Daughters #2 & #3 have gone back to school. I'm not gonna lie -- it was tough. But another hurdle jumped. I'm tired.
I wanted to let everyone outside of my town know how well I'm being taken care of. This may be a huge post.
First, I have meals, which is great because I can't even seem to put a piece of bread in the toaster.
Next, I have someone totally in charge of all of the medical stuff that's going on. Words cannot express how grateful I am to her.
Two of my sweet friends came over yesterday and planted all of the plants from the service in and around our yard.
I have people picking up family and friends from the airport. I have friends who have driven me to tennis and more.
I have a friend from church coming over today to replace a toilet. Another godly man.
I have a friend working on getting air mile accounts worked out.
I have a friend who deals with the funeral home and everything that goes with it.
I have a friend who takes all of my calls for help and finds someone to help me.
I have friends who have stayed the night with us.
I have friends who took down the Christmas tree, put all of the decorations up in the attic, cleaned up the house -- and made a toast to Jim, while we were on the cruise.
I have friends who have brought me comfortable clothes to hang around the house in.
I have friends who totally took over my house and my life that first week. Though I don't remember much of it, I know they took wonderful care of me and the kids.
I have friends who don't want to leave my house.
I have friends who would love to come over every day and stay with us.
I have a friend who took the two outside dogs and got them adopted the first day (if I can't toast I certainly couldn't handle those two anymore).
I have a friend who has taken our other dog to her home, without asking me when she gets to bring her back (the dog is living with her sister and much happier there).
I have a friend who has volunteered to tutor Son #2.
I have a friend who has Son #2 at Starbucks this very moment, helping him with a paper.
I have a friend who's coming over later to help Son #2 with another paper.
I have a friend who helped Daughter #1 get a copy editing job at one of our local papers.
I have friends who took our cars in while we were on the cruise to have work done on them.
I have a friend who has taken care of Son #1's car and the estimates from two different fender benders (not his fault). The car is currently being fixed.
I have a brother-in-law who's coming tomorrow to help me with the "business' part of this. The stuff that makes my head swim and my heart race.
I have friends who've bought groceries.
I have friends taking special care of Daughter #1, the vegetarian.
I have a friend who's taking the boys to the lake to show them how to winterize the boat.
I have more than 50 tennis friends (some who don't even know me that well) who contributed to pay for my brother and my sister to fly here (so never listen to those "snobby tennis-women stories! They are awesome).
I have friends who run errands for me.
I have friends who cry with me.
My friend of 30+ years is coming from Okla today to stay for a few days.
I have a friend who's a vet who took the kitten in to get fixed and de-clawed.
I have a friend who came over to cut the girls' hair. Twice.
I have friends who have sent Thank You notes for me (I have decided that the practice of writing Thank You notes after the death of a loved one is barbaric. So I apologize to all of you who expect one, all of you who follow Emily Post, and to all of you who deserve one. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to handle that. So I want to say Thank You for each plant, each flower, each meal. You're wonderful.).
I thank my Okla friends for planning to come sit with me when my mother-in-law has her surgery. I will need as many of you as possible.
I am positive that I'm leaving many, many of you out. I'm sorry. I think I've mentioned before that I have ADD now. Severe ADD. And memory loss. Also severe.
All of you would have made Jim cry at the way you're taking care of us.
I know you won't stop.
14 comments:
Good afternoon my darling daughter. What a wonderful post. I sit here crying out of gratitude for your many friends. Mothers worry an awful lot when they can't be where they want to be to help "fix things". Now I see I have no need to worry and am so very greatful for that. I know this sounds false at the moment, but you are, indeed, a most fortunate woman. I know your life sucks right now, but you have so many people who love you, caring for you. I love you dearly and I love all those making it possible for me not to worry so much. I will see you soon.
You are amazing! Thank you for the gift of sharing your thoughts.
Love you!
DT
That was a long list and very touching to know so many people love you and your family so much! Enjoy your time with your Oklahoma friend-what a precious gift our lifelong friends are to us!
I am so honored to be one of your many friends. They are all such loving and precious people!
Love,
Natalie
I wanted you to know you are not far from my thoughts and prayers. You are loved...
Janine, I just found out about your blog from Denise, and I have sat here for an hour reading it, crying, and aching for you. I love your girls that just left to go back to school - what precious girls! There are no words to express the ache in my heart when I think of you! Thank you for your honesty!
Malinn
You are very welcome. I know you would do the same for me (okay-- maybe you wouldn't take the "yule log" on an "as is" basis but that's okay---I don't blame you!). I feel honored to be at your service--DB
I love you, Mommy.
I miss you already.
And I'll talk to you soon.
Hey J:)
Wow...what an amazing and wonderful group of friends! I wish I could hug every one of them and thank them for taking such great care of you and the kids. It's comforting to me to know that they are there...so thank you for telling us about them all.
I love you...an you're still in my prayers every single day.
Lisanne
Girl,
You have obviously given of yourself to many and now they have an opportunity to give back. What an incredible list of special friends. Your gratitude is inspiring. You know us in OK have always heard things are bigger in Texas and it sounds ike the hearts and generosity of your friends would confirm that it's true!:)
Continuing to pray for you.
Love,
julie
Hey sis! I agree with Julie! Every thing is bigger in Texas and I got to see it first hand for myself and I was and still am amazed at the wonderful people you have in your life! (I told you you wouldn't have to worry about that!) I have no way of knowing each and every tennis team name and address so I can thank them personally for thier generosity of my airplane ticket so I will say thank you here to them all. I am sure they read your blog and if they don't the word will get around I am sure. So thank you ladies, thank you from the bottom of my heart for my ticket and for loving my sister as much as you do. For all you have done for her and her family and are still doing. To all the other friends...I have thanked alot of you personally but if I missed any thank you! Janine is blessed to have such wonderful loving friends.
I love you sis and can't wait to come and see you in April! Have fun with week with V and mom this weekend. Or try anyway! Love ya!
Julie is right, when she said "You have obviously given of yourself to many and now they have an opportunity to give back". I would just re-phrase it a tiny bit and say
"You and Jim have given of yourselves to so many and now we have an opportunity to give back".
A man stopped me after church today to ask if there was anything he could do for you, any fix-it jobs around the house needing attention? I thought for a moment, and actually came up with something that was a rather large job, that Nat and I had just discussed needed to get done. I told him what it was and without hesitation he said "I can do that". and I just think it is an awesome testimony to Jim that so many men, brother's in Christ, want very much to honor Jim, and offer support to your family. It speaks volumes to the kind of man Jim is. (I still have a hard time using past tense)
And I echo what DB says, I know you would do the same for me. I love you. K
Janine--
Wow!! What an incredible group of people that have surrounded you this last month and will continue to do so. I am a friend of some of your group that's taking such great care of you. I have been thinking of you and the kids and praying for you constantly. I don't have a lot of talents, but you have been on the receiving end of one of my talents on past New Years Day festivities. (I understand I had a sub this past New Years that did an awesome job!!) You know she lives an hour from here. So what I'm saying is that if I can help by bringing some of those to you, I can mix a batch and be there in 20 minutes--just say the word!!
M & I will continue to pray for you and your family.
Get them here as soon as you can.
And thank you.
This post made me cry. Friends are incredible aren't they?
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