Vanity almost got the best of me, and I started to not post this picture as it shows me when I thought I wanted to let my hair color go. Yep! If it was not for Loreal I would be totally whiteheaded:)
Despite my gray hair in this pic it is one of my favorite photos of my mom and sisters.

I have a huge decision to make over the next few weeks, and I ask you to join me in prayer that I make the right decision. Mother has apparently had a bad stroke, but is currently in a rehab hospital for 21 days to see where therapy will take her on the road to recovery. Her left hand is lifeless, left leg very weak and slurred speech, but according to the therapist she is trying hard in rehab. Yesterday I watched as she was helped back into the bed, and Mother was pretty much unable to assist in the process. After the 21 days it is clear she will not be able to return to assisted living and the other options are a nursing home or to move in with us.

I think back to years ago when nursing homes were unheard of, and people took care of elderly family members in their home because that is just how it was done. When daddy got sick six years ago we put him in Hospice care and he passed peacefully at home. This is in no way to belittle families that choose, for whatever reason, to place their loved ones in a nursing home, but I am struggling so hard with that option. Perhaps this is why we left Russia and Ron is now rotating to India. This gives me the option to care for my 96 year old mother at home.

Please pray with me on this by asking for wisdom to make the decision based on what's best for The Queen, and not on the fact that I have a phobia about nursing homes.

OK Lord, My Wagon Is Getting Full

Conflicting reports on my mom today as I heard she was doing great mid day, but when I went around 4 she was very lethargic and non responsive. I am hoping she was just tired from her first day of therapy. Please keep her in your prayers.

Our daughter, Ashley, had a car accident tonight in North Carolina. Praise God she is ok, but some were hurt. I am also thankful and very humbled that my niece was available to get to her at the scene of the accident. Please pray for Ashley as she is dealing with this accident out of state, and going through a clinical rotation in North Carolina

The Circle Of Life

Dinia and parents - 1958
This past Sunday afternoon we received a call from my sister who was at the Assisted Living facility where our Mom has been a resident for over 2 years. Apparently, The Queen (my Mom) was not eating, lethargic, and somewhat unresponsive. Ron and I set off to see what was going on and enroute decided that if anything would make her responsive it would be pictures of the new babies in our family. We will welcome 4 babies in our family between Wyatt's birthday on Dec 16 and mid February. Sure enough we were able to get her out of bed and she responded to the pictures of the babies.

50th Wedding Anniversary - 2002
Soon, I was reflecting on The Queen's life and wondering how do you encourage someone that is 96 years old, has buried her husband of 50+ years plus a son to eat and drink when they are just tired and want to be left alone.


Ashley and The Queen - 2005
Mother was born in 1912; yep that makes her 96! After five children, 9 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren she has lived a full life. She is a talented artist and a Master Gardner. I am thankful she had the opportunity to visit us in Egypt, Scotland and Trinidad. Mother also traveled to Italy and Switzerland on painting tours. For many years she owned and operated one of the two beauty shops in our small town.

MARCAS BEACH - TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Today she is just tired, but has never clearly made her wishes known to the family as to what to do when she gets sick. Yes, she signed a Living Will and DNR, but that was all she would discuss. Today we had to move her out of the hospital and into a rehab facility for 21 days. Initial reports late this afternoon are that she is trying to wake up and eat some. The next few days will be crucial in deciding how to care for her.
All this is being said to encourage anyone that might be reading this to be sure you understand the wishes of your loved ones. All too often these gray areas come up and difficult decisions must be made.

Dinia and The Queen Christmas - 2007
Ron and I would appreciate your prayers for The Queen and Ron as he travels tomorrow to India for his second hitch in Deli. Please pray for travel safety, and wisdom among the family to make the right decisions for The Queen's care.

Every Coin Has Two Sides

I know all newborns look kinda the same, but please indulge this new Baba as I share my favorite photo of our first grandchild. I forgot to post this on the last post. He has so much hair for a blond baby, and it was just too irrestiable to spike his hair for a pic.

Can you tell we are hopelessly in love? This child has parents that love and adore him not to mention a host of grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends and relatives. Since most of you that read this are in the adoption circle you are all so aware this is not true for many children.

In January of 2008 our lives were changed forever when we started to meet adoptive couples traveling to Russia. We had worked with children in orphanages in Trinidad but the majority of those children were not eligible for adoption. This past weekend Ron and I traveled to Nashville to see the Christmas lights, and had the privilege of stopping in Franklin to hear a young woman from Brentwood, Tennessee talk about her ministry in Uganda. If I have my statics correct we learned that if 1 believer in 8 would respond to the needs of orphans then that would make a world of difference in the lives of many children.

While in Russia Ron, Ashley and I traveled to Poland to see what had happened in the concentration camps. What happened there will forever be imprinted on our hearts along with this ministry in Uganda. Once you see/hear about something like that it is with you forever.

WOW!

Ron, Ashley, and I just returned from meeting our new grandson and we are completely in love with the little guy! Before we left I told Andy, Kasey, and Ashley that they had been replaced on my screensaver by a little blond hair boy. It now all about Wyatt:)

The day we left Ron woke me up singing "Wake up little Susie we gotta go see Wyatt!" When we drove up to their home Andy was sitting outside with the baby, and we were all smitten within seconds. There is just something about seeing your child with their child that just blesses a Mom's heart. I love the photo below as Andy seems to be saying "Look what I have Mom."

Then it was inside to see our son change Wyatt for the first time. Priceless moment. Afterwards Andy gives me the baby and in the photo below seems to be saying "This is how to hold the baby mom!"

Andy had bought a Santa suit and surprized us by having his dad dress up as Santa to visit Wyatt. Really cute. It was a wonderful evening!

Not sure how else to describe meeting Wyatt other then to paraphase something Ondrea said in her Christmas letter. Seeing this child was like God has thrown back the gates of heaven and given us a glimpse of what's inside.


HAPPY NEW YEAR!