Tuesday, July 12, 2011

We interrupt this regularly scheduled blog.....

..... to update you on the past few weeks of our lives. Oh, y'all. What a crazy month we have had.

I am going to try to sum up this past week and a half as briefly as I can.

Rob and I left for our 19 hour road trip to Virginia on a Friday. We made it 10 hours and stopped for the night. They next morning, we were 2 hours in when my Mother called with some devastating news. My beloved Grandmother (who I am very very close to) had a stroke in the middle of the night at her assisted living facility which was in Montgomery, Alabama.

Hospice had evaluated her and given her 2 weeks to live. Rob and I had an extremely difficult choice. By this time, we were only a few hours away from Virginia. We were going to vacation with his side of the family and we only see them once a year. Also, his father has Alzheimer's, but he still is very lucid. We don't know where he will be health wise a year from now and so it was so important that we see him as well as the rest of the family.

We pulled the car over and I sobbed and tried to decide what to do. We decided to go on to Virginia thinking we would cut our vacation short so we could see everyone in Virginia and make it in time to see my Grandmother before she passed away.

I was calling Alabama morning and night getting updates on my precious Grandmother. I was ready to hop on a plane in an instant if need be. But everyone assured me that she was hanging in there. That I would make it on time. Even the night before her death, I was told that she had another week.

But we didn't make it. Will got sick in Virginia which made it difficult to leave when I had planned and since Grandmother seemed to be stable, we decided to leave on Thursday. We had been on the road an hour when she passed away.

I can't write about that now. I'll have to write about that later. I don't have the words right now. I will say though that I have no doubt about where she is right now. In fact my very first thought when I heard the news was, "Good for her." I know that she is celebrating right this instant with the very God that she spent her entire life loving and serving.

But after a 19 hour road trip, a very sick little boy, and a crazy week of emotions, we drove 12 hours down to Alabama to say good-bye to my Grandmother.

This past weekend was a whirlwind. Family, cousins, visitations, emotions, sadness, and celebration.

On top of everything, I had a surprise 40th birthday party planned for Rob for months. We pushed back the time, scaled it back to just dessert, but kept it on. It was theraputic. But hard.

And now, my husband is in Malawi, Africa for 2 weeks. I took him to Atlanta the day after the funeral and am driving today to Birmingham to spend time at my sisters house.

I am exhausted. I am sad. I am on auto pilot. I don't know what I am anymore.

But, I am happy to be with my family in Alabama and I rejoice in the fact that I will be with my Grandmother again one day. And I am so grateful for the 32 years I had with her. That is a gift I will always be grateful for.

9 comments:

Shannon said...

Lauren, I am so sorry to hear of your grandmother's passing. I went through the same thing with mine a year ago. You have definitely had a whirlwind couple of weeks. My prayers are with you and your family. And, also prayers that Rob has a safe trip to Africa. Hang in there girl!

Laura Forman said...

So..I know you don't know me, I have been "stalking" your blog! :) I am a friend of Donnie's, my husband was on staff with Young Life and we were all leaders together. We live in Montgomery now and anyway, Donnie talks about you guys a lot, so I read your blog! :) I know that if we lived in the same city...we would be friends. Okay, now I am rambling...I wanted to write to encourage you and let you know that I am praying for you as your heart is hurting right now. I was a missionary in Asia for 4 years and during that time my beloved grandmother passed away and I couldn't come home at all. It was extremely difficult. I know how you are feeling right now and I want you to know that I am praying for peace that passes all understanding. If you ever come back to Montgomery maybe we could all get together :) Lifting you up right now as I type! :)

Courtney said...

I am so sorry Lauren. I am just in tears right now, because I know how much she meant to you and I am so sorry you didn't get to see her. But I know with all my heart that she is smiling down on you and the kids and loving you all the more.

Andrea said...

I'm praying for you Lauren.

Anonymous said...

Lauren, praying with and for you. What an emotional time.

Though I've never met her or you for that matter :-) I can think of all the times you've written about her on this blog. Of course my all time favorite is that video of when you guys told her you were pregnant with Will. I assume this is the same grandmother. Oh my word, I still laugh to think about it.

Thankful you had those 32 years too...

Brittny said...

Hey girl!!!!! I know just how special she was to you! You made me appreciate my grandparents even more just by showing me how much you love yours! I am thinking of you and praying for you!!!! Sending so much love your way!!!!

Donnie Manis said...

Lauren, words fail me. I can't even imagine what y'all are going through, but it makes my heart hurt. I know this: your grandmother would be very proud of how you've handled this difficult time and I know she's looking forward your reunion. Prayers going up for Rob's time in Africa and for you and the kids.

starnes family said...

I'm so sorry, Lauren. Keep on keepin on. You can do it. Reach out for help.

XOXO

Nate, Abbey, Noah, Blaire and Tatum said...

Thinking about you. So sorry for your loss. xoxo