Seven and a half years since I have posted anything on here. I decided it was time to come back and give this another try. As for the many changes we have experienced, I will give it a shot to put it all out there.
First, all the kids have graduated from high school and are either working full time or going to school full time. Emerald just turned 28m yesterday, and works full-time as an IA in a local middle school and also holds down a part time job. She gives 150% at all she does and has become my "right hand man." Nathaniel is 24 1/2 and works at a local workshop. He is thriving and doing amazing there, oftentimes being used as a backup lead worker. He won't let Aspergers hold him back!! So very proud of him and his accomplishments!! Noah is now 22 and works for a local security company. He started out at Royals and Chiefs security directly after graduation. He loves working in security and is thriving and blossoming in his career. Rebekkah is 19 and a sophomore at MU, but now doing online classes and working toward a business degree. She also works part time at a local grocery store. These kids continue to blow me away and amaze me with becoming the amazing young adults that I prayed they would become!!!
Second, we experienced homelessness for seven months. This was definitely not something we ever thought we would face. It was a trying experience not knowing from one day to the next where we might be sleeping at night. God provided, ALWAYS, a place for us to lay our weary heads. It varied from a local hotel to various friends allowed us to housesit over the holidays and then some very dear friend let us land in her "dungeon" (as she affectionately called it.) We were there from February until the end of May this year. We never knew what a blessing that would be until Williams health failed and he ended up on hospice and palliative care. They are now more than friends, instead they have become family!!
Third, as I stated in the last paragraph, William went on hospice and palliative care. He had an unsuccessful Melody Valve placement on February 17th this year. He made it off the table, but ended up with bilateral abdominal bleeds and never recovered. He was tired, physically and mentally, and decided that hospice and palliative care was the best choice for him. He entered St. Luke's Hospice, at home, on March 9th and he got his healing and entered Heaven to be with Jesus on March 21st. With being in our friends "dungeon", we were able to fulfill his wishes and he was not alone and he was not in the hospital. The kids and I were at his side, as he entered the gates of Heaven. While we miss him terribly, we are happy to know that he is no longer in pain and no longer suffering.
As for me, I was able to use FMLA and spend nearly all of 2020 with him, caring for him and making memories that I will cherish forever!! It may have been as simple as laying next to him, holding his hand, or listening to the classic country music we enjoyed in the beginning of our marriage.Those are memories that no amount of money could replace. God is good!!! I am now back to work, but doing virtual IA and helping the amazing SpEd teacher I work with.
The kids and I are now in our own home, just behind our bonus family. ;) At this point, we know we are exactly where God has us, for this season of our lives. We have always been a close knit family and have become even closer and tighter knit than ever before. We still grieve the absence of William, and some days are much harder than others, but we continue to lean on God and each other for comfort and peace.
I intend to try and blog more, as a way to heal and grow in so many areas of my life. If you want, feel free to follow us on this new journey in our lives!!
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