Grandpa Morgan quoted this in the hospital on Friday, March 23rd while holding Grandma's hand as she peacefully slipped away from us towards her home in glory. That morning he told us all how much they loved all of us, and how he wasn't always able to express that, but it's exactly how he felt.
It's kind of hard to believe she is gone, as it's been so quick. A couple weeks ago, she ended up in the hospital because she was so weak. Now, just shy of two weeks later, she is dancing with Jesus.
We got the official word from Dad and Mom on Tuesday that she had Leukemia. She was taken to the hospital by ambulance on Tuesday and we stopped in on Wednesday evening before Awana. She was completely coherent and asked Kayla all about her concert the night before. She commented on how pretty Audrey's braids were. She told us the story about how she had all these "suitors" but how she chose Grandpa. She told us that it's ok to cry, and that we need to talk about it after she's gone. She told us she wasn't crying for her, because she knew where she as going, but she was crying for us.
A big change happened started happening on Thursday. She started slipping further and further away from us and closer to her eternal home. When I left Thursday afternoon, I told her "I love you Grandma." She said "I love you" back to me. The last words she spoke. By that evening, Bridgett, Shelby, Aunt Cindy and I stayed with her. It was heartbreaking to hold her hand and watch her writhe in pain. She was reacting to some Benadryl. Just as they were about to give her something else to try and reverse the medicine, she shook her finger at us. It was like she was saying "don't give me more medicine!" It was a tender moment. From the time they gave her that, she settled down and started sleeping peacefully.
By the next morning, there was a big change. We all knew the end was in sight. By early afternoon, her breathing actually changed and became more regular. Around 2:30, she took about five breaths through her nose, and then she opened her eyes. She opened her eyes to see Jesus take her home. It was surreal to watch. I ran out of the room to get Grandpa and Dad and when they came in, Grandpa just collapsed. Dad reminded him she was not here any longer, and in no more pain. Grandpa responded with "I know, but it's still so hard." It was such a few tender moments between them. The weight of the world on their shoulders. The reality of a future here on earth without a wife, without a mother.
We surrounded each other with love and dad prayed and we sang "It is Well."
I have experienced this twice now, but it is amazing to me how quickly our body becomes a shell. The color and breath of life leaves our earthly temple and you know there is nothing left there but the earthly shell. It makes letting them go that much easier, because we know "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Spirit."
Some of my most precious memories of her:
Picking buttercups around their housgrounds
Spending the night and eating Grandma's yummy food and Grandpa making us strawberry floats
Jesus' birthday cake at Christmas dinner
Her humming the song placed in her heart. ALL the time!
Their trip to Boise to come watch my choirs perform
Taking our girls out to trick or treat to them
Going out to their farm to pick raspberries
The sweet pickles she used to make
Her loving, giving Spirit to all she served
Her coming with Grandpa to visit Kayla in the hospital when she was born
Her love for babies and great-grandchildren
Her ability to really communicate with children by getting down at their level and talking with them, not to them.
We rejoice because she is no longer in pain, but we are sad because of the Wife, Mother, Grandma, Grandma-Great hole she leaves in all of us. Thank you for your constant prayers, endless songs and sacrificial love to all of us!
A big change happened started happening on Thursday. She started slipping further and further away from us and closer to her eternal home. When I left Thursday afternoon, I told her "I love you Grandma." She said "I love you" back to me. The last words she spoke. By that evening, Bridgett, Shelby, Aunt Cindy and I stayed with her. It was heartbreaking to hold her hand and watch her writhe in pain. She was reacting to some Benadryl. Just as they were about to give her something else to try and reverse the medicine, she shook her finger at us. It was like she was saying "don't give me more medicine!" It was a tender moment. From the time they gave her that, she settled down and started sleeping peacefully.
By the next morning, there was a big change. We all knew the end was in sight. By early afternoon, her breathing actually changed and became more regular. Around 2:30, she took about five breaths through her nose, and then she opened her eyes. She opened her eyes to see Jesus take her home. It was surreal to watch. I ran out of the room to get Grandpa and Dad and when they came in, Grandpa just collapsed. Dad reminded him she was not here any longer, and in no more pain. Grandpa responded with "I know, but it's still so hard." It was such a few tender moments between them. The weight of the world on their shoulders. The reality of a future here on earth without a wife, without a mother.
We surrounded each other with love and dad prayed and we sang "It is Well."
I have experienced this twice now, but it is amazing to me how quickly our body becomes a shell. The color and breath of life leaves our earthly temple and you know there is nothing left there but the earthly shell. It makes letting them go that much easier, because we know "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Spirit."
Some of my most precious memories of her:
Picking buttercups around their housgrounds
Spending the night and eating Grandma's yummy food and Grandpa making us strawberry floats
Jesus' birthday cake at Christmas dinner
Her humming the song placed in her heart. ALL the time!
Their trip to Boise to come watch my choirs perform
Taking our girls out to trick or treat to them
Going out to their farm to pick raspberries
The sweet pickles she used to make
Her loving, giving Spirit to all she served
Her coming with Grandpa to visit Kayla in the hospital when she was born
Her love for babies and great-grandchildren
Her ability to really communicate with children by getting down at their level and talking with them, not to them.
We rejoice because she is no longer in pain, but we are sad because of the Wife, Mother, Grandma, Grandma-Great hole she leaves in all of us. Thank you for your constant prayers, endless songs and sacrificial love to all of us!
No comments:
Post a Comment