Christian Photographers Community

Hi, friends,

It's a pretty day here in Nashville.

Yes, Larry, the shootings was the first such incident in Nashville's history. Based on the strange comments in the shooter's Facebook account, he must have been having some emotional or mental issues. It truly is a blessing to hear of gatherings in churches and schools to pray for the victims. Prayers help.

Y'all have a good rest of the day.

Ruth Ann

HONEY, I'm home!!!!   
We arrived about six last evening, and I started immediately on the laundry, so this morning when I got up at 5, it wasn't long until I had it all done!

Next on my agenda was visiting Beth.  She was still in bed, but awake, happy to see me, gave me a big smile!  I stood by her bed for a long time, talking to her and showing her photos on my phone from the trip; until the girls came in to get her up.  They called another nurse in to do a skin assessment, as she has places very near to becoming sores, also several neurofibromas that have broken open and are bleeding.  Sigh....  Before  they finished, there were five ladies in the room:  two RNs, the one who checks her skin, and two CNAs.  Bless them; they do take good care of Beth.

Beth is still weak, and so painfully thin!  It hurts to see her like this.  She will be assessed for Hospice this week.  Still has the C-diff, not a good thing at all, so still is in isolation.  John wasn't there, but I saw his car there as I was leaving, just didn't see him.

We did have a good time, and I was in daily contact with the nursing home as to Beth's condition.The Ark Encounter is amazing!  It is so well done, so biblically correct, very educational, encouraging,
and a wonderful testimony of the love of God.  I highly recommend it.  And, since you have been talking about googling things, google The Ark Encounter.  There are some great videos of it on line.

Of course I have a lot of things to do, playing 'catch up" so I'd best be about doing some of them!
Thanks for thinking of us and Beth, and for your prayers, the best gift anyone can give--or get!

Janet...
...WELCOME HOME...

Oh, not again, just touching 8.05 and the road drillers have already started up, outside our home again, wouldn't have been so bad if our site manager had notified us that this work was soon taking place and apologising for the noise in advance, but we had no previous notification...think we are into our third week...As my late father often would say...." there's no peace for the wicked..."

Now dont you all agree? isn't it nice of Richard to TELL me the road outside is wide enough for me to walk..( wish I could show you a photo of the rubble dug up, and now the large wide pipe - tube, running alongside of it, and its machinery... ) he is able bodied and he believes, if its ok for him, it is ok for me with my Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis...not forgetting manoeuvring my  4 wheeled rollator...until the day he walks in my shoes...
Oh for the last week or two he has been tinkering around doing some outside gardening but, when I mentioned yesterday if he has cleared back the shrubs from the path I have to lift my rollator to get over, without killing and squashing them, some are squashed already...he said NO... thought that would have been his number one priority....my safety...

Hi everyone.  We are headed back into the low 90's for today. Our Senior Adult Monthly luncheons resume today after the summer break.  Our speaker today is a lady involved with the rescue dogs and I understand we will be having several of those dogs also in attendance.  If the menu is the same as we had last year we will be having soup and a sandwich for our lunch.  I can't remember whether there is a dessert served or not but we can always have an apple or banana to take home.  That is all that is on the schedule for today.

Jackie, I liked your laughter piece as it is good advice.  Unfortunately most of us fail to head such wisdom and perhaps forget to put the lid on the box and sit on it and laugh. I hope they get the road work finished soon and your peace and quiet restored.  It sounds like trying to walk on the roadway would be very dangerous for you.   

Ruth Ann, I saw on the news that the young man had attended that Church.  We never know what goes on in the mind of someone. I hope you will have a good day today.

Janet, glad to see you are back safely from your trip and it sound like you immediately started working again. I am sure Beth was happy to see you. I sure hope she doesn't develop bed sores as she certainly doesn't need anything else to add to her discomfort.   

Larry Hanna...
...there have been, there still are two types of driven machinery, one a digger the other a Caterpillar type machine, one of the machines sat right across the end of my driveway, blocking my way if I was to venture out my front...but hey ho, Richard would be able to maneuver it...

I doubt he has even made them aware there is a disabled lady stuck inside this home...Oh I can go out the backway, if I could maneuver those 7 or 8 concrete steps carrying my rollator up them, only problem would be, where do I go from there, from the car parking bay...only to the car...Photo...

Janet:  Glad you are home safely and Beth has been cared for - so glad it all worked out for you to get away.  I'll check out your site on the ark exhibit. 

Ruth Ann:  It is such a shock to the community and especially the church members to have such a tragedy.  I remember a pastor's son damaging the interior of his own church and no one could understand that either. 

Tonight, Don has cribbage pals over while I just walk down the street to my quilting group this time.  It is easy for the guys like to nibble on nuts, and so forth so there is no baking.  We gals have ice cream and fruit or something baked.  More calories for us. 

How quickly things can change!  I know all of you have experienced this.
When I left the care home after second visit yesterday, Beth seemed pretty good; one hour later the RN called and said I probably should come back!  Beth was groaning, her legs were very cold, and her color bad.  I went; and stayed with her for five hours, stroking her brow, singing to her, praying for her,
and reading to her.  John left around 8:30, but I stayed until 10:30, when she finally settled down,
stopped groaning and was ready to go to sleep.  I asked her if she wanted me to stay the night, she said no, I asked if it was all right for me to go home, she said yes.

Today the hospice nurse came, and we had all that paperwork to do, then she assessed Beth.  Knowing they deal with people all the time who are nearing the end of their journey, I asked what her best guesstimate would be for Beth, because the planned trip to visit Mark is coming up in a week.  She advised us not to go, to postpone that, if possible.

I am heartbroken, crying many tears, and yet knowing that my precious daughter, who has suffered so much in life will soon be set free!  I cannot wish her to remain and endure more.  Much better she be set free to run on those streets of gold, and anyway, I will be joining her in just a blink of time!

Prayers for strength appreciated.  And please pray for John.  He is not accepting the reality of the situation at all.

I will try to keep you posted.  Love to you all.

Janet...
...sadly the danger in asking that question is hearing the answer...sending a group hug, with God standing right there in the centre...

Janet, I'm sure you know that Beth has been in my prayers over the years sence we "met", along with you and the family. 

Since I've been unable to get to church the last couple of years I've been sending Sunday mornings with several of the great preachers God has provided on TV.  This past Sunday, in the middle of one of those preachers I suddenly felt a heavy burden for Beth.  It brought me as close to my knees as I can get these days. 

Then you came home and let us know how well she seemed to be doing.  I want you to know  I have continued to feel that burden and I have been saying special prayers at various extra odd times during the days and wakeful spells at night.   Asking for peace and comfort for Beth and for the Lord's peace and His strength for you.

May God bless you all. 

Oh, dear Janet....

I'm so very saddened to know how sad you must be.  Please know that you'll be in my prayers during this very sad time.

Please look after yourself.

Love to both you and Darrel and also to John

Janet, I will continue to bombard heaven with my prayers for Beth and add you and Darrell to those prayers.  I've worked with hospice patients in California and I am a Hospice volunteer here as well. I know that she will be kept comfortable and that you can trust them to take good care of Beth.

Pat, it is so good to see your post.

Janet:  Something told me to check in here twice today.  Just remember that Beth has an inspiring story to tell.  I send you prayers for strength and peace.   

Janet, I am so sorry that the outlook for Beth is so dire. It is so hard for us to lose our child.  My son passed away at age 50.  The autopsy was very slow coming so we did not know what happened for months.  Turns out he had a stroke.  I am praying for you and John as well as for Beth herself.  May she feel peace and contentment looking forward to her joining with Jesus in Heaven. Love you, Janet. Not to worry about anything unfinished here.  Just take care of yourself and lean on the Lord for strength and comfort. 

As expected I am back to getting up at 5.am'ish...been pretty good these last few weeks, been getting up around 6's and 7's...I knew it wouldn't last... Guess it was expected this morning as I got out of bed on my third through the night loo trip...

Well for the first time since I became a member of my local MS society group, I have booked a mid day luncheon with them, this will be held in a country style pub about 12 miles away...throughout the year they pick different venues of eating establishments, until now I have never taken advantage of them but, on trying to give myself and Richard some form of a social life I have been going all out with booking social gatherings, re, my church group, or my MS group, of course Richard is not interested in any of these two, ( MS or Church, ) just is interest in the social scene or the food...in the past he never included me into his...
I will try and skip my breakfast of muesli and berries this morning, seeings we will be leaving at 11.30, in order to meet the group at 12 mid day...we dont know the venue but I have google mapped it and printed out the AA route-planner...Richard would be one of the first to tell you how fussy I am when it comes to pubs, if it doesn't look pretty from the outside, ( I like seeing hanging baskets, ) or the location is not to my liking, or inside it doesn't look my type, it looks rough or dirty, I dont or wont stay, I will give it a miss...Basically I am not a pub person, unless the pub has a warm feeling and a burning coal fire, a real country village pub would be my Idea...just so thankful that smoking inside pubs is now banned..otherwise I definitely wouldn't step in...

Well as expected I have come down with Richards cold, ( the times I tell him to cover his mouth when he sneezes, but still he doesn't ) been slowly coming these last few days..any colds I now get may play havoc with my MS...not the best of timings...

It is going to be another sunny and hot day here in South Carolina with it getting into the mid-90's again this afternoon.  I expect to have a pretty quiet day.  Pat will go to her craft group this morning and then plans on going out to lunch with a couple of the women from the group.  I am delighted to see her do this as it has been a long time since she has done this and know she always enjoyed it in the past.  I need to go get a loaf of bread and a couple of other things and may eat my lunch out.  This evening will be the Wednesday night dinner where our main item will be beef stroganoff.  Then Scott and Jennifer will likely come out to the house for the evening. 

We really enjoyed our senior adult luncheon yesterday.  There were six ladies there with their therapy dogs and they presented our program by telling us about the program and a bit about their dogs.  One of the ladies had a big Mastiff dog that she said weighed 180 pounds but was a gentle giant.  After the program we had a nice lunch of a big sub sandwich with salad, chips and a chocolate chip cookie.  This is my kind of lunch.

Jackie, sorry to read that you have come down with a cold and expect that prevented you from your planned social event yesterday.  Steps and rollators just don't go together.  I hope the road work will soon be completed.

Carol, we men have simple tastes with our snacks.  I hope Don enjoyed the Cribbage and you your quilting group.  That must have been quite a shock to have your cutting table collapse.  Pat has two of the long banquet tables and she uses one of them as her cutting table.  Glad your quilt wasn't harmed.

Janet, I think many of us here have a good idea of the pain and anguish you are now going through.  I think you expressed your feeling very well in terms of the sadness you feel but understanding that Beth will soon be free of the pain that she has endured for so long.  I also feel for John as he must face the reality of the situation.  At least now Hospice will be able to ensure that during these last days Beth will not be suffering.  I will certainly be praying for God's comfort to you and John and all of the family.  It is a difficult time. 

Janet:  I think of you waking each and every day - thinking that this may be the day.  Sending you prayers of strength and courage for the days ahead. 

Janice:  You have already walked in Janet's shoes so your words are true and comforting.  My best to you for your courage.



Larry:  My quilting group was last night.  There is a new gal and her name is Carol as well - she had a nice size table top to show.  Several are widows and this is nice for them to get out - and the craft is something to take ones mind off reality.  It sure is  a caring group. 

Don has such a good time with the cribbage gang.  It is nice to see him have friends - everyone has some sort of ailment but they trooper on. 

tomorrow, we will drive north to Fort Collins and meet with a grandson - a senior at CSU.  He works full time and goes to school, contemplating more education.  He is graduating most likely in 3 years total.  Yes, he is our Eagle Scout, such a go-getter.

We have been watching the series on Vietnam - it is just appalling to be reminded of that terrible time.   

Larry Hanna...
...no, my cold never stopped me this lunchtime from my pub- restaurant meet-up...We were a small MS group of seven, of good company...mainly committee members, and, or their spouses...conversation kept flowing mixed in with the odd piece of humour for the two-three hours we spent there...All I know is that my stomach is now full, and I most probably have gained some added weight.....

Hi, friends,

I'm trying to get better at typing messages.  I've had the wonderful privilege of being with my son who lives in Houston. I was with him last night and then today along with my daughter who recently went with her husband and a group of friends to Ireland. It made for a nice lunchtime.

I'm sad for Janet and her family. Beth seems to be a lovely person, and one who will be greatly missed.

Much love to all of you.

Ruth Ann

Well, not often you will find me typing - posting at 3.am but, after 4 hours of interrupted sleep as usual in the dark I ventured to the loo, but dribbling all the way the short distance, then after emptying what appears a full bladder, this is part of my now MS norm, I got into bed then straight back to the loo to empty again, got back into bed still in the dark and found my cold after I came back yesterday from my meal out, that my cold had now peaked, my nose is so blocked so...couldn't get back to sleep so, here I am 20 minutes later...

It is going to be another mid-90's afternoon with no rain in the forecast. It was just Pat and I at the dinner last night at Church.  Scott plans to come out early this morning and install the pull out shelves, which won't take very long.  Today will be my typical Thursday with picking up my friend as the assisted living facility and going to coffee, then taking him home after about an hour.  Finally I plan on attending the Wisdom group this morning. As far as I know that will be it for today.

Carol, I hope you and Don have a great time with your grandson in Fort Collins after getting through that Denver traffic.  It sounds like he is quite an achiever and has a bright future before him. 

Jackie, glad you got to attend your social function even with the cold.  A group of 7 or 8 is a nice size as it allows everyone to interact.  You certainly had an unpleasant start to this new day. 

Ruth Ann, did your son in Houston weather the hurricane OK?  Nice he is there to visit with you and his sister. 

Quick update on Beth:  She was alert early yesterday when I arrived, and we had a good conversation (she talks with her eyes!)  I had always told her, through her many times of being so near death, that as long as she wants to live, I will fight for her to my very last breath; but if she ever comes to the point where she's tired of the struggle, it's too hard and she just wants to go home to heaven, just to tell the Lord that.  I feel He will honor her request, and that we will be okay.  And anyway, we will be joining her very soon!  She always said she wants to go to heaven, just not right now.

Yesterday, I asked her, "Beth, do you understand what is happening?"  Yes.  Do you want to stay here?
No.  Are you tired of fighting, and ready to go to Jesus' arms now? Yes.  Her eyes are clear and bright,she is still our Beth.  But her poor body is just worn out, she has no reserves of strength physically,left to use in the fight.  I know if John would give her "permission" to go, it would make it so much easier for her.  But he is totally in denial, like if he refuses to see it, it won't happen.  I do hope the hospice counselor can help him, for I'm afraid for him if he doesn't come to terms with reality.

The family are all so loving and supportive, and her friend Mindi, from college days and her friend Cindy came last evening to see her.  Their talk, banter and laughter did Beth good.  Her sister Diane also came again last night.  We are keeping her surrounded with love, Christian music, the Word,
and many prayers.  She did eat a little bit yesterday.

My heart is breaking, even though I'm so glad for her to be set free!  Darrel is sick and can't get in to the doctor until Monday.  I feel I'm being ripped in two!  But I pray each day for strength for today,
and He never fails!  Love remains.  The greatest of these is LOVE.

Thank you all so much for your love and caring, and for your prayers.  I love you!

Janet...
...you know its not for me to poke my nose in but I fully do understand the MS side, if not Beth's other ailment-aliments....and although I too have come to terms with my MS future, ( I am going to get worse, before I get better )...I still do not have the right to say what your dear Beth's future should, or would, be...only Beth knows where this is all going, how she wants her story to continue or end...All I can do is offer my heartfelt love and a prayer to help her in her decisions, ( MS also interferes -messes, with our head, makes it fuzzy, ) although at the end of the day, It is really all down to our Maker...

Janet, I love you, I love Beth... and so does Jesus. 

Janet, Lots of love and prayers for you, beth and the family.

Think I am ready for bed, just touching 9.50pm been up since 3.am...

I will wish you all a good night and wish for less troubles in the morning than the day we had before....hm, now if only...

Hi Everyone.  It is going to be another sunny and hot day in the high 80's or low 90's.  I have nothing on my schedule that requires me to leave the house today.  I am glad as days I am away for a couple of hours or more seem to now require a day of rest following.  Yesterday went as planned.  I did get to coffee and the Wisdom class.  Just as I got home Scott was about to drive away after installing the slide out shelves but got out of the car and gave me a big hug and came back inside for a few minutes. 

Janet, I sure wish I had some words that I thought could bring you comfort in this time of trial.  You know where your strength to face the days ahead is and rely on Jesus to be holding your hand each moment just as he is there to be with Beth when her spirit is released from her broken body.  Denial is a tool many of us use or have used sometime during our lives to be able to get through some really tough things and it appears this is what John is experiencing.  I also hope that Hospice can be helpful to him.

Jackie, I like the little graphic you shared yesterday.  It is always the darkest before the dawn and it seems this happens over and over in our lives. 

Janet:  Love and prayers