Midsummer Dream

My neighbor reminded me yesterday that summer is half over, and school will start in six weeks. Where has the time gone? I have done so very little in the way of accomplishments but a great deal of resting, relaxing, and napping. Mornings are my favorite time of day. We have coffee out on the deck nearly every morning, visiting and watching the birds. I kept buying plants and flowers until I found some that I could not kill, so the backyard is pretty and fragrant. My dear friend in the neighborhood often stops by after walking her dog. Sometimes Tex is up with us, and sometimes not. His health is on an upswing right now so we are able to enjoy the mornings together. Life is sweet in the mornings. I am learning to look for and accept the things of beauty that the Lord has provided.

Post retirement

I haven't blogged in a long time, and I am not sure why. So much going on, with the end of school and the actual fact of my retirement. It has been an emotional time, even though I know this is the right thing to do. Mornings we sit out on the deck and have coffee, watching the birds. Sometimes with Fred and sometimes with my neighbor Sherry. I have had a lot of errands to run, and seem to have settled in for a quick nap while Fred sleeps in the afternoon. I try to read but instead, I match his breathing and go to sleep.

End of the Year and the End of a Career

One of the things I wanted to get done before I retired was to get the house in good repair. Even though I am retiring a year earlier than I had planned, I am actually getting it all done. My fabulous contractor Jody has put in 10 new windows in the back room overlooking the pool, along with moving the door around to the north side of the back yard. This gives us a gorgeous view of the pool and plants. We will also have a gated deck so that the little grandchildren can actually play outside. I never thought that I would live in such a beautiful house as this is turning out to be!

I have taught my last class; all that is left is to balance the grades, write the annual report, and pack my things and bring them home. Closets have been cleaned out, lots of stuff given to the church garage sale, and even the office has been improved some (I have to have a mess somewhere or it won't feel like home.)

The students and faculty gave me such a tribute last Friday night at the BSSW Student Banquet that I am still enjoying the glow from it. I feel that at the apex of my career I was respected, loved, and going to be missed. What a great way to leave! One of the things I have always believed is to leave while people still want you to stay.

Here is what was written on the plaque they presented to me:

ANNA RAE ROZELL
For impeccable service and dedication to the social work field.
You were a mentor, an advocate, and you motivated us to succeed.
You made a difference in our lives.
The BSW students of UNT.

Then each one of the students wrote an individual note as well.
Who could want to accomplish any more than this?

April Thoughts

My flowers are abundant this spring--lots of pansies, daffodils, coreopsis, batflowers, and the first iris bloomed yesterday, the Megan Elizabeth iris! I am actually enjoying some of the work I have done in the flower beds!

I seem to be a somewhat different person right now. Fred came home about 10 days ago; far from feeling trapped in the house with him, I am enjoying taking care of him at times. He cannot walk, he can hardly make transfers, I often have to feed him because of the severe tremors, and he can't be left alone. But I find myself strangely peaceful about it all. It is wonderful to have him to kiss and cuddle. Of course, there are moments when I don't know what to do and feel panic, but mostly, I am quite content staying in the house with him. Part of this is because of the wonderful support system we have, with hospice nurse and aides, Janine is back from Kind Companions, friends coming by to visit etc. If you had asked me even a year ago if I could care for him when he is bedridden, I would have said "no." How often I forget that God gives us the grace to deal with each day as it comes.

An Emotional Spring

It is Spring here in Texas, trees blooming with white pear blossoms everywhere, daffodils coming up etc. And Tex is still in the hospital, having spent 10 days at home since the middle of November. Lots of UTI's which can no longer be prevented, according to the urologist. He wants to come home; I want him home. After being on the 24 hour care circuit for 4 UTI's in 4 months, I think we can care for him as well at home. The emotional issue is whether or not to initiate hospice care. I believe that it is time. Bird Girl is leery that her father will not get the care he needs to fight the UTI's agressively. It will take a combination of hospice and home health care to do that, now that he only responds to IV antibiotics. I think that we can do this, and that he needs to be home. Maybe he can pull off another miracle; he has done this before. Maybe our time together is running out. Regardless, we want to spend it together. Please keep Tex, me, and our whole family in your prayers.

Year 21

Tex has been back home for a few days now so we are slowly laying down some new routines. He is in a wheelchair now so getting around is a bit more cumbersome. The lightweight folding chair is a godsend! It is soooo good to have him home!
It has been good to have the part-time caregiver back to help out and to teach me some easier ways to do things. He wants to try going to church tomorrow; keep your fingers crossed for us.

We had a fabulous 20th wedding anniversary party, just two weeks ago! Lots of family and a few dear friends came to celebrate with us. The food was delicious and the company was even better.

All is well on the home front.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland!

Well, chickadees, it has been snowing and snowing and snowing here at the R & R Ranch. Here in the Lone Star State, we get an occasional inch or two of snow, which causes everyone to get all excited, schools to close, and we all have a SNOW Day. Now, I have lived in cold country and I know what real blizzards are like, but we are having a blizzard here! So far, between 7 and 9 inches. And it will ice over tonight! Yipes! What that really means is that I will not get to go to GrandFriends Day at the Little Cowpoke's school. Darn!

Other news: Tex and I have been married for 20 years, as of yesterday. We are going to have a luncheon for family and a very few friends on Saturday. (Weather should permit!) Being married to Tex has been remarkably easy, all things considered. A few life situations have been thrown at us, but we are more in love than ever. That boy has a capacity for love that is absolutely phenomenol. I have truly learned about God's love from watching Tex.

His health seems to have stabilized although there continue to be UTI's. So, we are planning to have him come home after the DOK retreat. Hooray! We know his health is fragile but God has brought us this far, and there have been some very good years while his body continues to do its Parkonsonism thing. We have been truly blessed!