Virginia (Ginger)'s Posts

Life is pure chaos here. I have not posted for such a long time, but I think of you in so many ways, from the encouragement and care you shared with me through surgery and recovery and so much more. There has been so much Chaos here lately that there are some things I just cannot remember clearly. We had a fire in our home that started at about 3 AM in a computer CPU Unit on Friday morning October 7th, Thank the Lord that Jim was home and reacts so quickly. Otherwise we probably would have lost so much more. In spite of the flames coming out of it, he pulled it out from the wall in our downstairs family room and into the middle of the floor. When the upstairs smoke alarm went off, it woke me out of a deep sleep in our room in the opposite corner of the house. The fire started in our downstairs Family Room where Jim has all of the electronic equipment lines against the wall : TV, speakers, tuner, amplifier, several computers and screens as well as a reel to reel, DVD Player, then in the corner his home office with stacks of papers and stacks of DVDs, along with his dictating equipment. As Jim was putting the fire out the CPU unit fell onto its side, lighting the carpet on fire. So after emptying two fire extinguishers, there was still burning carpet to contend with. Jim threw four bucketfuls of water on. now we had billowing smoke. I couldn't see more than 5 inches past my hand. Smoke alarms and the security system were blaring. So grateful that we had them! The security company called. But the fire was thankfully out. Now the billowing clouds of black, grey, and brown smoke enveloped the house. Yes, this is the cause of most fire deaths. We ran through the house opening wide all of the windows and doors. Then I scooped up Lacie, our cat, and ran for the window farthest from the fire's origin. We pulled in that great Kansas air. Early October, there was a cool mist and plenty of wind from the prairies. I don't even know how long we were there, but it was the safest place, without question, for Lacie, and probably for me, too.. By the time everything was done, most of the damage was from the toxic smoke. Sadly, although she struggled through and was looking pretty good, my favorite little shadow, often the only warm breathing being i would see for sometimes up to 72 hours, left this world. I miss her terribly. So glad none of the kids were here. We had a nice Thanksgiving at Elizabeth's and Jeremiah's. From the early morning on Friday, October 7th to today, December 15th, we are still recovering. Our family room was gutted. Jim's little home office had been in one corner and all of our electronics and TV, audio, even his dictating equipment, were gone. Smoke damage that made everything irreparable. Today the fire cleaning and restoration continue. The heating and A/C systems are getting a lot of attention. They are being cleaned almost the way a plumber cleans out clogged pipes, although no water is involved and they are running long twisting metal tubes that have a controller to rotate them in the ducts. Next finish cleaning out the furnace and A/C and we will, for the first time in over 2 months, have clean air (toxin-free) throughout the house. We hope by the end of tomorrow they will have cleaned all the carpets on this main floor. We can then move furniture back and allow all of our family on this main floor. The gate at the top of the stairs will remain closed not just for little Grand Blayne's safety, but also because our family room down the stairs is still gutted. Toxins are embedded in the drywall and ceiling. (The carpet and pad were gone by the second day after the fire. ) Jim and I have looked at carpeting. It won't be ready for Christmas, but we can visit and share gifts here. I am overjoyed! Then we have to check out some furniture and start to move in some toys and play things, blankets and pillows. I can hardly wait!. I can tell you that during my five years with six major surgeries, someone was filling to the brim our downstairs with so many electrical gadgets and things that the kids and Grands and I had not even room to sit. Each year I have asked for the family room back. This was year six... This year it is God Who is granting us room for family times watching our favorite teams play and cheer them on! I am waiting for the day when we can get another little furry animal to love, Our house will feel like home again and our family can be with us when they want to be. We lost much, but the real loss was the living, breathing Lacie. Slowly the rest is coming together and we will be able to celebrate together the Miracle that happened 2000 years ago and lives on in our hearts. CHRISTmas will be here! And it does not matter that not one package has been wrapped, or decorations have not even been found. For the Joy of this time of Year is a Joy of the Heart -- and How we have learned to love and appreciate our Hearts, and our Heart Family with so many Heart Brothers and Sisters. Elizabeth brought a wreath for the front of our home and Jim immediately hung it. I'm praying that Autumn's birds will come back and build a nest in it for her this year. What a touching gift that would be - new life to celebrate our New Lives! I love you deeply, my sister Terrie, my first Heart Sister, and Eleanor and so many more, and Brothers Tony and all! And I wish all the joys and fellowship and love of the season to live on in each of your hearts all the year through! And Merry Christmas Heart Family, Brothers and Sisters, Every One! <3

Seven years ago to the day yesterday my beloved Dad's spirit broke the bonds of this Earth and headed Home. We were celebrating because the few days leading up to it were extremely uncomfortable for Dad. Since he lived in Denver, my sisters and I did our best as a winter ice storm nearly prevented my twin sister and me from getting planes. But we landed in Denver within 15 minutes of each other and picked up a four wheel drive to Dad's home there. Our younger sister Beth was coming from her home in Phoenix, and we thought that trip would be a breeze. Not so as the winter in the rest of the country was preventing planes from leaving and even getting to Phoenix let alone taking travelers out. But we were blessed. As Dad was slipping away the sun went down and we turned on just a small bedside lamp. We were singing carols and Christmas songs, and I finally suggested that we sing "I'll be home for Christmas". There was not a dry eye in the room by the end of that song. Then Dad went to his real Home, no more tears, no discomforts. He had given us instructions so it was nice knowing what he wanted. Flash forward seven years to yesterday. My Dad's only sister, Virginia, my Aunt Ginny after whom I was named, was dying in Philadelphia. Our double cousin Garrett had been on top of things and was instrumental in orchestrating all of the moves and doctors since Aunt Ginny was found to be unable to live in her home alone quite a number of years ago. She had her 94th birthday on Dec 2, but Garrett told us he thought she was "holding on -- waiting". Sure enough, on the exact date that her brother, our Dad, had gone Home Aunt Ginny left this world and went to join him. She passed early in the morning. We are all very close, so there was a lot of texting throughout and into the day. We finally decided to toast those of our family who have gone before us, and a time was set for 9 PM EST. Since at least one of us lives in each time zone across the contiguous United States, we set our clocks and had a national family toast last night. How great to think that our Grandmother and Papa were able to have a reunion with both Dad and Aunt Ginny. And each of us had a sister already in Heaven. Must have been quite a celebration. For our particular family, that was the end of a generation on Earth. Garrett is now the head of the family, and the title befits him. He is wise, intelligent, strong, loving, and a good communicator. He will hold up the strong moral values and integrity and faith that are part of what binds us together. Today after some morning attention to the passing yesterday, I turned toward doing some of the things that will bring my own small part of the family a joy-filled Christmas and holidays. For us now, while it could be say that each of us is in the process of dying each day, no one that we are aware of has a death that is imminent. Our blessed aunt and mother is out of her pain. It is time for us to live in the moment and appreciate each one for what it is. I am indebted to this heart community; I am in my 17th month since my heart valve replacement and, while other health issues do require some attention, I am so grateful to be where I am today. So Merry Christmas or whatever holiday you choose to celebrate in honor of Who you serve. May you stay strong or get strong and keep working at it. This is a very courageous community, although none of us chose to be. May you be enveloped with joy and may it continue to richly bless you throughout 2016...