Monday

Today's post is, earthly speaking, on the downside. Mom's nurse came to see how she was doing. Things have began to decline more rapidly, as we had seen over the weekend. She is loosing her appetite, very weak and frail, and very sleepy. She cannot walk around the house without someone helping her.

A hospital bed was delivered today. She will hopefully be more comfortable in a movable, self-programed bed. So far, she has slept soundly in it!

A couple highlights from the weekend:

#1) Having Terry and Betty Edwards visit from Central Oregon! They are always an encouragement to my family:).

#2) Eating delicious meals from amazing people! Meals from Shan Creek Church, Jerome Prairie and other visitors keep coming. Brandi and I were just talking about how long it has been since the last time someone in the house cooked dinner. I think we have all gained a pound or two, or five... Just for the info: Carrie Lundsberg makes the BEST ravioli soup! Delicious! Thank you everyone, for your kindness.

Friday...Trip to the Beach!

Update on Mom: She was resting more today, but was also able to get up and walk around some. She has been taking both a morning and afternoon nap. She had a great day with her grandgirls. Morgan almost pulled herself to a standing position today!

Today it was time to take a break, and travel along the coast to the girls' basketball game! John, Kenzie, Eli and I took our time driving to Brookings where we stopped for lunch at the harbor. It was such a beautiful day for a drive and the beach was gorgeous! We had some time to walk along the beach and climb through rocks. Eli and John, those crazy monkeys, climbed up a humongous rock. I tried to follow them, but... I am not as daring...:) We found the tunnel that Kenzie "discovered" a few years ago while she and John were at the coast. I think she's going to be famous someday! lol:)

It was fun to be at a game with Eli and Noah again. Those guys cheer really loud! The funniest thing was when John cheered for Lydia and it turned out to be Cathy - lol! The Varsity girls were ahead until half-time, but unfortunately, they lost by 7 points in the last quarter. Bummer! Lydia told me that the JV girls won; yay!

For dinner, we had to turn around twice to make up our minds where we wanted to eat dinner. We settled for a pizza place in Bandon that turned out to be really good.

It made for a long day, but, all-in-all, a very relazing, fun day!

You're Beautiful by Phil Wickham

Two Monday's ago, Josh videotaped mom dancing with John to the song, "You're Beautiful" by Phil Wickham. Since mom won't be here for the wedding, John wanted to make sure he got a chance to dance with her. I don't think he could have picked a better song! Talk about an emotional moment. We have been singing this song ever since!

You're Beautiful
by Phil Wickham

I see your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say... You’re Beautiful

I see your pow’r in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
Its all proclaiming who you are... You’re beautiful

I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are setting on your heavenly throne
Soon you will be coming home... You’re Beautiful

When we arrive at eternity’s shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we’ll sing... You’re Beautiful

Thursday Morning ...

This morning, I read an email from a wonderful friend up in Falls City, OR. Kathy is a mother of 9 children as well, and was my adopted mom while I lived and worked up there (she still is!). She shared a few things that she would like to see at the end of her life: her children singing praise songs, reading the Bible, praying, and talking about Heaven together. As I shared the email with mom, we thought about how God has allowed us to do all of those things! We look forward to talking more about what Heaven will be like and what she will get to do up there. For the believer, death is not a "goodbye," but a "See you later!" Because time is different up there, it's only going to be a short while before we will be reunited with her. What a fabulous hope we have through Jesus Christ!

Our conversation with family this morning centered around Heaven. I asked mom what she was looking forward to in Heaven. "To get to see so many people that will be there." What is thing you are looking forward to the most? "To see Jesus," she said with a smile.

1 Peter 1 fits so perfectly with my mom's life and standing with the Lord. We read this passage this morning (brackets are added):

"[Pam], an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of [Grants Pass, Oregon and abroad] who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls...

"Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Mom has not had the strong pain in her side like she did earlier this week. She was alert this morning, even enough that Dan was able to videotape her talking alot about her childhood and life.

Wednesday

Mom was getting up and walking around more this morning. She was not in a lot of pain today - Praise God! Mom and Dad enjoyed a nice visit from Pastor Guy and Geni Shields. Geni, or Nurse Geni as we like to call her, has been such an encouragement through this whole endeavor. At lunch time, mom was getting really tired. She is such a determined woman: even when she is tired, she doesn't want to miss out. She will stay up as long as she can, before her eyes start to close. She took a nice semi-long nap and got dressed up for dinner. We had a delicious dinner from Jean Ingels: spagetti caserole! Almost every night for the past 1 1/2 weeks, we have been blown away with yummy dinners from gracious friends. Thanks you guys!

Some days I am reminded of how much we do need her, like today.

Tuesday

Mom had a fairly good day today! She began the day with more pain in her right side (tumor is squishing her lung somewhat), and had difficulty sleeping last night due to the pain. After calling Hospice, we were able to figure out some things to do for the pain. She was very mentally alert today:) Mom and I read through some of her cards, emails and Facebook messages together. She was doing a great job reading the cards, but toward the end, she rested while I read.

We had two visitors this morning and a few in the evening.

Tonight we were really blessed (can't think of a better word!) to be all together for Bible reading and prayer before going our separate ways. Dad read Revelation 21-22 to focus our attention on what Heaven is going to be like (the New Heaven and Earth that God will set up someday, but still has similar characteristics to the immediate Heaven). It was so cool to talk together with mom about what she is going to be experiencing so very soon! No more tears, pain, but instead the glory of God! Infathomable. Mom is going to run around with some of her dear friends who have gone before and praise God with all of her might! Now that makes me smile:)

After Bible reading, we all took turns praying around the room. Prayer is such a great gift from God. For one thing, each person, and the group as a whole is communicating to God. Prayer also helps us to see what is really going on in the other person's heart, and bringing it before the Lord. Prayers for mom included: lessened pain, her heart to be focussed steadily on Heaven, peace and comfort, more time with her, seizing the time left with her, and thanking the Lord for the time He has given us with her.

One more thing: Although it has been very hard to see my mom's health fade every day, I am SO thankful to be able to spend this precious time with her and family. I cannot imagine how hard it would be to loose someone right away. We have the chance to be prepared...and to tell her how wonderful she is, one more time.

Monday: Mom began the week with a nice late morning of sleeping in, which actually had us worried. Although we thought perhaps she had taken too many meds the night before, it turned out she was ok, and felt more relaxed on Monday:). She looked so beautiful in the new pink shirt I got her. One of the beautiful blessings of this week for mom, has been having her precious grandgirls here! Eliana and Morgan are always so busy. Morgan just learned how to crawl and has been super excited to make her bouncing moves around the living room. Mom enjoyed sitting in her new easy chair (given by the Kenzie's parents! Thanks Heisners!) and watching her grandchildren play. She has been able to hold Morgan, and that happy little girl is very content in her lap!

Mom Cunningham

Many of you have been checking in about mom throughout the past few weeks when notice was given that her health is failing because of metastasized breast cancer in the liver. I cannot even tell you what an encouragement that has been to my family and me!

Because my family and I know so many people who love mom and want to know how she was doing, I thought I'd go ahead and post updates on a daily basis.

THIS WEEK:

Over the weekend, mom and family enjoyed many visitors. Jeepers, people have been so kind, always bringing flowers and/or cards for mom, and lots and lots of food! I know mom enjoys every visitor and is feeling especially loved these days. Thanks you guys! Mom did her best to be there for every visitor. By the end of the day though, she was tired!

Sunday was a great day to be at home with family. Mom was in more apparent pain today, but was low on a med., so hadn't been taking the usual amount. Joy, Dan and I drove to Cindy's to pick up the med, and decided to take a detour to Albertsons and Dutch Bros (random detail - lol).