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Raindrops Keep Fa la la la ling on my Head. My 5 Month Blogging Hiatus



I'm not quite sure what just happened but 15 minutes before posting this post it was chock full of pretty pictures of fresh vegetables and a Frenchy beef stew served in blue transferware with herbed bread and the recipe for it that my sister n law gave me last January.  But then, when I thought about January, it reminded me of all that's happened over the past several months.  I have received quite a few messages and emails asking where I was and when I'd be back, etc, etc. and I wanted to explain why I took a 5 month blogging hiatus.  

I don't think Monica's Herbs De Provence Vegetable Beef Stew
goes all that well with everything else so it's getting the punt until tomorrow!  Please do come back again for the recipe, because it's so easy, yummy and healthy!  You'll love it.   

Beginning in November, with my Father in law, he had an undiagnosed abdominal aortic aneurysm which burst while he was out of town (out of state actually).  Just look up survival rates for aaa and you'll understand how very serious this is, usually fatal. The survival rate is just 10% and that's IF you even make it to the operating table.  Most do not.  By God's timing and His incredible grace, He put Jim (my father-in-law) in the right place at the right time to be able to survive such a life threatening event.  I plan to write more about this later.  Needless to say, this was very trying for our family, especially my husband, his siblings and my sweet Mother in law.

 During my Father-in-Law's recovery from his brush with death, just about two weeks later, my Mother fell, broke her hip, had to have surgery and then be moved temporarily into a rehabilitation facility for recovery and to learn to walk again.  While there, she came down with a serious eye infection which only further complicated things as the rehabilitation facility wasn't really equipped for dealing with a serious eye infection and she is still dealing with some of the ramifications of it today.  Mom has other serious heart and health conditions on top of what was going on with her hip and eye infection.  She spent several weeks at the facility, including being there on Christmas night.  And to make it much worse, there was some abuse (not sexual, but very serious verbal intimidation).  The worker in question was fired and/or dismissed at least during the investigation.

During the time my Mother was recovering, one of my brothers (I have six-ish older brothers (yes, an even longer story) and one is needing a kidney transplant and one is on dialysis.  My brother needing the transplant was to go on dialysis first and was literally at the hospital being prepped to have the port put in but some other serious medical problems / blood test results caused his Dr. to come to the conclusion that he wasn't strong enough to have the surgery at that time.  He was told his days were numbered.  He is still with us, but in poor health now.

And then this happened...  



raindrops keep fa la la la ling on my head



Par for the goings on of the past couple of months, about 10 days before Christmas, we had a major pipe burst in our upstairs bathroom which completely flooded not just the bathroom, but also Trevor's bedroom, the hall between his and Ashton's rooms and then proceeded to gather into a raging floor joist river that ran across the ceiling of our downstairs family room and emptied itself out in the kitchen in a downpour.    We had to shut the water to the house off pronto and our electricity as well because light bulbs in the ceiling fixtures began exploding from the water seeping in them from above.   By the time it was all said and done, the entire kitchen ceiling was drooping in and coming apart from the wall.  It was just hanging in some spots.  Holes had to be punched in the ceiling bubbles for water to drain as you could see the pooling of water in the sheetrock above, otherwise it was going to give way to the weight of the water and cave in!  The contractors told us it would probably give way and fall in by the next day and then instructed us to remove everything out as fast as possible.  Trevor, Ashton, Shawn, Ethan and I stayed up until 4 a.m. clearing the kitchen of its furnishings, everything on the walls and all contents including food.  This process in turn cluttered up the entirety of our downstairs as we were rushing to get it all out and just stacking things here and there and everywhere.   It took them over a month to finish the job and get the kitchen back to us.
  

looks like snot, but it's not! (it's just water coming of the bull's nose)


well...
MEEERRRRY CHRISTMAS!!!  
So much for celebrating Christmas at the Roberts' house in 2016!  


 (look close at the window... you can see it is wet both outside and inside!  Water came down both sides and weighted the valance so that it broke.  They almost look like light but the strands you see in front of the window and over to the right side  is actually water coming down from the ceiling)



But wait, there's more

Three days before Christmas, another brother of mine notified me, out of the blue, via a Facebook message, that my Dad had Stage IV lung and liver cancer (which I later learned from one of his Dr.'s had metastasized from the colon cancer he was diagnosed with 8-10 years ago) and was given just two to three months to live.   We drove down to my hometown within a couple of days of receiving my brothers message to visit my Dad and when we left I told Shawn that I just knew from observing his symptoms that he was already in the dying process and wouldn't make it another 2 weeks.  He was rushed to the hospital a few days later coughing up blood.  We went to visit Dad again but he was in a coma and never regained consciousness.  He passed away on January 6th.   


More devastating news.

 The Friday before my Dad's funeral I received a phone call that one of my cousin's had found her 30 year old son deceased.  His funeral was two days after Dad's.  I had only met him a few times, but, none the less, it was so difficult to think of losing a child and to wonder just what my cousin and Aunt must be going through.  It was especially tough to see my Aunt and cousin (Mother and daughter) together, as they both lost young sons; my Aunt lost her son, my cousin, to an auto accident some 27 or so years ago when he was just 21. 

Besides all that drama we have pressing issues with two people within the family/extended family going on that I am not able to talk about publicly, but they are very serious.  For those of you who believe in prayer, I'd welcome a prayer for those two family members.  God will know who you're praying for, even if you don't!

Dealing with Dad's death

My Dad's passing brought about a plethora of mixed, though mostly negative, emotions and feelings,  many of which I'd suppressed for years.  I have spent some of the past five months working my way through a lot of those feelings, the dealings we all face in everyday life; both happy and not so happy, and spending a lot of time talking to and getting to better know God. 

  Now you know why I was gone for so long.




Comments

  1. Nancy, I am so sorry for the troubles and emotional roller coaster you have been riding. So glad you can keep your eye on the One who is carrying you through this.

    Christine from Ontario

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Christine. I always remind myself of the blessings even when things aren't going so great. God is always at work in our lives, through the bad and good.

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  2. I am nearly speechless after hearing your long nightmare. These are simple words but the best ones I have to offer. God Bless you and your family. May you find peace and strength in His care.

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  3. Oh Nancy, I am so sorry to read about that you have been dealing with. It will probably take time to sort out all your emotions. Just don't stuff it away, keep it outward so you can move through it. I did that and just now am trying to grieve so many losses. Prayers going up for you and your family.

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  4. Oh Nancy so sorry for this trying time you and your family are going thru! My heart aches for you. I can understand where you are and how when it rains it pours. We have had a lot going on the past year to two years ourself and I started blogging less and less. We are currently dealing with some of what you are. Prayers and hugs my dear!

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    1. I noticed you'd not been blogging as much. I'm so sorry to hear you're going through some tough things. On the positive...your home is absolutely stunning and each time I see one of your posts I think about what a wonderful homemaker you are, Pamela. Thanks for your sweet note!

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  5. Nancy, this is overwhelming just to read. I can't imagine living it. I pray for comfort, peace, and healing- both physical and emotional- for all your family members. Words are inadequate.

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  6. Nancy, this is overwhelming just to read. I can't imagine living it. I pray for comfort, peace, and healing- both physical and emotional- for all your family members. Words are inadequate. Janet

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  7. My goodness Nancy I am so sorry for you with all you've gone through. You certainly have had a lot of weight on your shoulders these past months. I pray for your strength to deal with everything and to find some peace of mind. I'm glad you could get the home repaired- that must have felt like a real kick in the butt. Take care and know that things will get better.

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  8. Words cannot express what you and your family have been dealing with. Prayers to you ALL that you receive comfort, peace and strength.
    GADawn57

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  9. I could say something deep like " After the storms come the most beautiful flowers", but that seems totally inadequate. I'm very, very sorry about all the troubles and heartache your family has been/is experiencing. God bless you.

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  10. Oh my goodness, Nancy. I am so sorry for all you have been going through. I will definitely have you and your family in my prayers.♥

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  11. Nancy, I think of you every day but of course had no idea what all you were going through. I know you are strong, though, and will make it through whatever befalls. Sending prayers your way to help out!
    Hugs,
    Pat

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  12. My condolences to you! Sometimes there will be seasons of loss,stress,and mess that will try to cause one to lose their mind and self control!
    These storms, and I speak of experience, will pass and the faith you stood on will give you joy!
    Scripture states that the joy of the Lord is our strength!!
    These seasons cause us so much pain,many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord will deliver us from them all!!!
    You are in my prayers,there are many blessings coming your way...

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  13. Dear, dear Nancy, my heart hurts for you. It humbles me for having been so trite over my own silly issues of remodeling these past few months to hear the trials you've been living through. My deepest condolences for your father's passing, and prayers for the loved ones you mentioned (including your brothers), as well as for you. I pray you will be able to work through the emotional issues of your past, as well as the present issues of all the physical labor involved in getting your home back together. Water is my deepest, darkest fear in home ownership. I've had some big issues with it in the past.
    Rita C at Panoply

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  14. I am so sorry for all your troubles. Family issues are heart-rending and so difficult to deal with. We women have to hold everything together when everything is (literally) falling down all around us. Having dealt with elder parent/nursing home abuse problems myself, I totally commiserate with the suffering of all concerned. You are wise to put it all in the hands of a higher power and do your best. My thoughts are with you and your family as you try to right the ship and steer the course.

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  15. Nancy: I am SO sorry to hear of all the sadness and struggles you are dealing with. I will be praying for God to give you wisdom and peace in dealing with all that is happening within your family.

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  16. Dear Nancy,

    I've prayed for your family members and for God to grant you and your family peace. My deepest condolences in the loss of your father. I understand, when it rains, it pours. The past six years for us have been very difficult with similar losses and troubles. God Bless you and yours.

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  17. Nancy, I am so sorry for your troubles. Talk to God he is listening. He is so faithful and will be there to strengthen you! Thanks for sharing at Home Sweet Home!

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  18. I am so sorry to hear of your family troubles! The blog is not important when you are in the midst of so much heatache. I will keep your family in my prayes that this year will be so much better.

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  19. Oh my gosh Nancy! Your life sounds like mine. I lost my mother in December and my father in February with all kinds of crazy and sad things in between. I am still so fatigued from it all. Praise God that He is with us and gets us through the storm. I am thankful for the many blessings along the way and especially my grandson and two baby boys on their way (July and September)! I pray things get better for you and for the unspoken request in your family. Hugs!

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