We Are Blessed

One thing that I have been assured of over and over again since Chris died is that I have an amazing support system.  Between my family, Chris's family and both sets of friends, we have managed to do more than just survive the last 17 months.  While I won't go so far as to say we have flourished, I would assert that we are doing better than expected.


The past two weeks proved to me yet again how lucky I am to have all these wonderful people in my life.  As I mentioned a couple of months ago, my mother is moving in with us.  She is going to continue to work full-time but it will be so helpful to have her here in the evenings.  She likes to cook which will ensure that Ian and Claire eat more than chicken nuggets and grilled cheese and that I eat more than take out food.  It will also be nice for me to be able to leave the house at night to run errands or do something fun without always arranging for a babysitter.  Granny Donna moves in next Friday and we are all looking forward to this!


In the meantime, in order to prepare for this change, I finished off my basement.  The husband of one of my friends is a contractor and he did the work for me.  He built a bedroom for my mom and a play room for the kids.  Last week, Chris's siblings and friends helped me with the grueling job of priming and painting both rooms.  These are the same siblings who have helped us out in numerous ways over time.  They regularly cut my grass, tend to my garden, help with the kids by babysitting, by sitting with them at church, by assisting at bedtime, etc.    These are the same friends who have acted as handyman way too many times, made "emergency" Dairy Queen runs and showered the kids with gifts.


And then there was the SWAT team that deployed this week when I got a sinus infection.  My head was under so much pressure for a day and a half that I thought it was going to explode.  In swooped Chris's sister, Vickie, and my mom to watch the kids while I rested.  Oh, and lets not forget the 80 year old diabetic mother-in-law who watches both kids at her house once a week (with the assistance of the diabetic, legally blind brother-in-law...you know, the one who cuts the grass.  Doesn't have the ring of an ideal childcare situation I know but it works!).  


The bottom line is that I feel extraordinarily blessed this week.  Honestly, it feels strange to say that when my husband is dead but it is true.  I chose Chris to be the one I shared my life with for many reasons not the least of which being his selflessness.  It has been illustrated for me once again recently how he wound up that way and what good company he kept.  I know he would be so grateful to this cast of characters for taking care of me and his children and I am too.  I am too.