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Progressive Christian

2010-09-21T08:42:00-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

On the Other Side of the Desk

Last updated on: September 21, 2010 at 8:42 am By Christy Thomas

Yesterday, it fell to me to meet with the pastor of Mother’s church and plan the memorial service which will be this Friday at 1:00 p.m. at East Dallas Christian Church in Dallas. Although Keith and I have already buried three of our parents, for the other three times, we ourselves conducted the memorial services. But for this one, the two of us will be family, not clergy. It felt odd. Normally, I’m the one asking, taking notes, learning more... Read more

an ordinary death

death and dying

2010-09-19T18:27:00-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What Would I Have Done Differently

Last updated on: September 19, 2010 at 6:27 pm By Christy Thomas

Mother has been gone about 20 hours now. I would have liked to have slept about 19 of those twenty, but that has not been my privilege yet. My body and brain are wired–a combination of grief, relief, questions and an exhaustion that won’t yet permit sleep. So, since I can’t sleep, I may as well write. The question racing through my brain right now: What would I have done differently if I had known then what I know now?... Read more

an ordinary death

death and dying

2010-09-19T12:05:00-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Uncovering

Last updated on: September 19, 2010 at 12:05 pm By Christy Thomas

Last night, at 9:50 p.m., my mother joined the great cloud of witnesses. My siblings and I had my parents around until we were pretty well advanced in years. Yet, we felt this sense of uncovering as we said our final good-byes. We are now the oldest ones. There is no one left to parent us, to offer that particular kind of loving, knowing wisdom. We should now be the purveyors of wisdom. We should be the ones who have something of... Read more

an ordinary death

death and dying

2010-09-18T21:15:00-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Suction Machine and I, Day Fifteen of Hospice

Last updated on: September 18, 2010 at 9:15 pm By Christy Thomas

Note: this is an excerpt from An Ordinary Death: Where Grief and Relief Hold Hands, available from Amazon.com. Very rough four hours. As would be right for my mother, since she didn’t live normally, she also can’t die normally. Late this afternoon, she began to regurgitate something. I think. It all started just about the time we had a three hour period when, for complex scheduling reasons, we would not have a hospice caregiver with us. By the grace of... Read more

an ordinary death

Uncategorized

death and dying

2010-09-18T16:02:00-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Clothes Horse, Day Fifteen of Hospice

Last updated on: September 18, 2010 at 4:02 pm By Christy Thomas

[note: this is part of a series of posts I made when my mother was dying. Because of world-wide interest in the posts, I published them along with other reflections on the dying process in this book: An Ordinary Death.] My brother, sister and I have all agreed that sitting around looking at each other just waiting for Mother to pass is not the best of ideas during these days. Keeping busy as much as possible helps all of us.... Read more

2010-09-18T09:48:00-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Golfers, Day Fourteen of Hospice

Last updated on: September 18, 2010 at 9:48 am By Christy Thomas

Mother still breathes, and still moves steadily toward the end of her life, but at her own pace. That makes sense, as she most definitely lived her life at her own pace, which, for the most part, was at high speed. My parent’s house sits on a golf course in Richardson. They had built it 25 years ago when it was time for them to move out of their aging house in Lakewood and get into something more convenient and... Read more

an ordinary death

death and dying

2010-09-17T17:10:00-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Storm Coming, Day Thirteen of Hospice

Last updated on: September 17, 2010 at 5:10 pm By Christy Thomas

Note: this is an excerpt from An Ordinary Death: Where Grief and Relief Hold Hands, available from Amazon.com. Mother’s breathing has changed dramatically from this morning. The Hospice nurse came by around noon and confirmed what I had already surmised: the end is coming quickly for her. There is no longer even a hint of consciousness, nor of pain or discomfort. Just air going in and out of her lungs until her heart finally gives out from the effort. I’ve... Read more

an ordinary death

death and dying

2010-09-17T10:45:00-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Aloneness, Day Fourteen of Hospice

Last updated on: September 17, 2010 at 10:45 am By Christy Thomas

Note: this is an excerpt from An Ordinary Death: Where Grief and Relief Hold Hands, available from Amazon.com. It dawned on me early this morning after another restless night how very, very alone my mother was during the final days before her own mother’s death. I found her account of it last night and posted part of it here. From the Tuesday night stroke until the Friday afternoon frantic phone calls, she went through this absolutely alone. I assume my... Read more

an ordinary death

Uncategorized

death and dying

2010-09-16T21:16:00-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

My Mother, My Grandmother, Day Thirteen of Hospice

Last updated on: September 16, 2010 at 9:16 pm By Christy Thomas

Note: this is an excerpt from An Ordinary Death: Where Grief and Relief Hold Hands, available from Amazon.com. Early this evening I realized that tomorrow is trash/recycle day here in Richardson, so decided to clean out a few more cabinets and shelves to take advantage of a chance to get more things out of the house and garage. Old telephone books: out they go. Piles of spiral notebooks that mother used for her unending to do lists: into the blue... Read more

2010-09-16T12:44:00-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Nicci, Day Thirteen of Hospice

Last updated on: September 16, 2010 at 12:44 pm By Christy Thomas

Note: this is an excerpt from An Ordinary Death: Where Grief and Relief Hold Hands, available from Amazon.com. I’ve been gone a couple of hours and just returned home. My brother and sister are here and told me, “Blog about Nicci: She’s taking wonderful care of Mother.” If you’ve been reading this blog, you know that I’ve been frustrated about not being able to get back onto continuous care after Mother had that additional stroke Monday night. I know it... Read more

an ordinary death

death and dying

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