Tidbits

 Not much to report. LeeR seems great one moment and then the next is tired beyond words and often in a lot of pain. The roller coaster ride continues.

So I thought I'd just take a minute to reflect on this-and-that moments in time during this ordeal. In no particular order, here are a few things that come to mind:

 

LeeR woke up the other morning and, as usual, said, "Well, I made it to another day." But then he also commented on how he slept pretty well even without morphine. I sheepishly admitted that I did slip him a morphine, because I desperately needed some sleep. He laughed and said, "Sweetheart, you can give me anything you want to."

________________________________

A quote sent from a dear high school friend:  Do not fear what may happen tomorrow. The same loving Father who cares for you today will care for you tomorrow and everyday. Either he will shield you from suffering or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace then and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings. St. Francis de Sales

  ______________________________________

LeeR has a bell in his room to ring vigorously if he needs help and we don't hear him call. Everytime it rings our 2-year-old granddaughter stops what she is doing and runs full-speed-ahead to his room, yelling loudly, "I'm coming, Grandpa, I'm coming." She then sanitizes her hands, runs in the room, and says, "Do you need me to help you, Grandpa?" Of course, he always does.

__________________________________________

Oldest daughter:  "Poor Dad has to watch us break down and cry all the time."

LeeR:  "Poor Dad?  No, poor you guys.  All I do is sit here and get waited on hand and foot and treated like a king.  I don't have to lift a finger and have all these wonderful people loving and helping me."
 

___________________________________

          

At our plan of salvation family home evening, I demonstrated the spirit leaving the body by using the hand-in-glove example from Elder Packer. So to reinforce, I said, "What part of us goes on after our body dies?" One of our little 6-year-old grandsons vigorously raised his hand and answered with complete confidence, "Our loving heart!" Intended point missed but a more important point definitely made.

 __________________________________
From LeeR's older brother, referring in part to the time when LeeR was running through smoldering leaves and his jeans caught on fire. He was four and his legs were severely burned. "I'm brokenhearted that you are called upon once more to go through undeserved suffering. I wish I could do it for you. It's my turn you know. It's amazing that after almost 70 years you are heading back into the fire. I keep thinking about our conversations in St. George. The next decade, I'm afraid will bring the rest of us face to face with some of these same problems. Who better to show us how it's done than the one who has been there before...my gutsy little brother." 

______________________________

One night when all the children and grandchildren were at the house we were gathered around LeeR's bed for family prayer. One daughter was in the bathroom so we called her to come join us. She said, "I'm coming." In perfect unison and unscripted, everyone in the bedroom responded as they quoted their Dad, who for their entire lifetimes has responded to "I'm coming" with: "We don't want you coming, we want you here!"

_________________________

Maybe a little too dismal, but typically LeeR. While driving down the canyon soon after receiving a difficult prognosis:

Me: maybe I should just drive off this cliff so we can die together.

LeeR: Nope. It probably wouldn't work. Keep driving. 

__________________________________________

 

Two of our little 6-year-old boy cousins after having a bit of a tiff over something. One to the other: "But, we're still cousins, right?" The other: "Yup, we're still cousins." (Followed by a hug and then walking away with their arms around each other)
 _______________

A text from LeeR's oldest brother who was not able to post on the blog from his phone: "we send our thanks and love this way (instead of on the blog). Watching and listening, even from afar, is a life changing experience for us. As we meet our children and grandchildren on the outer banks of NC tonight, we see them and our world through different eyes. Your experiences have given us a truer perspective of the things that really matter in life. Our hearts are heavy, but they beat much closer to yours."

 

__________________________________

 From one of my dear childhood friends: "I truly believe in prayer and know that you can literally "feel" the prayers of others.  I also can feel your testimonies padding the blow this gives your lives.  There is that underlying peace from both you and LeeR.  This is what we have been filling our lamps for, is it not?" Yes, yes it is.
 

 _______________________________________

AMEN to one and all. Thank you all for the smiles, the tears, the reminders, and, most of all, the love and prayers. Xoxoxo f & e & e(for non-Lamberts that means hugs, kisses, and lots of love forever and ever and ever)