Today was a wonderful day. Temperatures were great too. I set out on a mission that turned out was cancelled, and returned home and took care of other matters. Made some breakfast and had a shower, and then Katie and I headed out. First, we head off to the dump to rid some old boxes. Then to the library to get the December calendar. She gets one each month. They have all events for the county’s activities, and the 18th they’re making winter solstice lanterns. We’ll attend that event. Coming through town we saw the infamous doughnut trailer all alone. We circled back around and grabbed some. Then we stopped by the Re-store to make a dvd stand donation, and after that, headed to Tractor Supply to get Gypsi some dog food and then as planned Katie grabbed her a new chicken calendar and another toy for Gypsi.
Later on, I had tuna fish sandwich and chips with some doughnuts on the side from the downtown doughnut vendor. He was setup from the Christmas parade we missed earlier. Katie had already informed me she had no interest in the parade anyway. Picked up around the house some. Not much though, cause not really makin that big a mess..haha. Read a little bit, and remembered that I had planned to remove Mary’s clothes from the closet. All week I kept making mental notes to do this. My daughter offered to help when she would be coming in to visit in January, but I really needed to get it done now. The day was beautiful and sunny. Katie and I had returned from a few errands that went really well. I had just finished some reading and thought now was a good time.
I prayed before I opened the closet door. I knew what was there. It’s not like it was the first time I’d opened those doors. Knowing this was it, the day, the time had come to remove them. I realized as I counted that it had been five months. I had to correct my last post where I wrote it had been four months since Mary died, when in fact it’s been five months. I didn’t want her shirts to hang there any longer. We had already gone through and removed what Katie wanted to keep. She kept several. There wasn’t tons of items left on those hangers, but there was still a lot, and they needed to come down, and go hopefully to a woman’s shelter of sorts. I still need to pack her items in the dresser drawers too.
I made it through that process as well as expected. It was a touch and go process, but I knew I had to do this, and I also knew I could. It was an emotional process a few times, but overall, I removed them all from the hangers, folded and boxed them all up. Memories passed before me while folding them. A blue shirt she wore when getting her biopsy, and the green shirt I bought her at the hospital on her first chemo treatment. At times I felt like I was packing her up and putting her away, which was not, and is not true. She will forever be with me. I made a big step and moved some stones today doing this. I was glad I got this done because the next stone won’t be as hard. It’s good to have encouragement too. Especially from friends who understand, and from friends who are just here by my side.
This is the day!..It’s been a wonderful day, a beautiful day that the Lord has made. “Be joyful in Hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.-Romans 12:12
“I want to end this post sharing these words from a friend that spurred me on recently:
Five Things God Wants You To Remember In Trying Times “You’re never, ever alone. Nothing takes Him by surprise. When you’re weak, He’s strong. He’s the God of new beginnings. His love never gives up on us.”
Broadcasting Hope 