Never been so tired...

First I want to say a Thank you for those special comments. They are so special to me. We have been through so much since I've posted. I wanted to shared a few things mostly for me to remember. We rushed to have the visitation on Sunday and the graveside service on Monday. Wanted to make it easy on everyone. I filled out the information for the funeral home and obituary trying to get help from the sons. Guess what? I failed to list Mrs. Story's only living brother. I got the ones that have passed on. I was really upset but it was to late. On Sunday morning we had to go to the funeral home to make sure she look OK. She looked so much better than she did the last weeks but her hair was a mess. So I got a pick comb and some hairspray and went to work. By the time I finished she looked really good. I've never done anything like that before but I knew it needed to be done. We decided that we would leave the casket open for about 30 minutes for the family then close it before the visitation and keep it closed at the service. Mrs. Story was a private lady and we didn't think she would want folks looking at her. Jodi(our daughter), Michelle(our nurse for them) and I carried Mr. Story to the church to eat lunch and to the service. Our church, Central Baptist, is wonderful when you loose someone. They fix a meal for the family on the day of the funeral. Thanks to them for all they do. And a special thanks to Jodi for all her help. I couldn't have made it these last two months with out her. She would stay with the Story's when I didn't have someone, to give me a break. She worked at the store, went to the store, just anything we needed. Back to the visitation. I spent most of the time with Mr. Story and I tell you it was one of the hardest things I've ever done. He began patting her head/hair and lips then her arms. Then he stood up and began kissing her on forehead and lips. He was trying to see if she was really dead. Oh my, I began to cry. I was trying so hard not to cry in front of him. I spent the rest of the hour and a half wiping his tears, assuring him that she was with Jesus and that we would take good care of him. There were lots of visitors that shared how sweet Mrs. Story was and how much they loved her. We then went to their house for some wonderful food that was prepared by the sweet folks at Kathy's Dance Arts Studio in Magnolia. I was so thankful that Josh and his precious girlfriend spent the night with us. Monday is kind of a blur. We met at the church for lunch and headed to the cemetery for the service. I was sure to add her brother and the Bro. Mike did a wonderful job. Mr. Story started crying the minute we got there. I sat with him while we were there and Lynn has to set by himself. I felt so torn with where I should be. My cousin Bille and her husband came and locked their keys in the truck. The nicest locksmith came and opened it without charging them. After the service we went to the Story's for some stories. We had a blast. I know Nanny would have been happy. Laura, Jeremy, Jodi and the grands were at our house while the babies napped. Laura was so sweet to clean up my kitchen. What a blessing the kids have been. The days since the service have been hard. I miss Nanny but I'm so thankful that she isn't suffering any longer. Papaw seems to be doing better. He hasn't cried much and has been sleeping all night. We are so thankful for that. My brain has just not wanted to work. Tuesday we opened the store and I was a mess. I just couldn't make my brain work. I just couldn't. Lynn finally sent me home to rest. I was better on Wednesday and Thursday but Friday was brain mush again. I haven't slept very good. I think I have my days and nights mixed up. My plan for this long weekend is to rest and try to clean up some of this house that has been neglected for a couple of months. I have slept off and on all today. I hope by Tuesday morning I will be back to my old self. Happy Memorial Day Weekend. Remember those who have given their lives for us all.
Blessings, Lori

Waking up with Jesus

Mrs. Story is waking up with Jesus today. She passed away yesterday at 9:03 in the morning. We are so blessed and thankful in knowing that she is no longer suffering, no longer struggling for a breath, no longer longing to be with her Lord and Savior. She was such a wonderful Christian lady who wanted all her family members to know and have a relationship with the Lord. She started reading her Bible through on January 1, 2011 with our church and kept up until her last days of which our special care givers continued in reading it to her until the end. What a testamony to her loved ones about her relationship with the Lord.
"A faith that fizzles before the finish, was faulty from the start." Isaiah 58:13 I found this in her bible and this is how she felt. Her faith and love for the Lord was her life. She and Monroe, her husband had the most wonderful marriage and love for each other. I've never had the opportunity to see this before. When Mr. Story came in the room after she had been gone for a while. He stood up out of his wheel chair and kissed her on the mouth. I could only cry. The love of his life was gone.  He has sat with her, patted her, prayed over her, helped her do all those things she couldn't because of RA for the past years. What an example of what real love is. My prayer is that the family will see that this is how God planned for marriage to be. We will celebrate her life today and tomorrow. You can find the information on her services at the following link.

http://lewisfh.funeralplan2.com/obituaries.aspx?turl=http://aurora-24607.tributes.com/show/Marilyn-Taylor-Story-91524649
Because of who He is, Lori

Dying process...

Mrs. Story made it through the surgery great but woke up extremely mad. She thinks that we are trying to prolong her life and is ready to die. She has been saying for months that she is tired and ready to go on. I know she has to be. The COPD has made her life so hard. But having surgery to repair the hip was mainly for comfort. She wouldn't work with therapy so they just sent us home and she was doing pretty good. On Wednesday things changed and she has crossed over into the dying process. The hospice nurse called me to tell me it could be anytime. I went and spent the rest of the day with her but she was still really mad at me and let's just say it was better for me not to be in the room with her. She wouldn't swallow so I would have to blow up her nose to make her so she could take the morphine. I have been pushed harder and further than ever with Nanny(that what we call her) than ever before. Many medical procedures that one should never have to do to anyone but their children when they are babies. The Lord has been faithful to give me the strength to do it. During all this we are having the busiest week we have the whole year at the store. Trying to be there and with Nanny has been a challenge. I had to work yesterday morning, there are lots of folks counting on us. I got a call from the nurse that I needed to come it was really close. I spent the afternoon and evening with her just holding her hand. I think she is not as mad as she would let me sit there with her. She has been close several times in the last two days which is such a drain. My sister-in-law, Karen, spent the afternoon with me which was wonderful. Our husbands just can't be there. Hers is better than mine but they just can't and that's OK. God has given us to one another to be what the other can't be. I am so thankful that he choose me to take care of her. Please pray for our family as we continue this process. God is so faithful we know and know that His plan will will be done.
Because of His promise, Lori

Sad and mad all at the same time

Have you ever been sad and mad all at the same time? Well I am and have been all day. We have round the clock care for my in-laws because they can no longer care for themselves. But Mrs. Story is so hard headed and continues to get Mr. Story to help her when he shouldn't . He tried to get her up during the early morning with out asking for help and they fell. He is fine, but she has a broken hip and arm. We spent most of the day at the ER in our home town and are now in ElDorado where she will have hip surgery in the morning. She has COPD(never smoked in her life) and is in the end stages with that. They will be giving her a spinal because she can't be put to sleep. My prayer is that this all will go well.
Now here's the mad... I am so mad because she won't listen to anyone. "I'm going to do what I want" is her attitude. We have been telling her for weeks not to let Mr. Story do things for her. Now here we are. This is one of the busiest week in our business and it looks like I can't be there. Lynn, my husband will have to be there so that I can be here. I'M JUST MAD!!!!

Here's the sad... it breaks my heart to see her in so much pain. She really is a sweet lady and I love her very much. It breaks my heart that Mr. Story can't be with her. He is so precious and loves her so much. He pats her hand and face when she is sick. I have never seen a man love a woman so much. I only hope Lynn will love me that much.

So there is my heart.
Blessings, Lori

My Favorite Food… PIZZA & I’m giving some away!!!!

I love PIZZA so much it is my favorite food. If I was stranded on an island and could only have one food it would be pizza. So I was excited to try the FRESCHETTA® SIMPLY...INSPIRED™ pizza.

We tried the Rustic Pepperoni Pomodora and it was AWESOME. The thin crust was crispy of which I love. The pizza is larger and has more toppings than you usually get on a frozen pizza.

 FRESCHETTA® SIMPLY...INSPIRED™ offers FRESCH-TASTE SEAL™ Packing which locks in the vibrant flavors, while using 30% less packaging material.

There are eight different pizzas that offer very distinctive flavors: Farmers Market Veggie, Southern BBQ Recipe Chicken, Tuscan Farmhouse, Chicken Bianco, Hawaiian Style, Classic Bruschetta and Harvest Supreme.

SIMPLY...INSPIRED™ A Celebration of Great Taste™
Check them out on Face Book they will be giving away coupons. http://www.facebook.com/FreschettaSimplyInspired

I will be giving away a coupon for a free FRESCHETTA® SIMPLY...INSPIRED™ pizza of your choice and   FRESCHETTA® bamboo cutting board.

To enter you need to be a follower of LorisStorys and leave a comment of which pizza you would try.

Hope you win!!!!

Blessings, Lori

Winner

I am so totally excited that I am the winner... from over at GUSSY. She has some awesome things!!! She was giving away a signed copy of Vintage Notions by Amy Barickman. You can read about it here.
http://www.gussysews.com/2011/04/win-a-signed-copy-of-vintage-notions-by-amy-barickman/
This is the most awesome prize!!!!! One of those give aways that I REALLY wanted!!!
Blessings to you all,
Lori

In transition

My life is truly in transitional place right now and while on this trip the Lord is helping me as I’m making some much needed changes in my life. One is my blog, I have struggled over the last few months in doing what “I” want with my blog. I love contest, crafting, blog hops and reading everyone’s blogs. But that takes tons of the time I have left from just life. It is so easy to get caught up in it all and let the things that you need to do go. So after opening up and letting God work and knowing that I need to put Him first in my life I will be using this blog a little differently. If I have stopped following you, I hope you will understand. I will still be following those that have craft ideas and will be saving those that I really like and want to make when the time is right. I will enter some contest but only those that I have time for and those that are really something I’d like to have (Silhouette for sure). I may offer a give away from time to time and will have our products from time to time but mostly I will blog about my life, my family and my Lord. That will take lot of time cause we are a busy bunch. My prayer is that you will see the love of the Lord in my blog. I wanted to share with you the following.
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http://www.number17cherrytreelane.com/2011/04/quitting-can-be-ok.html

During my struggle, I was reading this post from Rachel and began to giggle. God is so funny at times. He knew just what I needed that day. Showing me just what He had for me through the words from a sister in Christ. I am so thankful that He loves me no matter what.                                                                            Blessings, Lori