Update From Iowa

Saturday morning-
Got checked in at the airport easily ... my sister from FL had a layover there so we met for lunch before boarding our planes. We flew into different airports and so she then actually met my mom, dad, other sister and niece and nephew and drove in together.

My first flight went fine. Baby I was great- we were sandwiched inbetween two men. Nothing huge to report there. He did great as long as he was snacking :).

We had layover in MN and grabbed some much needed coffee before boarding our next plane into Sioux Falls, SD. This was a quick flight and a small plane (not even a drink service! lol!). However, I had an aisle seat and the woman across from me was just coming back from Cambodia on a missions trip. She and her husband have pastored a Wesleyan church for about 25 years. We talked the whole way and I got to share Baby I's testimony. I love it when God opens the door for me to share what he's done in our family and in Baby I's life because he always gets the glory!

We arrived into SD about a half hour early, hugged the woman I talked to the entire way goodbye, rented our car and were on our way. It was about an hour drive to the hospital.

Grandma is still quite amazingly alive. They didn't think she'd make it this long... but grandma has always been very stubborn ... I guess right up the end she is going to keep that trait. My aunt said that she's teaching us all patience up to the very end! :) It was difficult walking into a room and calling a woman who looked nothing like my grandma, "grandma". She was awake though and so I put Baby I up to close to her and introduced them to each other. She smiled :). We visited for about a half hour (then Baby I wanted a bed as he hadn't napped all day!) and during that time, she smiled quite a bit .,... at me, but mostly at Baby I :). She was looking me right in the eye and there was just no life left in them :(.

My mom and FL sister stayed while the rest of us checked into the hotel and put the three kids (and my dad) to bed. My other sister and I then took a two hour nap and headed back to the hospital by 11 as we got elected for the 11-6 shift of sitting with grandma. She's only hooked up to an iv and no monitors...they are just waiting for Jesus to come and take her home... so whoever is sitting with her needs to listen for her breathing ... that's how we will know when she goes home. There is an awesome family center on this floor with a kitchen and three family use computers... so I am journaling all of this here.

During that night I kept thinking of Jesus' words to the disciples "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?" when he rebuked them for falling asleep. I was my grandma's "watchman" that night (along with one of my sisters). It gave me a lot to ponder while I watched the clock slowly tick through the hours that night. I thought about all of the time grandma has poured into me (all her grandchildren and great grandchildren) ... all of the memories, the hours of prayer (each grandchild was assigned a certain day and on that day she would pray for us), the quilt she made me when I graduated high school, the baby quilt she lovingly made our first child (which Miss K still sleeps with each night :)), all of the Christmas ornaments she made for each child that joined our family, the ceramic angels she painted for each child, and the list goes on and on ... all so we wouldn't forget her and her love for us. Yes, surely, I could do the midnight watch thinking about all of these things... it's the least I could give her in these final days.

Sunday-
We spent the day at the hospital visiting with grandma (she smiled a lot today - even a few 'I love you's and 'hi's ) and other relatives. I took a much needed three hour nap as well. Baby I has been super great the whole time and I'm so glad I brought him. My sister captured a picture that I'll share when I get home between the two of them ... it'll forever be cherished.

Monday-
Grandma's local sisters have been visiting daily and her out of state sisters should arrive momentarily. From this morning to this afternoon (in about 2 hours time) she has declined rapidly. :( There is a lot of hugging, crying, and story telling/I remember stories going on today :). We will be surprised if she makes it through the night. My mom, dad, both sister and niece/nephew will be leaving before dawn tomorrow. My plane doesn't leave until mid afternoon. The reason my mom has to leave tomorrow is that she and my dad had booked tickets to FL to visit my sister's family a while ago. Pray for her as she is going to be upset not being able to attend grandma's funeral.... but she did get to spend her final days with her and I know she will always cherish this time deep in her heart.

Today there has been a lot of praying, reading the Word and hymn signing next to her bedside. It's amazing how those hymns I sung as a child are still with me and how the words come back so easily. Earlier this year, Mr B and I went and sat with a hospice patient in his final hours (he died the next day). What a difference... in H's case he was alone in a sterile room when his spirit left this earth. In grandma's room, there is standing room only because so many people want to be with her in her final hours... all coming to say their goodbyes and paying honor for the soil she's toiled for us all. Family. Love.

I'm off to take a nap while Baby I is still sleeping and will be going back up to the hospital after that. There is something I just love about this town ... no matter what store or restaurant you go in, there is Christian music playing... seriously. It doesn't matter if it's a fast food chain or a local mom/pop restaurant ... Christ is exalted here. I love it :).