The Tender Work of Caring for Mom

Please join us in celebrating the life of our dear angel mother, sister, aunt, friend, and neighbor on her birthday January 7th, 2025 at 11am at the  Messina Meadows LDS Chapel in Meridian, Idaho. A graveside service will be held in the spring on April 6, 2025. Details forthcoming. 

Last Monday, mom had an MRI and the results showed recurrence. We knew this was coming but hoped we'd have longer. She had her final oncology and palliative care appointments last week and hospice came on board on Thursday. They are now assisting us daily to keep mom comfortable in her final days.  Words are hard right now. So I'll end this post with the beautiful words of Isaiah that mom treasured so deeply.   "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." 41:10 "Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted." 49:13

Mom's outdoor decorations for October were not her usual display this year. However, we managed to get her glitzy witch wreath hung and Hillary helped make her front porch even more festive for all the neighborhood trick-or-treaters. I have to say that her Halloween wreath completely epitomizes her personality. Wouldn't you agree? It's whimsical, FUN, creative, outgoing, sparkly, colorful and generous. It brings a smile to my face and a little chuckle when I picture her in her element working away with a glue gun.  I love so many things about her amazing wreath but I especially love the perfect little sign saying "Come in my pretties". Mom has always had a wickedly funny sense of humor. Can't you just see her smile, feel her welcoming nature and hear her laughter? These are things we cherish about mom and will never forget.  Let's be real about some of the awful side effects of brain cancer. There are many debilitating physical aspects of brain cancer but ...