Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Momma's Journey Home



Today (January 26, 2010) at 1:25 pm, our loving momma left on a journey that she could only take with Jesus. She left this world and is now safe, whole and healed with a clear mind and perfect body. The angels are rejoicing at her arrival and she is dancing and singing with my dad and sister who have been waiting for her for several years now.

It is a hard thing to release your parents to leave you when your whole heart wants to say, "Noooooo, stay with me!!!" But after 84 years of a wonderful life, she was ready to go home.

Momma has had Dementia and Alzheimers for about 5-6 years. She has been in advanced stages for 2-3 years. My sister, brother-in-law and I cared for her in our home until last February when we could no longer do it. We realized we could not keep her safe or make her happy in our environment. So we (my sisters Bev and Belinda) made the agonizing decision to place her in a facility where they specialized in Dementia and Alzheimer care. She was happy there and well cared for.

About a week and a half ago, we received a call from the staff there stating that mom was acting differently. 10 days ago, we received a call they were taking her to the hospital beacause they suspected she may have had some small strokes. The ER Dr's kept her there overnight and she returned to her home. But she quickly got worse and within a few short days, she would be leaving us.

Fortunately for us mom was very specific about how she wanted things to go at the end of her life. She asked me to be her Power of Attorney before she got Dementia and she made her wishes known about all the what if's. I have to say, even though I knew she wanted nothing done, no heroics, no tubes, no life support,...It takes every ounce of faith and obediance to not say, "Do whatever you can to save her!" After feeling so helpless the last few years in not being able to do anything for momma because of this horrible disease, We were confident that carrying out her wishes was the right thing to do.

It was the Grace of God that she passed when she did today. My sister and I had an awesome opportunity to wash her face and hands, annoint her and help prepare her for her arrival to heaven. I felt such a release and peace knowing she was there and not here anymore. I will miss my mom terribly, as I do my dad and sister, but I praise God and rejoice in the knowledge that I will see her again someday and she will be rejoicing with the angels at my arrival! I am so blessed to have been able to help prepare her for her journey. And I understand now that she had to take this journey without us, but I have comfort in the fact that she was not alone, she was with Jesus and is in His presence forever!

I know the bible says we are to honor our parents and I have to say I was the one that was honored today! I am honored to have been raised by a wonderful, loving, caring, kind and beautiful mother and I pray that the legacy I leave behind will also honor her. There's a song by Randy Travis that says, "It's not what you take when you leave this world behind you, It's what you leave behind you when you go." Momma left a legacy of Grace, Strength and Love behind for us to carry on.

We are gonna miss you momma. Give dad and Barbara a hug and kiss for us too, and we will see you when we get there!

18 comments:

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Oh Becs Sweetie...
What a wonderful tribute to your precious Moma who is sitting at the table with our Heavenly Father this morning and sharing a meal with your precious Father and Sister. I am so certain they were waiting at the gates for her.

I know it took every ounce of strength that you and your precious sister had to bathe your Moma and let her go. My DH and I went through the same thing over 20 years ago with his Moma. She had Alzheimers, she had so many strokes that she was blind and could not talk. I remember praying for God to take her home. She suffered so. This disease is horendous and robs them of a life, but like you said at the end I was so sad to see her take her last breaths because I knew we would not be able to pray with her, touch her, just see her. It is a very hard journey for the patient and the family that helps walk them there.

I believe that when we go to heaven, we all hang out a star. That is why the heavens are so full of them when we look up at night. When it gets dark tonight, you walk outside and look up, sweetie the first star you see twinkling at you, will be your dear Moma telling you that she has arrived, and all is well with the family. Every night you can look up an visit with her. She will always be right there. I pray this brings you some comfort.

God Bless you and your family sweetie. Please know that I will be holding you all up in prayer. Country hugs...Sherry

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry Becs....My heart goes out to you and your family. Your in my prayers....Hugs and Love,Jennifer

Rostrose said...

oh nooo! I just visited you to invite you to join my draw - and now I see your sad posting. I am so sorry. I really can understand your feelings; my dad passed away 3 years ago, my mum is 83 now, amd sometimes there is cause for concern (but at the moment she is "okay"). She also tells me she doesn't want tubes or life support at all. If it is time, it's time...
Blessings to you and all your beloved - warm hugs from cold Austria, Traude
(and if you want to join my draw, you are very wellcome!)

Terri Gordon said...

Becky, I just wanted you to know how sorry I am for the loss of youf Mom, I have been following your wonderful blog about your wonderful Mom. I want you to know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Take Care. Hugs, Terri

Cassandra said...

Becky,
This was such a wonderful post. My heart is with you, sending big hugs. You are in my thoughts and prayers. xoxo Cassandra

Beverly said...

My heart and prayers are with you and your family.

Bryanna Lenan said...

My thoughts are with you... take care of YOU.
xo
Bryanna

Beth said...

Becky,

Thank you for this post. My mom went home to be with Jesus a little over a year ago but I miss her, gulp. My prayers are with you.

He is risen.

Beth

The Old Parsonage said...

Prayers and gentle hugs.

Leann

Ginger said...

Oh Becs I am so sorry. I knew something must be wrong because you haven't posted in a while. Just know my heart and prayers are with you and your family. I know it was very hard for you to let her go even when it is for her good. God bless you!
Ginger

Terri said...

Becs, I am so sorry for all you have been going through these past years. I am so sorry that your mum has passed, although I know that her pain is now gone.
I send you hugs of love.

Anonymous said...

Hi Becs,
I am just getting a chance to get caught up and read your post. First off what a wonderful woman of faith your mother must have been while she was on this earth to raise such awesome children. This is our greatest legacy and from what I know about you - she must have been amazing.
I lost my mother as a young girl, 13, to breast cancer and my father 7 years ago to the same devastating illness your mother experienced. He was only 72, young; too young for me!
Hang in there sweetie. I too look forward to the day I see them again - praise God for his awesome love and the promises fulfilled by his Son.
Hugs,
Amada

Leslie said...

This is my first visit to your blog and I have tears in my eyes. What a beautiful tribute to your mother. I lost my Dad this past year after only a few weeks of waiting for that final journey, so can only imagine watching a parent slip away slowly over a long period of time. My Mom has been gone for eight years and it is still strange to me not having my parents...it is quite an adjustment.

The title of your blog is what caught my eye. My youngest grandchild (who just turned one last week) is named Rebecca Rose after her great grandmother on her Mom's side..Rebecca...and my Mom...Rose. Although she is our ninth grandchild she is the light of my life. I think she is just a little special since she is named after my Mom. So anyway, how strange that I was drawn to your name because of our little Rebecca Rose and then to find your lovely post about your Mom. So now I have tears running down my cheeks. Bless you and may your wonderful memories bring you peace.
Leslie

Mary said...

Becky,
I have missed my blogging buddies...
Life has been so crazy here, I am finally hopping around to visit, and I see your post about your dear Mom.
I am so very sorry for your loss. Your post brought tears to my eyes.
You have a very beautiful Angel looking over you now.
I am praying for you and your family.
Warm hugs, Mary

Terri Gordon said...

Hi Becky, I am so glad that you received the ATC, I just wanted you to know that I was thinking of you and Happy Valentines Day, I sure do miss you. I hope all is going well and things are getting better for you. We Miss you. Hugs, Terri

Kathy said...

God Bless you and your family. What a lovely post.

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

So beautifully said. How fortunate you were to have had such a wonderful Momma.....I'm so sorry for your loss.....

I started my blog to help cope with the loss of my Mum....Like you, I'm so happy she's no longer in pain and with my dad and sister too.....but I miss her so much. There are so many things I want to talk with her about....just one more cup of tea.

Huge hugs to you.....

Spencer

Anonymous said...

Beautiful tribute, Rebecca. I'm so glad your sisters and you have each other - a constant reminder of your Mother. It's wonderful how your sister and b-i-l and you were able to share the caring for your mother and that she was happy and safe in the specialized home she next moved to.
My mother passed away unexpectedly 15 years ago - I was pretty young, 35. She just missed her 75th birthday which fell on Easter that year.
There have been many times since I've said or thought: "Mama would like this or that" or "I wish I could get this for Mama". But, she was losing her eyesight due to diabetes and I'm so glad she didn't have to go blind.
Anyhow, your post was just beautiful :) Blessings~