Please join me in praying for the repose of the soul of David Campbell, my brother-in-law Peter’s father, who died on Sunday morning after being in the hospital for almost two months. And please pray for the consolation of all his family.
Mr Campbell was the kindest, gentlest man. A secular Carmelite and a doting grandfather. He and his wife have lived with my brother and sister-in-law since the older girls were very little and he has been a constant loving presence in their lives. My nieces and nephew are missing their grandfather very much.
My sister-in-law writes that they are so thankful that they all got to see him on Saturday and all the kids were able to give him a long hug, not knowing it was the last.
Peter and his mom went to the hospital Sunday morning because they heard his dad was in need of a surgery and they wanted to discuss transferring him to another hospital to have it.
Pete saw a Eucharistic Minister come on the floor before they transported his dad.
Even though he hasn๏ฟฝt been able to swallow even liquid, Pete asked if they please give him a small part of the Eucharist and encouraged his dad to swallow which he did.
On his way to the other hospital, in the ambulance, Pete๏ฟฝs dad passed.
What a blessing that Peter was able to be with his mom (she was going to go alone at first) and the biggest blessing of all was for his dad to receive Jesus right before dying!
Truly in the last week or so when we knew that he was probably dying, we prayed that he would have a peaceful death and it seems that prayer has been granted. Now, though, I pray for comfort and consolation for all the family and especially for Mrs. Campbell.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him. Grant peace and consolation to all of those who are left behind.
((((((((((((HUG)))))))))))
You feel about November the way I do about August. August is pure penance for me. November isn’t my favorite month, but I enjoy it. In fairness though, we haven’t had much rain or cloudy days. All week our weather is in the low 60s, sunny, with the last of the leaves falling. So we’ve been outside, in jackets, enjoying fall weather. I hope the rain lets up for you and, even if it is chilly, you can get outside a little. Glad you were able to get out and get some errands done. When we do have a rainy day, those are the days I put the girls to work with me and clean. I just finished a 3 day thorough cleaning of the kitchen. I doubt we will get any done this week as the weather is so nice, but it does seem to help the gray days pass while giving me that clean room and a feeling that I did do something despite not being able to go outside. As far as the dark, I don’t have many bright ideas. My only suggestion is to light a scented candle you enjoy that will give that nice candle glow and help the room smell nice. Hope you get some nice weather soon!
Oh, Melanie, you have my sympathies. It can be tough in November if you’re not used to it here. And even natives have been known to complain. It seems to me that Jo March was once heard to berate November, even though it was her birthday month.
I try to think of it as a cozy time, when everyone gathers closer to the hearth. Not having a literal hearth fire lit, that means we are all near each other… a hug-and-cuddle time of year.
Not every moment will be treasured, but perhaps the image of the hearth fire burning will help. Do light that candle!
I think that, for a little girl that dressing gown (robe) is lovely; it brightens up a winter’s day.
Thanks, everyone. Writing this was incredibly therapeutic. I think it bought me at least a week.
Sadly, I have issues with scented candles. With scented anything really. It comes with the allergy/asthma junk. Maybe this year with the asthma under better control with the new meds, I’ll be able to find a candle that doesn’t make me feel ill. Just don’t give me scented soaps or lotions. Those are almost always a bad deal.
scotch meg, I think it’s the hug and cuddle time that actually makes things harder for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love my kids, I love hugging my kids and cuddling my kids. But in moderation. I also need lots of space or I start to feel a little smothered. I used to feel guilty when Bella was a baby because sometimes for my own sanity I just needed to put her down and walk away. Attachment parenting philosophy and I have a love-hate relationship. It always sounds like a good idea to me. But then I hit a wall and just want to scream: “Don’t touch me!!!!”
Calah,
I shoulda known a fellow UDer would get it. (And I’m guessing you’d also get points for my follow up bonus round for having actually finished the book.) I actually am very fond of Moby Dick though at the time I protested profusely. I think much of Dr Curtsinger’s love for Melville’s masterpiece rubbed off on me. One of these days I’m going to actually re-read it.
I feel like I know EXACTLY how you feel. We have 3 at home ages 5, almost 4, and almost 2, and we are expecting our 4th in February. I get overwhelmed on the cold rainy days because of all of the mess that little ones can make and I know that my energy will be leaving me very soon (plus having a C-section to recover from) so I just keep offering up little prayers and trying to have something to look forward to, (like you said, a mug of cocoa, or whatever) in order to get through one day at a time. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this subject.
Call me Ishmael. I loved that phrase, in spite of the rest of the book. I know what you mean. I love Christmas and Thanksgiving but October and November seem really depressing sometimes. Fortunately we now live in the desert so even when it’s cold the sun never stops shining and it never rains. I’ll take pictures for you.
Curry makes everything better. So does anything baked with pumpkin!
Title from Moby Dick
Prayers for brightness in your soul if not in your home. I deal with seasonal affective disorder. Moderate exercise, a few simple decorations, and getting out of the house regularly (even to a drive through restaurant) seem to help.
I am so happy you will have this baby to love in the middle of it.
Danae, then we’ll be having 4th babies and c-sections at around the same time! I’ll keep you in my prayers.
I see you love not only MD, but also, to some degree, Dr. Curtsinger’s treatment of the same. His last book was on MD, in case you’re interested ( http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/seascape-soulscape-moby-dick/5509378 )—and Calah’s father-in-law wrote the preface, perhaps a bonus, perhaps not. Also, in case you hadn’t heard, Dr. C. passed a few years ago now. His eulogy from the University News: http://media.www.udallasnews.com/media/storage/paper743/news/2008/10/28/News/Eulogy.For.E.c.Curtsinger-3510917.shtml
Thanks for letting me know about the book. Though I enjoyed his class, I’ve never actually read any of his books. I really should and this is a good time to start.
I was so sad when I heard that Dr Curtsinger died. He was a great teacher. How fitting that his last book was on Moby Dick, as I recall that was the novel that changed his life and set him on the path to being a novelist and an English professor.
Oh Melanie, as always I love your honesty. We are coming into summer down here, finally getting the sun and dry weather we’ve all been longing for. Reading blogs has made me so aware that we ‘lend’ our seasons to the other side of the world when we are done with them. It’s made me appreciate them that little bit more.