With temperatures rising throughout the week and reaching almost 60 degrees yesterday, the snow has melted making it look more like spring than winter. If only that were so – I just prefer snow for Christmas and then I’m ready for sunshine, warm temperatures, and flip-flop weather again … but that’s not how it works in the mitten. It’s a cooler day today, with gray skies and rain, and sure enough we are predicted to be back in the 20s this week.
I’m having a lazy day today. I’m nestled in my big comfy chair in my pajamas and with my new heated blanket. After I post this blog, my plan is to continue watching season one of Downton Abbey on my Kindle and then later, try out a new recipe for dinner. Aside from that, I’m not doing a thing. Not one thing. It’s unusual for me not to be doing something, but I need this down time today.
The first full week back to work after the holidays is always a shock to the system after the previous long weekends spent enjoying family, friends, holiday activities, and indulging in great food and drink. The hubby and I were doing pretty well this week (aside from my husband struggling with bad back pain after a hockey injury last weekend), but we had made it through half the week and were really looking forward to the weekend. Then Thursday brought some devastating news to our family: my brother-in-law (my husband’s sister’s husband) passed away. He had gone into the hospital with back pain, and after two weeks of testing and wondering what was going on, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer just before Christmas. No treatment options. Hospice. One to three months. He passed away in less than a month. Needless to say, we’re in shock. We heard the prognosis, but figured there was plenty of time. Nobody saw this coming so fast. We feel so sad for my husband’s sister and her two daughters. We can’t make sense of it, and there really are no words right now. No words.
What furthered the heartache was that my husband’s birthday was Friday. Albeit a usually happy and celebratory day, neither of us felt very cheerful or excited for the coming weekend after hearing the news. But, in the interests of self-care and pushing forward to deal with our emotions, clear our heads, and make sense of all of this – we celebrated the birthday anyway. We took a little getaway on Friday afternoon for lunch and shopping with our Christmas gift cards, and then we celebrated with family over dinner, dessert, and drinks last night. It was good that we did that. Being carefree and feeling alive is what we needed to get us ready for what will come later this week as we gather with loved ones and remember this great brother-in-law of ours.
Life is good, but life is tough. I believe in God and trust He has a plan, but I for one do not always understand it. I’m full of questions and thoughts, but I’m choosing to rest and decompress today – allowing God to enter the hurt and sadness. I’m praying for God to comfort my sister-in-law and nieces, and that they know how much they are loved and being thought of at this time. I’m also praying that all of us in the family would be attentive to their needs and help them through this in the best way that we can.
That’s all for today. Time to rest.
Elizabeth Ann says
Love the verse you chose for Beth Moore’s Scripture team! 🙂
Hannah says
Thank you! Love your blog! 🙂