Happy New Year -- 2009!!

In the distance, I can hear the bands warming up for the Rose Parade. It's about time to be heading out for Colorado Blvd and the incredible, amazing Rose Parade here in Pasadena. It passes by just two blocks north of our condo, but for the first time in our 12 (as of today) New Years Day celebrations in Pasadena, we're sadly not going to go view the Rose Parade in person. I'm fighting a cold, and even tho it's sunny, clear and 50 (and will be over 70 later in the day), standing for 2-3 hours outside early this morning doesn't sound like a very sound decision.

This has been a bit of a week. Some of you know that on Christmas Eve afternoon Neil's 93-year-old mother was put into skilled nursing for observation at Atherton Baptist Homes, where she normally resides in assisted living. She was very confused, congested, and not walking normally.

On Saturday late afternoon, while David, Chris and family, and we were preparing for our belated Christmas dinner, Atherton called to say they were transporting Mom Frey to the hospital.

Long story short, she has gone down hill quite quickly, with her memory challenges and continuing confusion. The fluid on her lungs and inflammation are now things of the past, thankfully, but she is unable to live in assisted living any longer.

Yesterday, Neil and I checked out the only private skilled nursing room available at Atherton, accepted it for Mom, and quickly moved her recliner, dressers, and a few family pictures for the walls, preparing her room for when she came back from the hospital, before Neil headed back to the hospital to be with his mother and I returned home to help a friend and house guest with a move. Are we ever glad we did as yesterday afternoon, the hospital decided to release Mom and transport her back home.

Mom Frey is now in her very own, brand-new room at Atherton Baptist Homes. Still confused, we pray that as she adjusts to her new environment, the confusion will abate, at least somewhat. After all, she's slept in three different places this week -- a shared skilled nursing room at Atherton, the hospital, and now her own but new skilled nursing room in another wing of Atherton. She did recognize her belongings and the pictures, which was really wonderful.

Tomorrow and Saturday, Leonard & Linda Frey (Neil's brother and his wife) will join us at Mom's assisted living apartment, and we'll begin the task of sorting and deciding what to do with the things that do not fit into her new little room. It will be a bittersweet task.

Life is a journey -- some parts of it much more pleasant and enjoyable than others, but we get through it all by the grace of God, depending on Him for wisdom in decision-making and for strength to do what has to be done. We are grateful for a loving, faithful God who is always with us and for Atherton Baptist Homes and the great facility and care they provide when our elderly loved ones need way more help than we can give them.

By the way, as I sat watching Mom Frey sleep at the hospital the other day, I realized that I've been married to her son for 42 years, and this is the first time she has ever been in the hospital. Pretty remarkable, eh?

This New Year 2009 is not starting exactly as we'd anticipated, nor did 2008 end as we thought it would, but we are grateful that God has worked out details in all things . . . throughout our lives, not just recently!!

Happy New Year 2009 -- and may God walk with you, and you with Him, throughout this brand new year!