January 21, 2011 The ending to a busy day centered around Martha

Well, today has been a very busy day.  I feel like we had a circular front door.  Since Mom's time on earth is winding down her Hospice workers are coming more often.  The news they give me is sad but, informative.  Mom has entered the very last phase of this awful disease and it is a very sad thing to watch.  Even though we have accepted that she won't be with us much longer, I still mourn the fact that I will never be able to see her face or know that she is just a few miles away where I can get to her and visit whenever I want to.  I will see her face when I reach the gates of Heaven at my appointed time, I know, but I still will miss seeing her.  The Hospice caseworker came to see me and make sure I'm okay, after she left Audrey the nurse came to evaluate Mom and decided she should be started on a very, very small dose of Morphine for the discomfort she is experiencing in her neck and lower back.  It seems to work but makes her kind of tired, more than usual. While Audrey was still here Dolly and Neal came to spend some time.  Then Shanda and Regan arrived. Everyone left and after a little while Stacie came bearing a sub for our dinner.  Then came Amie and Shannon who had been to Albany.  Now, the party has started.  I took some time to rest and the girls all went in to visit with Mommy.  They were going to read some Bible passages to her and then just talk to her.  All of a sudden I could hear singing-it was the girls singing "church" songs to Mom.  It was such a beautiful thing.  The girls said that as they sang Mom would smile and open her eyes and even try to mouth some words.  She especially liked the kids songs.
   Now Mom is sleeping quite peacefully, despite the noise in the living room, the girls are all staying the night.  A sleep-over to honor all the sleep-overs that they had at Grandma O.'s over the years.  Right now they are dancing around the living room to Dolly Parton's "Go to Hell"-what a trip this is-and to think these three girls came from my body!!!!!!!!!  If Mom were only out here to see this she would be in her glory.  She loved to watch the kids play around and dance and act crazy. As I sat here watching them I kept wishing Mom could get up and just take a peek at them.  Now things have quieted down and I hear Amie reading poetry to Mom about what she will see when she gets home to see her Jesus.  Now there is singing once again.  Boy, this little lady is so loved by so many.  My girls have been very faithful in so many ways during this time.  I'm proud of you girls!!  I was thinking what a great family I have been blessed with.  We may go for long periods of time without seeing each other but, when it comes down to the nitty gritty, we all come together for the common cause.  Thanks again my faithful family and friends.
  Well, we'll see what tomorrow brings-only God knows.  I tell you, this little lady is a Harvey-tough as nails to the very end.  Tonight I go to sleep trusting God to do his will and to take care of all the details.  It's such a great thing to know that our Martha is now resting in the arms of Jesus-he has his arms around her frail little body-but, He sees her whole and perfect.

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Stacie here.....I just wanted to tell everyone that Audie spoke to a printer today about the booklet we are going to have made up of all our "Honoring Martha" tributes. It's going to be about the size of a an 8x10 piece of paper folded in half, bound by a plastic spiral. It will have a glossy cover, and the pages will be made of card stock paper. We are going to publish all the tributes we receive, along with as many pictures as we can, and have LOTS of copies made. Then we will be handing them out at Grandma's memorial service. The printing place said that they'd need 4 business days to complete it. So, if you want to have your tribute included in the book, PLEASE send them to me by Tuesday. Thanks again!