Roger Bennett's Midnight Meditations

Service Arrangements

Just another quick post until I have time to make a proper one regarding the passing of my sweet Daddy. Some of you had asked about the arrangements, and we have completed those, so here they are:

Visitation will be from 6-8pm on Wed., May 30 at Ashby Funeral Home on Narroway St. in Benton, AR.

Graveside services will be held at Pinecrest Cemetery in Alexander, AR on Thurs, May 31, at 10am, with military honors (we are so proud of my Dad's faithful service in WWII).

In lieu of flowers, donations in the honor of my father, Robert Westbrook, can be made to either
Friendship Outreach, Inc.
PO Box 2394
Batesville, AR 72503
or
Caring Hands Hospice
2000 Harrison Street, Suite E
Batesville, AR 72501
(both are tax-deductible)

Thank you for your prayers. It is a comfort to know that the dark glass Daddy was looking through here on earth has been replaced with a crystal clear river, where he will be eternally resting

In His Grip!
Debbie

Another Soldier Goes Home

Memorial Day - a very fitting day for a proud soldier to finish his battle. My precious Daddy went home this morning. I will post more later about his wonderful life, and the blessing it is to be his daughter. But, for now, I am trying to get to Arkansas to be with my Mom, and help with arrangements.

Please be in prayer for all of us, especially my mother and brother who lives with her. They had to bear the exposure to the last days, and it has been very hard for them.

I would ask for specific prayers for my two children, as they both make their ways home. Both were already scheduled to fly in on Wed. evening; Chelsea from her trip to Europe, and Jordan, for obligations he has in TN and NC. What I ask for you to pray is that their flights get in on time and safely. I am working behind the scenes here to make sure they can get to AR as soon as they land in TN, and be there for the final services for their Grandpa.

Again, more later on everything, but I wanted to pay tribute today to the most important soldier in my life.

Go in peace, Daddy, and rest

In His Grip,
Debbie

Good Music, Good People

Thank you so much for all of the prayers that continue to come our way. I am feeling much better now, and am trying to catch up on two week's worth of stuff that didn't seem to go anywhere while I was sick! Things continue to be the same, or are progressing on the worse side, with Daddy. Although he is home, and hospice, and nursing services come to the house, Mom and my brother Bobby are still the only caregivers he has; the sitter didn't work out, for whatever reason. Mom is doing well, handling it, but I know she would love a break occasionally. It will still be a week or more before I get to go down; life here keeps getting in the way.

I was feeling better enough this week to get to go to two Southern Gospel concerts, an activity that I haven't done much in the past 5 years. It just so happened that two groups of friends were in the area. On Thursday, I saw Tribute Quartet, and on Sunday, I saw the Talleys. Both were blessings. I forget sometimes how good it feels to be around loving Christian people at a concert. I admit, the quartet singing is just slightly harder for me than the mixed groups, for obvious reasons - my mind's eye keeps seeing another pianist and emcee up there, and sometimes my heart spills over from my eyes.... Having said that, though, I thoroughly enjoyed the concerts, and plan to get back into seeing more groups, as they come near. The best part is being with friends and having love and support; you just can't beat good Christian fellowship!

Chelsea is due home in about 9 days from her journeys. She is having a wonderful time, and her descriptive writing about her trip is making me so "homesick" to go there myself! It has truly been too long since I have seen my N. Ireland "family" - I will have to do something about that, as soon as I feel like I can actually make a plan.

This past week or so has brought some situations that I have had difficulty in dealing with. I guess there will always be those people; those places; those "things" in our lives that keep it from being a perfect world. I have had to lean on my belief that God is still in control, and know that He already knows all of the answers. It's just funny how all of that head knowledge forgets to get down into the heart at times. But, when that happens, I have to step back, and reassess, and remember Who is in charge. It's not me, and for that I am truly grateful! I have proven time and again that when I forget that, it's a pretty quick downhill slide. So, I am reminding myself, once again, and in the process, reminding you, too: When life seems to be spiralling out of control, step back; know that God has it in His hands, and He wants the best for His children. Lay your problems and concerns down at the feet of the Savior, and He will pick them up, and hold them wisely, and lovingly,

In His Grip!
Debbie

I'm Still Here

Boy, there have been a lot of things happening since my last post. Daddy spent a day over 4 weeks in the hospital again. He did get to come home over the weekend, but with hospice this time. Mom and my brother Bobby have set up his hospital bed where he can get a lot of natural light, and they are taking good care of him. God sent a blessing in the form of a member of Mom's church who will come and sit with Daddy a few hours each week, so she can get some things done for herself; she hasn't had that luxury in quite some time.

I was supposed to go down there again last week, but the day before I was to leave, I began to get sick and run a temperature. After two visits to a walk-in clinic in two days, I was finally diagnosed with Strep throat, and given medicine for that. Still, I wasn't getting better, and by Friday, when my fever had reached almost 104, I headed to the ER, and was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. I have NO idea where that came from; I've never had it before! Anyway, I came home on Sunday, and have spent this day resting (after taking a shower this morning just about wore me out!). I go to the doctor tomorrow to get some lab and culture results that were still pending when I left the hospital. My temp started to climb last night, and it scared me, but today has been better. I am desperately hoping that I feel well enough to have Isaiah this weekend; I miss that little guy so much! I called him tonight, the first time I have talked to him in a week (I also lost my voice, and have been hard to understand for the past 5 days [and I could almost hear a comment from Roger about that]), and it was amazing how that little voice could make me feel so much better!

I had the privilege of speaking at a benefit concert a couple of weeks ago. A very good friend of mine is starting a respite program at her church just north of Nashville. It will be a place of love where caregivers can bring their loved ones with Alzheimer's, dementia, and other incapacitating adult diseases, while they have a chance to take care of themselves, their homes, their errands, etc. They will also have special care in place so that families can attend church, something that is very difficult for most people in this situation.  I spoke about what it would mean to a caregiver to have that kind of time. I wish there had been some sort of program for my parents like that, while Daddy was able to attend. It's amazing to see how a different face can spark a conversation, when sometimes the familiar can't. We are praying for this program, called "The Veranda", to be an example to us, and to other churches to do the same. The Bible commands us to honor and respect our parents, and the elderly. Many churches provide programs for everyone in the church BUT the elderly, except for a monthly potluck for those who are healthy enough to attend. But, there is a vast commnunity of the elderly who still need our love and care, too. They still have a lot to give us, if we will just take the time to see through the disease that has taken over.

The last time I was in AR, Daddy never said my name all week. One day, though, the hosptial chaplain came in and Daddy told him I was his only daughter. Then, when the doctor came in, he told him I was his favorite daughter (never mind I am the only one, I will take it!). Even when he didn't really know who I was, he still reached for my hand to hold, and the last thing he said to me before I left was, "I love you". Those are memories that will be forever in my heart, and even though all of the travel and schedule-juggling is tough, I wouldn't trade anything for those times.

If you are blessed to be a caregiver, in any capacity, you have a special calling. I know how tiring it is. I know how frustrating it can be. I know how emotions can be very confusing at times. But, look for those moments when the person you know peeks out and smiles at you. They wouldn't choose this kind of life, if they had the choice, nor would they mean to be a burden on you. Choose to look for those blessings, and hold them in your heart. True love never dies.

God loves us all. He cares about our burdens. He wants to make us whole. While we wait on a perfect eternity, we can rest assured that we are held lovingly

In His Grip!
Debbie