So I was going to update with so pictures but it seems there was an error in loading and I am not up to messing with it right now. So I will update with no pictures. It has been a while since I have done any kind of updating on here. I am not going to try and get everything in but, I want to praise the Lord for being with me in the good and in the bad.
Last summer I was privaleged to go with Ethan on a TLC trip to Alaska. It was a wonderful trip. We were able to help in VBS twice a day up in Minto. And also helping get things ready for the next VBS after we left. The guys on the team also helped chink and chop wood for the church. It was a great experience I had with Ethan. We met some wonderful people while we where there along with the team from UBC and our own team members.
Ethan celebrated his 8th birthday when we returned and enjoyed 2 weeks of band camp learning the trumpet. Starting school was a blurr other than Easton started Pre-K half a day. Wasnt ready for that, but felt he needed it. I think it may be a blur because mom found out she had cancer and was planning for surgery and later had to start radiation.
In October the boys dressed up as Narnia characters. Easton as Aslan and the other two as Peter and Henry. For Thanksgiving it was nice to have Grandma Jackson here. We had a nice dinner and enjoyed some shopping together. Then in December we were able to take a nice Christmas road trip out west for Christmas break. We were able to visit the Alamo, The Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Vegas, Santa Monica beach, and most of all our family in Phoenix. Papa, Mimi, and Ryan, and Shelby. It was a great trip. We were to go to a reunion but the boys and I ended up flying back to Florida to get them back to school and so Rodney could spend a little more time in Phoenix. I was going to try and get a ticket for the following day of the reunion but Rodney beat me to purchasing the tickets. I felt really bad that I missed some dear friends but hopefully we will get to see them another time.
In January things turned upside down for our family. The day of the Haiti earthquake my mother was taken to ER and we found that her cancer had come back and spread to her lungs, liver and abdomen. She had just started her second dose of internal radiation. She had finished her exturnal radiation before the holidays. It was decided that she would start her chemo. She had been in so much pain and didnt want to eat much. It was hard to watch. The chemo made her sesitive to light, sound and touch. She went back into the hospital and then released. She seemed to be in better spirits. I thought she would make it out of this. I thought it was just a bump in the road. But she still kept complaining of her pain. And then Sarah came down for a visit. She went with us to mom's last Dr's visit. On the way home she wanted to stop at the park by the water where the boats go by. I took her there one time on the way back from one of her radiation treatments. It is nice place to watch the boats. The week end she just seemed to decline. Finally on Sunday Sarah called me and said mom was calling for me so I went over and she said she wanted me to call emergency. I called her Dr and they told me to take her to ER so I did. She was having trouble breathing so the first thing they did was put her on oxygen. It was so hard to watch her go through this and it was so hard not to touch and hold her hand. She didnt want any of it. but yet she was still concerned about us in in her pain and suffering. she wanted me to take dad home. None of us knew this would be her last few hours. We still thought they would get her feeling better. so finally I told her I would take dad home and Becky would come and Sarah would stay with her. Before Becky made it there the Dr came to Sarah and was telling her things and she wanted Becky to hurry and get there. Becky called me and told me that they said there was nothing they could do to help her and that they were going to call hospice and bring her home. Well, then she called back and said they couldnt get hospice there soon enough because she was not going to make it through the night. And they didnt want to move her from ER because it would be too much they felt for her. Well by they time we made it back to the hospital and Rodney brought the boys and Pastor Vernon they felt maybe they should go ahead and move her to a room. I am so glad they did. By then they were able to have her resting comfortably but she was no longer awake. Just resting peacefuly in her room. not long after being in her room we all stood by her side and then she took her last breath. It was hard to see but you know God gave her that breath and He took that breath. We have no questions to where she is right now because of the life she lived. I thank God for her example. I was a blur the next couple of weeks. We had a viewing here in Florida for our dear friends here. I was pleased by short notice and word of mouth that we had about 70 some come for the viewing. There was such and outpouring of help from our church family here. The Lord has certainly blessed us. Then we went up to Michigan for two more viewings and and her funeral. She wanted to be burried by her grandmother who lead her to Christ. Even though it was a hard time it was also great to see so many people that we have not seen is so long. It was nice to have Pastor Bullock, Pastor Sickmiller, and Pastor Durr speak. And I know mom would have been so proud of her grandsons who sang while Ethan played "oh how I love Jesus.". The church ladies did a wonderful job with the lunchon afterward. The Durrs were so great in allowing us to stay with them while we were there. They were great host. And the boys loved playing with the "big kids"
The next couple of months has had its moments but God is always with us. We had a nice Easter with Dad and Becky. And this past Sunday was Mothers Day. We just relaxed with a picnic at the same park we went to with mom, remembering what she did and the things she enjoyed.
Now it is the busy end of the year school activities. many field trips and other activities. To add to the excitement. Evan and are going to Domincan Republic this summer and are helping with fundraisers with our team. Yard sales, dinners, car washes, bake sales, and Evan's lemonade stand. And anything else we can think of to help raise money for our trip. So if you pass me and I dont say Hello. I may be sleep walking. Have a great summer everyone! After our Dominican trip we will be going up north for most of the summer, but thats another blog. So there is scratch of an update.