Sunday Sentiments

 

Yesterday marked three years since Ryan's mom passed away. I think most of you have probably been around since then, but for anyone who might be new here, Ryan's mom was diagnosed with a glioblastoma (brain tumor) in October 2018. She had surgery right away and they were able to remove the tumor, but she never fully recovered and ended up dying in March 2019. 

Ryan's entire family came together to care for her in her last weeks of life. She came home from the hospital for the final time in early January, and from then until her death, we all took turns staying with her and caring for her. Ryan was a tremendous caregiver and he counts it one of the great privileges of his life that he was able to do that for her.

One of his very specific prayers was that he would be able to be with her when she passed away, and he was. It was not our scheduled night to be with her, but he felt we should go anyway, so after he got off work, we drove to the cabin, and we got there just a few minutes before she died. I think there were 13 of us gathered around her bed, praying her Home. 

And after she died, Ryan sat with her until the funeral home arrived. He said he wanted to spend every minute there by her side because he knew there wouldn't be any more minutes after that. And so he stayed.

That night there was a beautiful sunset, and Ryan stopped the car just down the road from the cabin so I could take a picture of it. 

Yesterday was a beautiful day in Indiana, and I told God I really hoped there would be a beautiful sunset again. 

We had a community outing at WillowBridge yesterday, and we ended with a picnic at the park. We were able to find a picnic table by the river, and while everyone else talked together, I just stared out over the water, taking in the magnificent sunset. 

Having time to stop and savor, pray, or reminisce is a luxury for us, and it probably wasn't the most ideal time for me to do it. But I was grateful I could sneak away in my mind to remember my mother-in-law. I could remember that night so vividly and think of the good moments we shared in the years we did have together.

What a sweet gift it was that God gave us this sunset yesterday. What a sweet gift it was that God gave Ryan the chance to be there for Nita's Homegoing. What a sweet gift she was for all the years of her life. And what a sweet gift it is that I get to continue sharing my life with her Ryan. I am grateful for how she shaped his life for him to become the man I love so much.