Friday’s Five

We are home together, this week’s best gift.
We face the fact that we don’t know for how long.
The sights and sounds around here have changed again…more blinking lights, beeps of pumps, medication schedules, bags of supplies on the dining room table, equipment waiting in corners in case it’s needed.
But there’s still a gift in this: being home together.
I started this post last Friday, but as happens more and more, the moment called for more important matters…turning out the lights and just going to bed. Listening to his breathing. Holding his hand. Knowing that these are the gifts of a life, not just a week or two.
So here I am, a week later, adding to the weekly list of blessings.
Yes, I’m determined to find them. Yes, I know some people think me crazy. No. I do not care. I cope the way I can. I will myself to remember things: the crinkle around his eyes when he smiles. The dent in his chin I’ve traced for years. The nod we share in a room full of visitors that none of them in a million years would understand the full meaning of. Our love. And this Friday, I’ve lost count.
Cancer never wins. Not with us. We will always cherish our days. Together.

Friday’s Five

Old friendships…and new ones–people who make the effort to connect during hard days…

Unexpected laughter in response to yet another glitch–you laugh and keep going…

Stories and memories recounted and remembered…

Love note drawing to Sam from our godchild Maddie, secured to the shelf with hospital tape…

A page created for prayer and hope and love…please feel free to visit it and share. Please pray for this dear man…

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Prayers-for-Sam-Tirrito-Sr/341879599287089

Saturday’s Snapshot: Lifting My Eyes to the Hills…

A brand new year, and with it the determination to keep finding the good.
Today, a quick return to “Saturday’s Snapshot”…a kind of post I did for several weeks my first year of blogging.

We are in a state of transition here. Good hours, like the one that this photo was taken, when Sam felt well enough to take Sara hunting, and they came back with a ten point. The sky that night , just a couple of days ago, seemed to join in the joy of daughter/daddy days.
We have bad hours, too, like now when the pain is hard to manage.
Thankfully, one of Sam’s doctors takes his own weekend calls. We are increasing medications and hoping…
and in the midst, I will sing praises of thanksgiving: for moons and sunsets, for memories, for doctors who listen and call to help, for candles lit in quiet churches, for people who come in our lives with love.
It all boils down to love.
I end today with a psalm that I think fits the photograph and fits my life right now. I will always look up…

Psalm 121
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
Assurance of God’s Protection

A Song of Ascents.

121 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From whence does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved,
he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade
on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and for evermore.

Amen.