tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:56:56 +0000http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/pflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)Blogger314125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-3062757436556580786Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:43:00 +00002009-11-10T09:47:40.300-06:00I read this this morning and it really struck a cord in me. I thought I would like to share it with you:God comes to us exactly where we are— Not where we should have been if we had made all the right choices in life, Not where we could have been if we had taken every opportunity that God has offered us, Not where we wish we were if we didn’t have to be in the place where we find ourselves, Not http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/Hl8rI0oCKrw/acceptance.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/Hl8rI0oCKrw" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/11/acceptance.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-5964003766439735367Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:46:00 +00002009-11-08T15:50:33.710-06:00SunrisehibiscusgiftBeachLighthouse InnGallerymoonWhen I was all caught up in the activities surrounding Mother's illness and death my husband said, "When this is all over I will take you off to the beach." Well, true to his word, on Thursday he told me to pack my bag for a few days' trip. He was taking me to the beach. He had made all the arrangements and we were off! We had reservations at the Lighthouse Inn--a favorite place where they have http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/iTg412vZzo4/gift.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/iTg412vZzo4" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/11/gift.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-3031295464772969459Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:29:00 +00002009-11-01T11:59:05.477-06:00This week has been a week of catch-up activities. We returned from Mother's burial in Amarillo on Monday and then I spent the week doing laundry, buying groceries, cleaning up the house and all those things I had not done the weeks that Mother was sick and after her death. It is amazing how many things I had neglected during those five weeks. I promised to post some of the wonderful pictures fromhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/1nbFmRVx7hs/catching-up.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/1nbFmRVx7hs" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/11/catching-up.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-6994667398194827991Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:49:00 +00002009-10-21T20:11:46.024-05:00Family gatheringCelebrationFuneralWe had Mother's funeral this past weekend and had so many good friends and family members join us for several days. Saturday night we had a Vigil Prayer Service and story telling with friends and relatives telling their favorite Mary C, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Gram stories. Three of my boys made video tapes of the story telling and I watched one last night. It was wonderful!!Sunday our parish http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/AK9QwDbOlQs/family-time.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/AK9QwDbOlQs" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/10/family-time.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-2769951369626259652Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:37:00 +00002009-10-16T22:24:00.025-05:00Vigil ServiceFamily gatheringFuneralThe pace around here is definitely picking up and I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Family members are on their way from nearby and as far away as Egypt. Our WHOLE immediate family will gather this weekend for a marvelous celebration of Mother's life.Tomorrow night we will have a Vigil Service (a prayer service our parish priest suggested) and a session of story telling. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/NKlH2wrt9vQ/breathe-breathe.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/NKlH2wrt9vQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/10/breathe-breathe.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-1660204750278539317Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:01:00 +00002009-10-12T20:41:59.716-05:00My brother and sister and I whizzed through decision-making and planning yesterday after Mother died. We really work well as a team, just as we did when our dad died ten years ago. It is marvelous to have supportive family members at times like this. And it is wonderful to have so much support in making important decisions. The result of our planning is as follows:The church was not available on http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/K8oyqQzPcC0/making-plans.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/K8oyqQzPcC0" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/10/making-plans.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-6286475303398913210Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:18:00 +00002009-10-11T10:26:15.347-05:00Mother passed away peacefully this morning--about 7:50, Sunday morning, October 11, 2009. My sister, Anne, and my brother, Joe, and I spent a wonderful day with her yesterday. Early on Saturday morning we had a chance to visit with her and she recognized that her kids were there with her. We spent the day visiting and reminiscing with her and among ourselves. Fr. Jim Evans came and anointed her http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/rB6MM9eGzZM/mother-died-this-morning.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/rB6MM9eGzZM" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/10/mother-died-this-morning.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-6248727061348847897Sun, 11 Oct 2009 02:48:00 +00002009-10-10T21:49:54.158-05:00Mother is resting comfortably today. They are keeping her pain under control and she is sleeping most of the time although she woke up this morning and had a bit of responsive time with my brother and sister first thing. After that she was uncomfortable until they gave her enough medication to help with the pain. Our dear guardian angel doctor had the day off but sent an associate to check on allhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/1trLxxvrq54/long-day.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/1trLxxvrq54" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/10/long-day.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-90147420344722520Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:26:00 +00002009-10-09T10:27:04.091-05:00HospiceYesterday was a difficult day because Mother was in pain all day. This morning the doctor said her kidney has stopped working and she is unable to eat. He recommended Hospice and I agreed. This way we can take care of her pain and allow her to be more comfortable.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/WBpZG_Aeqdo/hospice.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/WBpZG_Aeqdo" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/10/hospice.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-2433762668525561740Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:54:00 +00002009-10-07T10:05:53.080-05:00Mother woke up all chipper this morning. She had a rational conversation with the doctor and demanded food at 10:00. When the doctor started to leave she asked him what he was up to today (a favorite question she always asks me) and he just hooted. As he walked out the door she told him to behave himself and he just leaned against the wall and said "She cracks me up! Her grandchildren need her http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/upH3KIyDjDA/each-day-whole-new-chapter.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/upH3KIyDjDA" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/10/each-day-whole-new-chapter.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-6719367419513609911Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:34:00 +00002009-10-06T17:38:26.648-05:00Today they were supposed to do another surgical procedure on Mother and the nurse said she thought they would take her about 8:00. She suggested I get there a little before 8 a.m. so I could accompany her down to the surgical area. We waited all morning--no surgery. The nurse worked hard trying to get pain medication balanced so that Mother was not in too much pain or agitation and right after http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/-17m2zcAdrc/another-exciting-day-at-hospital.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/-17m2zcAdrc" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/10/another-exciting-day-at-hospital.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-1756343625081654535Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +00002009-10-05T19:03:15.718-05:00Mother slept most of yesterday and today she was in a lot of pain and discomfort. She was rambling in what she said and it was hard to stand by her bedside and watch. I hope and pray that all of her systems begin to work together and she improves quickly.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/C-eQX5ADtKQ/difficult-days.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/C-eQX5ADtKQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/10/difficult-days.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-3205193025468200677Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:36:00 +00002009-10-03T19:39:42.332-05:00progressMother went to the hospital with kidney failure and dehydration about 10 days ago. She improved at first and then her lungs began to fill with fluid. We have had a wonderful doctor who went on a "detective hunt" to discover the cause of her rapid decline. Today it was discovered that she had a bladder tumor which was blocking both tubes from her kidneys to her bladder. The tumor was removed and http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/0Mq0vh346Ac/progress-progress.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/0Mq0vh346Ac" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/10/progress-progress.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-4715401026436923251Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:20:00 +00002009-10-03T10:28:00.812-05:00Yesterday Mother's doctor decided to do a CT scan to check out a problem or two that had arisen and discovered that her tubes from kidneys to bladder were blocked. He and the kidney doctor recommended a simple procedure to see if they could open up the tubes. The doctor doing the procedure said it would only take about 15 minutes and be about as risky as driving from here to Dallas on I-35. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/oidGzrWdods/progress-or-not.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/oidGzrWdods" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/10/progress-or-not.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-1901384363551175198Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:25:00 +00002009-09-30T21:57:16.329-05:00InfectionERCame home today at 5:05 p.m. from staying with Mother to find hubby sitting in his recliner clutching the arm rests. He looked awful and I felt his forehead. Temp was 100.7! I tried calling both the doctor he saw yesterday and our family physician he saw today, but, of course, both offices were closed for the day.I pulled him out of his chair and pointed him in the direction of the car and http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/9j08GuDKeR4/another-er-visit.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/9j08GuDKeR4" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/09/another-er-visit.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-8610147139996147704Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:40:00 +00002009-09-29T15:46:30.137-05:00High Plains in WordsInterviewNPRMy debut on NPR is now available at http://www.hppr.org/hpw.html. Just scroll down to the picture of my book and click on the green title. You can listen to my response to the interviewer's questions and also hear my granddaughter, Em, respond to the interviewer's question about growing up in Pampa, TX. That was an exciting discovery today! I am so pleased with the way it turned out.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/amPEZnW0uO4/my-npr-broadcast.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)4<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/amPEZnW0uO4" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-npr-broadcast.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-3394053900053284075Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:47:00 +00002009-09-29T11:51:07.807-05:00Health updatesMet with the doctor this a.m. and he is not too worried about the racing heartbeat episode, but the big concern this a.m. is that Mother's lungs have filled with fluid again. He said that Mother evidently likes him too much and wants to stick around the hospital a few more days. That's all we need--a comedian for a doctor. Actually, he did get me to laugh, so I guess he is pretty good to have http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/LTQFucj7Fwk/more-updating.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/LTQFucj7Fwk" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/09/more-updating.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-3071998617883107693Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:27:00 +00002009-09-28T20:27:37.913-05:00SetbackJust got a call from the hospital that Mother had a dangerously high heart-racing episode so she will NOT go home tomorrow. Ah well! I feel like I am on a roller coaster!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/izglAeEXxdg/another-setback.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/izglAeEXxdg" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/09/another-setback.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-5807104269535608210Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:18:00 +00002009-09-28T17:35:35.324-05:00Health updatesWhew! Well, I guess we dodged another bullet on this one. Friday the doctor and I both thought things looked really dismal and they were even worse on Saturday, but today the doctor and I scratched our heads in amazement because all of Mother's problems seem to have reversed themselves (power of prayer??) and he is sending her back to the Summit tomorrow. She will be on the skilled nursing http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/msEOtkm75X0/dodged-another-bullet.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/msEOtkm75X0" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/09/dodged-another-bullet.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-1382018824788660095Sat, 26 Sep 2009 07:42:00 +00002009-09-26T02:59:28.992-05:00hospitalPrayersDoctorscaringFrugal FridayMy Frugal Friday post went by the wayside as I spent my time at the hospital. We were supposed to take Mother back to her residence at the Summit in the morning, but when I arrived at the hospital it was evident that Mother was not going anywhere. Her lungs had filled with fluid overnight and the doctor just shook his head. He said we were walking a tightrope at this point and things could go http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/Vg87LvfabNE/frugal-friday_26.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/Vg87LvfabNE" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/09/frugal-friday_26.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-1544868582379730373Fri, 25 Sep 2009 01:28:00 +00002009-09-24T20:34:56.896-05:00E.R. FriendsAnother visit to the ER in the early hours of this morning and I am beginning to recognize some of those faces from my visit with Mother day before last. This time it was my husband with a severe urinary tract problem. Five hours later he was released to come home and we have moved through the afternoon like zombies because we were up most of last night. I finally got upstairs to visit Mother http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/ZY96de49yFw/er-friends.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/ZY96de49yFw" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/09/er-friends.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-1612433545445449930Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:16:00 +00002009-09-23T17:43:03.782-05:00miracleshospitalERguardian angelsYesterday, when I went to visit my mother it was evident that she was very sick. After consulting with the doctor at the retirement center where she lives, it was determined that she was dehydrated, kidneys were not functioning, and potassium level was dangerously high--hospital time! The Summit called an ambulance and I went outside to see her loaded up. Standing there by my car was a good http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/deljrNiQYUA/series-of-miracles.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)6<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/deljrNiQYUA" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/09/series-of-miracles.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-3092195563330750889Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:07:00 +00002009-09-21T20:55:49.783-05:00High Plains in WordsNPRHigh Plains Public RadioLast week I went to Amarillo to record a story from my book, Growing Up in the Texas Panhandle, for NPR. Mary Palmer from High Plains Public Radio contacted me about a month ago and wanted permission to have someone record a story for her and, after much thought, I volunteered to be the reader for the recording. The experience was actually an interview about memoir writing and was very exciting http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/ooPjjJQLM5A/my-npr-debut.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/ooPjjJQLM5A" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-npr-debut.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-2091032516232376936Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:08:00 +00002009-09-21T15:21:50.876-05:00PrayertimeI saw this prayer this morning and it expressed exactly what I needed to hear!Prayer for the Beginning of the Weekby Jim ManneyAN EXAMINATION OF MY USE OF TIMEKilling Time--How do I kill time? Let me count the ways.By worrying about things over which I have no control. Like the past. Like the future. By harboring resentment and anger over hurts real or imagined.By disdaining the ordinary or, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/RKLgimCM2Ak/timely-prayer.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/RKLgimCM2Ak" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/09/timely-prayer.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2249592045442388060.post-7444542090706472737Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:15:00 +00002009-09-18T15:59:51.729-05:00Frugal FridayI was at a loss for a topic for today's FRUGAL FRIDAY post until I read two articles about ways to curb impulse buying this week. 1) One suggestion was to write down an expensive item that you want on a small sheet of paper and put it on your refrigerator. Begin to look for the item in numerous places to find the lowest price. This particular author talked about wanting a $500 high chair (Mercy!)http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~3/EeQq7iiHhfI/frugal-friday_18.htmlpflat@austin.rr.com (Pat's Place)5<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/blogspot/hErG/~4/EeQq7iiHhfI" height="1" width="1"/>http://atpatsplace.blogspot.com/2009/09/frugal-friday_18.html