Thursday, August 14, 2008

No vacation for me....bummers!!

I found out last night that my new teacher orientation actually started today!! I was thinking that the ball started rolling on Friday, but I was wrong and boy am I glad I realized that. After my last night class, I headed out to sing karoake with my good friend Tracee. It was a night to celebrate not only because I successfully finished my two summer courses, but also because it was Tracee's birthday. I sang "Can't fight the moonlight" and "Let's hear it for the boy". I had a lot of fun singing the second song and I plan to sing it to my future husband one day. If that ever happens...hehe!

It was an early night though, because I had to be in Minnetonka for training at 9:30am. It was a good first day and I learned a lot of beneficial information, but at the same time everything I have to do and know is so overwhelming. Please pray for me! Tomorrow will be an even longer day...I have to be there from 8am-4pm oofta! Anyway, after my training was over, I picked up my grandma Hladky to go out to lunch and visit my great uncle Ray who is in the hospital.

Just a little bit about Uncle Ray. He is truly an amazing man. He took care of my dad and his siblings a lot when they were young. My dad often talked about Uncle Ray and how much he loved him. He saw him like a second dad. Uncle Ray is over 90 years old and even though he has an ailing heart, it couldn't be more full of love. When my dad was in hospice care, Uncle Ray found a way to make it all the way up to St. Cloud to visit him. It was after his visit that my dad went to be with the Lord. He was waiting for Uncle Ray! I actually wasn't in the room when my dad passed. I knew I wouldn't be able to take it so I had been outside, walking by the river and listening to praise music on my ipod. When I walked back into the hospital, it was the first time that my heart didn't race thinking that someone was going to tell me that my dad passed. He went at the one moment when I didn't expect it. So it came as a shock when Uncle Ray who came walking towards me to give me a hug and let me know that my dad has been freed. It was truly a special moment. That just goes to show how special my great Uncle Ray is.

Anyway, Uncle Ray is currently in hospice care at methodist hospital and preparing to make his way to heaven. He has had complications from the heart meds that he has been taking for many years and they are causing him to blead internally. His body can't recover not only because of his age, but because he doesn't want to fight for life. He wants more than ever to go home! I felt a huge peace come over me as I sat by his side, holding his hand and saying prayers for his comfort and peace. Even though he couldn't verbally respond, I knew he could hear me by the squeeze of his hand. It does all kind of seem eary that he is in a similar end of life situation as my dad and around the same time, but it also couldn't feel more right. The more that I see my loved ones pass away, the more I adjust to the reality of death and it not being all that scary. This may be wierd for some of you that I say this, but witnessing the passing of life is a relief. We are here temporarily, it is just a passing ground to our eternal home of everlasting life in heaven. Why is death viewed with such darkness? It is unfortunate for us who are left behind, but I couldn't be happier for Uncle Ray that he will make his journey to live in complete happiness. He definitely deserves it!

I ask for your prayers for my great Unlce Ray and his family. May that feel God's love comfort their aching hearts at this time. May his peace warm them from head to toe.

As for my training today, I went rollerblading for 2 hours. I got sprinkled on here and there, but it was very refreshing. My legs were sore and I could feel a blister coming on strong, but I kept on truckin'. I knew that this workout will be nothing compared to Sunday when I have to run 14 miles. Please keep me in your prayers that all goes well. This will be the most that I have ever ran at 1 time. Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers. Remember...don't stop spreading the word.

Much love,
Lacy

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Ok, this one made me cry! It meant a lot to read about your time with Uncie Ray. I'm so glad you were able to spend time with him. I'm sure Larry was part of Ray's heavenly welcoming committee!