Catching Up

I've spent gobs of time of Facebook and totally neglected this blog. We've had an eventful summer! We started our summer vacation with the kids going to church camp at Panama City with First Baptist Church Woodstock.
Then, we made our annual journey to the beach in SC to have our fun week with family. This beach vacation was especially nice because my cousin Debra and her 4 children were added to the mix. We had so much fun, but more importantly, our 14 cousins (the grandkids/great grandkids) really formed such close bonds. That was a big part of my childhood . . . spending time with my cousins, so it was nice to have our three experience this family gathering.
Family is so important. It can be challenging to gather that many different personalities together, but one learns to try and adjust to anything and everything for their family. It is worth every minute.
We came home to Ray's Aunt Elizabeth in the hospital. She and Ray's mother are in a nursing home 25 miles from our home. Aunt Elizabeth is in her 90's suffering from Alzheimer's. His mother has had numerous strokes and cannot walk or function on her own without assistance. So last year this time, we began the long process of moving his father in with us and getting his mother and aunt settled here nearby. So, Ray has become the prime caregiver for his parents and aunt. Aunt Elizabeth had pneumonia, and is now back at the nursing home resting. His mother was next to be rushed to the hospital. Long story short, her lung cancer has returned and she is now back at the nursing home receiving care from Hospice. Please pray for her . . . this has not been easy to watch a parent go down each day. Ray and his father are extremely stressed and tired from the whole process. Pray for their strength.
On a happier note, Elizabeth got her license today. It's been slow coming, by her choice, but she did it. As I write, she is on her innaugural trip to have lunch with her cheer coach and some friends. PRAY for her safety!!!
Well, will try to keep this up better. Love to all who read.