my husband.

One week from today, my father will move into our home.  He will have his own room in which to retreat, but we are hopeful he will feel at home in our kitchen and living room as well.  Multiple details have been addressed to make his transition (and ours) as seamless as possible.  It will be interesting to see what we overlooked!

I am thankful that he accepted our invitation and will not be spending the long, dark and cold winter nights alone.  I'm thankful for the privilege of "doing" family up-close-and-personal.  I'm thankful for the growth and challenges that have ALREADY come and are STILL to come with this new adventure.

Oh, and I'm thankful to have a house-cleaner!

11 comments:

  1. God's richest blessings on you dear Rebecca and on your husband and father also. Good times are ahead for the three of you.

    Love, hugs & prayers ~ FlowerLady

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  2. I think we need to look at every stage of our lives and evaluate what the needs are at that time! Good for you for doing what you need to do. Glad your father will be with you soon!

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    1. I agree (about looking at every stage of our lives). As much as possible, I like to think ahead a bit, too - though it's impossible to anticipate all that comes with the future and aging, etc.

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  3. Sunday
    My heart is heavy as I go back through and read blogposts that I have not read.
    My sincerest sympathies on the passing of your sweet Mother in August. I'm sorry that I didn't keep up with blogging as I should, or I would have known sooner than tonight. I cried when I read of her passing. Such a heart-wrenching yet touching photo of your Daddy at her bedside. Made me cry.
    You loved and cared for her with devotion.
    As you prepare to have your Daddy come and live with you and your husband, my eyes fill with grateful tears for you both.
    You are a wonderful daughter, and I know your Mother smiles down from Heaven as she sees you making preparations and opening your home to your Daddy. May his transition to a new place for him be a smooth one. May you be eternally blessed as you bless the twilight years of his life. Give him a gentle hug from me. I know that he misses his wife dearly.
    Life comes full circle. God take care of all of you.
    Again, I want to extend my deepest sympathies to you on the passing of your Mother. She rests in the arms of Jesus, and we will rejoice with her at His feet one day.
    Love to you, my friend,
    Jackie

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    1. Oh, I hope you see this response! (Meanwhile, I'll try to find your mailing address and send you a note.) I've kept busy downsizing within our house as we cleaned out one room, remodeling it for Dad. While the construction work is done, the sorting out continues :) AND I just brought over a carload from his house yesterday - food and cleaning supplies to incorporate into our house. Oh, my. Thank you for your kind words. Hearing from you makes me wonder about YOUR mother and father also.

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    2. Mama celebrated her 85th birthday, and Daddy turned 90 this summer.
      Mama is a tiny little thing....itty bitty...weighs 94 pounds, but she is an amazing lady. She has made liars out of several doctors who told her she was going to die and for her to get her things in order. One physician even wanted Hospice to be called in for her. We didn't do that. We took care of her...and that was over 3 years ago. She has a will to live....and live productively. She is amazing. She still cooks all their meals and does the laundry. She truly has a will to be here, and is doing splendidly. She has congestive heart failure, but she completely follows the diet given to her from her nephrologist. Daddy was mowing his pecan orchard on his tractor on Saturday. One of his favorite sayings about himself and Mama being active at their age : " You can't keep a squirrel on the ground."
      Thank you for asking about them, Rebecca.

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    3. God bless them BOTH (and you, too)! I love the squirrel on the ground quote! Never heard it before...

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  4. God bless you in this new season! And yay for for help with the cleaning!

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    1. Thanks, Elizabeth! And I KNOW - about the cleaning :)

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  5. I love how you live in the PRESENT. God has truly brought my 2016 words to mind during this "season" of our lives. Help with cleaning....zippity-do-dah!!! So glad you are getting help!

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Writing a Song a Week #3

Writing a Song a Week #3
♪ I wait for the Lord; my soul waits and in his word I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning ♪ (Psalm 130:5-6)