Cotton Cloudiness & Shades Of Gray

Have you ever spent a day feeling like you ate cotton and you're stumbling around in a haze, your brain doesn't work clearly, and you feel like a truck ran over you? Now I'm not a drinker, but maybe a hang-over gives you the same feeling:(
This "fogginess" comes after spending the night camping in a hospital room where "the light is always on".

My dear mama is struggling to survive a fall resulting in a bleed in her brain. Her chances are 50/50 at this point. Her life will change a 100%. She will never go back to Carolina House where she has resided for 4 & 1/2 years (& was treated well), a place where many people cared for her. The next stage, nursing care, will most likely begin Monday.
I pray this season will be one of less frustration for her, that she will not suffer with bits and pieces of memory that sometimes brought her to tears to think her mama wouldn't let her come home (this from a letter she wrote a few years ago to her mama pleading to be allowed to return home, asking forgiveness for whatever she had done wrong) or that her brothers had died and no one told her:( Hopefully the future will be more peaceful.

She has been sleeping contentedly, and has not been agitated during this crisis. My sister sat and sang to her today and prayed with her. How precious is that:) My brother is pitching his "tent" with Mama tonight, then again Sunday evening, and I'll get another turn to stay Saturday evening.

The nurses are as kind and caring as can be--such a soothing balm during a difficult time:) I also have a dear co-worker who has already offered to work for me Monday if necessary. Each act of kindness, each prayer, and each email of caring/thoughtfulness is a sweet, sweet gift.

And the cloudiness & shades of gray will gradually disappear, and we will see through a dark mirror clearly.

Whoa

I'm a little late to be posting this, but must say HALLELUJAH for the rain last Friday and the cooler fall tinged weather!
Praise God for His mercy on us here in Central NC:)
I feel a weight has lifted:)
We desperately need more rain, but what a sweet purifying of the air and the earth for a brief time, and for my peaceful refreshing wash within!
So sweet!

Horse movies

I'm not sure why but I am a sucker for a horse movie.
I must say that there are at least 4 horse films that rank in my top 10 favorite movies.

Keith & I just finished watching "Dreamer", with Kurt Russell, Elisabeth Shue, & Dakota Fanning. Sonador is a red filly who is injured and threatened to be 'put down', but finds her advocate/redeemer in a young girl named Cale. Sonador means "Dreamer" in Spanish. A sweet story, surprisingly well made & acted, full of heart.

"The Horse Whisperer", "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken", and "Seabiscuit" are my other favorites. All beautifully written & filmed, "Seabiscuit" & "Wild Hearts", like "Dreamer", are based on true events.
I recommend all of them!

Why are I drawn to horse stories?
Maybe because I grew up with a red mule?
Maybe because I love animals?
"Red" worked around our farm, and I think I figured mules/horses are a lot like large dogs (I love dogs, and cats and birds). As I grew older it broke my heart when my daddy sold Red. (Money must have gotten tight) And to make matters worse, Red ran away from his new owner, a neighbor, and found his way back home, just for my daddy to turn around and send him right back:( Whoa:(
That took me a while to get over--or, maybe....I'm not over it?

I've never yearned for the responsibility of owning/caring for a horse, but love riding when I get a chance (which isn't often), enjoy watching horses romping and grazing in a pasture. I think they're elegant, graceful, majestic animals, with beautiful liquid eyes that melt my heart:)

Who knows, maybe my love affair began with Roy's Trigger?
Not sure, but....
Happy Trails!

Sunday ponderings

Well, googa mooga!
I am tickled to say this morning was blessedly cool!
So far September is a huge improvement over that miserable August!

Visited my mama this sunny Sunday afternoon, with Keith along. Had a sweet time with her. She was in a good mood & laughed often. She told Keith I was her cousin:) That's bittersweet, but with dementia you take what is good as a gift and go with it. She will turn 86 Friday.

Keith & I spent last week in Pa. visiting his parents. Wish we lived closer to them. I really enjoy their company. Keith's dad will celebrate his 87th birthday Sept. 13th and his mom will turn 85 in November.
A sad, sad note: we are convinced Dad is in the early of Alzheimer's:( Keith's sister & her husband are trying hard to help them. They have generously offered to build on an addition to their home nearby. The problem? Dad refuses, clueless as to what the future holds for him & how hard things are for Mom. (Mom suffers with arthritis and her mobility is quite limited)
Growing old is difficult enough for parents, but for children who desire the best for them, it's extremely stressful when sound reasoning is not involved:(

My mini R&R is coming to a screeching halt tomorrow morning at 9am:( I enjoy my job, but often wonder if I want to continue working 3 to 4 days a week for the next few years.

We have 3 wedding invitations for September! Whoa! And a 60th birthday cook-out & a 50th birthday square dance! And my dear friend Lorraine & I begin a 4 week Pastels class Sept. 12th:)
Fun, fun, fun:)

September

Ah! September has arrived:)! Whew! I thought it'd never get here!!

I am weary to the bone of August 2007. I say good riddance to it's relentless heat and merciless dry weather that has drained us of strength and energy:( It has worn me out!
We have had no relief from our drought here. Dying trees continue to shed their leaves as they bend toward the ground, wilting in surrender.
I LOVE rain, as you may know, and I feel about as deprived as the foliage:( I am wilting inside, 'tolerating' each day's weather offering, while praying for God's mercy.

Surely September ushers in hope that cool air will arrive eventually and rainy days along with it?