Christmas Break: Good or bad?

Isn't it weird how everything can be going to wonderfully and then take a turn for the worst? So much has happened since I last logged in to create a post, so here's your update...

The boyfriend and I decided to end our relationship. I honestly think it's a good change for both of us, though, because we need some time to reevaluate everything in our lives. We're both busy, and I know that if we're meant to be together, it'll happen. If not, it's cool, too. Either way, it just takes time.

On a good note, I was asked to help form an 80's cover band. We're going to try to perform in local bars and restaurants starting in February-ish, and we're going to be doing songs by Bryan Adams, Def Leppard, Pat Benatar, etc. It's going to be pretty cool! :)

Back to the bad stuff... Around the beginning of November, CeCe (our dog) started having seizures. We found out that it was basically due to her food having too much protein for her because she was 11 years old. It made her liver not process correctly, which created ammonia that was sent to the brain. We started to get that under control, and then she turned a corner weirdly, fell, and popped her hip out of socket. She was in so much pain, so my parents rushed her to our vet. She couldn't stand on her own, but after we started working with her, she finally was able to stand after about 2 or 3 weeks of home therapy. Her strength enabled her to be ready to have surgery to correct her hip, and she began to recover fine from the surgery, but once she returned home, she started having bad seizures again. We took her back to the vet, and she kept having worse seizures. It was horrible because she went into a coma with no chance of survival, so we had to put her down. It was an extremely difficult time for all of us... she was my "sister" and was there for all of my memories from the past 11 years. My parents were, and still are, having a hard time with her passing because she was what kept them sane when I was at school. It's weird to come home without her greeting us or hearing her bark when the hot water heater turns on... but I know she's not hurting anymore. That's definitely a comforting thought even though we miss her so much. This was also a time that made me truly appreciate the "small things." During CeCe's rehabilitation time at home, she had trouble standing up, walking, going to the bathroom or doing any other small things. I remember one time where she finally "went," and we were so proud! Then, when she stood up for the first time, I felt like I was a parent watching my kid stand for the first time. It was a great moment, and it made me realize how important those things were, even though we always take them for granted...

Well, 8 days after CeCe passed away, my grandfather (my dad's dad) passed away. He had been battling prostate cancer for a while, but he went downhill really fast the past month or so. He was in and out of the hospital and the nursing home, but it was really weird how fast everything happened before he passed away. Just a few days before he passed away, he went out to eat with my dad... but he started having more problems, and the cancer spread to his spine and eventually into 4 liters of fluids that were in his lungs. When I went to see him, it was difficult to think that it would probably be the last time I saw him on Earth, but it was also comforting to know that he was a devoted Christian, so I knew I'd see him again someday. The doctor came and talked to my dad when we were there to tell him that he'd have to make a decision about Papa if he didn't improve during the night, but luckilly the Lord took him naturally without my dad having to give any orders. He said he'd prayed that he wouldn't have to make that decision. Anyway, though, it was just crazy because we didn't even have any time to cope with CeCe's passing, and then Papa passed. It was a crazy few days, needless to say.

Then... we received word 5 days after Papa passed away that his second wife passed away. She had been in the nursing home for a while, and we were kind of close to her. My dad went to see her to give her some Christmas flowers, and he told her about Papa. She cried and was upset about it... but just a few days after that, she was with four nurses at the breakfast table in the cafeteria, and she said, "Lord, thank you for letting me live this long," and then she just passed away at the table. It was really weird because it was almost like she was waiting on Papa to pass to allow herself to go to the Lord. She once told my mom that she still loved Papa and always would, so I'm sure it was great for her to get to see him once again in God's house.

It seemed like my time off of work has been filled with grief, but there was one instance at the hospital the last time I visited Papa that gave me chills after I thought about it. My mom and I were in the waiting room by ourselves when this guy in a wheelchair came in the area. He wheeled himself in there and noticed some homemade cookes that my mom made for my dad. The guy said, "Ooh, are those Christmas cookies? I haven't had any homemade Christmas cookies since my mother made them before she passed away in this hospital two years ago." Of course, we gave them to him and he thanked us several times for giving them to him, but that wasn't the weird part... as he was leaving, he made a random comment. He said, "2009 is going to be a much better year." And he wheeled himself out and left after he gave us a slight smile and nod. At first I thought it was kind of odd, but I got to thinking about it and I wondered if that guy was an angel. You never know how God puts people in our lives to comfort us or who speak to us with His word, so I'm totally convinced that guy was an angel. We weren't sure where he came from or where he went after he left that room. He said he was looking for some good magazines, but all of the waiting rooms have the same boring magazines... so I think we were meant to be in that hospital in that room at that time to hear and see that guy in the wheelchair. It was very comforting...

So, I'm hoping that guy is right - 2009 is bound to be a fantastic year.