Nephew’s family moved into a house 80 miles from home yesterday and the Adorable great-niece/nephew started a new school.
Really, given the gigantic disaster in LA, they are the blessed ones. The greater family has moved high heaven to give those little ones security–the school is only 2 blocks from one of the grandmothers.
I am so thankful for family, yet again. This is the same family that provided a haven for my Adorables in 2017 and 2020.
I just wish everyone had backups like this to get them through hard times.
And the good news is that their wonderful church survived–singed, with the school destroyed, but there for the community.
Let’s pray for the churches in Los Angeles–even those that have been destroyed. The personal, physical, and ministry needs are real and profound.
The church can certainly help with the trauma and the spiritual needs. It’s time for all the Christians to reach out and help–even those who have become the least of these.
Prayers for all those lost communitiy churches in LA and in other previous disaster areas, forgotten about from the start. In such times of disaster, the churches are the hubs where people rightfully seek relief and where donated supplies are doled out. How difficult, on so many levels, to lose the churches.
Please, God, bring the churches back, like the Phoenix, from the ashes, to be restored, to be light in the darkness, to renew a right spirit in those who have to restart from scratch. Please provide and ensure distribution to those in most need. I have heard testimony of You doing that in Western NC. Please do the same in LA. You are our awesome Providence who knows the individual personal needs of each one going through unimaginable loss. Thank You for bringing glory to Yourself through Your many acts of provision. I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen
One of my brothers is a pastor in that vicinity, and I’m sure they would appreciate prayers. (I have heard that all his family’s homes are safe.)
Speaking of fire . . . prayer request for a next-door neighbor who’s in her 90s; I just came back from visiting her in the hospital, and she’s quite confused. She lost her husband of seventy-something years two and a half years ago, leaving her and her son (who has never married) as each other’s only family. That son has taken her out to breakfast every day since his father’s death, and she has told me repeatedly she doesn’t know what she’d do without him.
The son is a local business owner, and this morning I happened to drive by his business, and saw on the sign outside “Rest in Peace” and his first name. I’ve confirmed that it is her son who died, and found out that he died in a house fire middle of the night, night before last. I tried to go by her house and to call her, and made a few more phone calls and finally tracked down that she was in the hospital, and just spent a couple of hours with her there. I was relieved to find (through the person showing up while I was there) that her son had set her up with a power of attorney, but that POA isn’t related to her.
She’s confused, and I couldn’t even tell if she recognized me. I don’t know the next step for her, but I would imagine she won’t be going back home. Basically her life changed in an instant, hearing news from a virtual stranger yesterday, and I guess she collapsed this morning (or was found this morning, anyway). I don’t know what my role will be in all of this, either, but I do intend to stay in her life.
That is a truly devastating loss for her, Cheryl. Even if she does not recognize you, she will be so blessed to have your company and care. Prayers for her♡
Yeah, in one way it would have been “easier” for me to know what to do if she’d recognized me or if I could be sure my presence was calming to her. I did help communicate a bit to the nurses about what her “norm” is, and help a nurse keep her from climbing out of bed, and so forth. I ended up leaving a while after someone with authority actually to make treatment plans and so forth showed up, though I may actually know the patient more than she does; still, if I could be there for limited times, it makes more sense to be there when there isn’t someone else with her, and I’ll plan to go back tomorrow. And she may be more able to communicate clearly tomorrow, in which case I might be able to help her more, I don’t know. I’ve been present in the hospital plenty of times with family; it’s trickier when my only association is as a neighbor, but when she doesn’t have anyone else, it’s the time it matters to be a neighbor.
I have run into similar situations with those who have gone more and more into dementia. It is sometimes difficult to know whether approaching, hugging, speaking to them is more distressful or helpful to them. Each situation is so different. Wisdom is certainly needed.
Wandering Views 
Nephew’s family moved into a house 80 miles from home yesterday and the Adorable great-niece/nephew started a new school.
Really, given the gigantic disaster in LA, they are the blessed ones. The greater family has moved high heaven to give those little ones security–the school is only 2 blocks from one of the grandmothers.
I am so thankful for family, yet again. This is the same family that provided a haven for my Adorables in 2017 and 2020.
I just wish everyone had backups like this to get them through hard times.
And the good news is that their wonderful church survived–singed, with the school destroyed, but there for the community.
Let’s pray for the churches in Los Angeles–even those that have been destroyed. The personal, physical, and ministry needs are real and profound.
The church can certainly help with the trauma and the spiritual needs. It’s time for all the Christians to reach out and help–even those who have become the least of these.
Interesting times . . .
M
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Amen, m.
mumsee
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Prayers for all those lost communitiy churches in LA and in other previous disaster areas, forgotten about from the start. In such times of disaster, the churches are the hubs where people rightfully seek relief and where donated supplies are doled out. How difficult, on so many levels, to lose the churches.
Please, God, bring the churches back, like the Phoenix, from the ashes, to be restored, to be light in the darkness, to renew a right spirit in those who have to restart from scratch. Please provide and ensure distribution to those in most need. I have heard testimony of You doing that in Western NC. Please do the same in LA. You are our awesome Providence who knows the individual personal needs of each one going through unimaginable loss. Thank You for bringing glory to Yourself through Your many acts of provision. I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen
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Thank you, all, for your continued prayers for my dad and us, his children. He continues to weaken daily.
Michelle, I love the idea of making a video for my future self.
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One of my brothers is a pastor in that vicinity, and I’m sure they would appreciate prayers. (I have heard that all his family’s homes are safe.)
Speaking of fire . . . prayer request for a next-door neighbor who’s in her 90s; I just came back from visiting her in the hospital, and she’s quite confused. She lost her husband of seventy-something years two and a half years ago, leaving her and her son (who has never married) as each other’s only family. That son has taken her out to breakfast every day since his father’s death, and she has told me repeatedly she doesn’t know what she’d do without him.
The son is a local business owner, and this morning I happened to drive by his business, and saw on the sign outside “Rest in Peace” and his first name. I’ve confirmed that it is her son who died, and found out that he died in a house fire middle of the night, night before last. I tried to go by her house and to call her, and made a few more phone calls and finally tracked down that she was in the hospital, and just spent a couple of hours with her there. I was relieved to find (through the person showing up while I was there) that her son had set her up with a power of attorney, but that POA isn’t related to her.
She’s confused, and I couldn’t even tell if she recognized me. I don’t know the next step for her, but I would imagine she won’t be going back home. Basically her life changed in an instant, hearing news from a virtual stranger yesterday, and I guess she collapsed this morning (or was found this morning, anyway). I don’t know what my role will be in all of this, either, but I do intend to stay in her life.
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I’m sorry that has happened to your friend, Cheryl. I’ll remember her in my prayers. And glad to hear your family is safe.
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Oh, so terribly sad!
m
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That is very sad, Cheryl, glad you’re there for her.
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That is a truly devastating loss for her, Cheryl. Even if she does not recognize you, she will be so blessed to have your company and care. Prayers for her♡
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That is a sad situation, Cheryl. My prayers for her and wisdom for you.
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Yeah, in one way it would have been “easier” for me to know what to do if she’d recognized me or if I could be sure my presence was calming to her. I did help communicate a bit to the nurses about what her “norm” is, and help a nurse keep her from climbing out of bed, and so forth. I ended up leaving a while after someone with authority actually to make treatment plans and so forth showed up, though I may actually know the patient more than she does; still, if I could be there for limited times, it makes more sense to be there when there isn’t someone else with her, and I’ll plan to go back tomorrow. And she may be more able to communicate clearly tomorrow, in which case I might be able to help her more, I don’t know. I’ve been present in the hospital plenty of times with family; it’s trickier when my only association is as a neighbor, but when she doesn’t have anyone else, it’s the time it matters to be a neighbor.
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I have run into similar situations with those who have gone more and more into dementia. It is sometimes difficult to know whether approaching, hugging, speaking to them is more distressful or helpful to them. Each situation is so different. Wisdom is certainly needed.
LikeLiked by 2 people