Mom - Ada V. Pruitt - We loved you with all our hearts!

Thank you to all of you who prayed for Bill and I and our trip last weekend.

With two days of IV fluids and the help of extra medication, I did make the trip. And I am very glad I did.

It was hard seeing Mom so ill, but she put her last effort into our visit - pushing herself to talk and whisper and even ate some potato soup and chocolate milkshake for me!

We saw a few moments of the real mom behind the Alzheimer's and the sick body, which was a joy. But when it was time to leave, she had spent it all and we were not able to communicate with her. It was hard to say goodbye.

We did have some good time with Dad - took him out a few times and he got a great nights sleep that night.

However, when we left she was unresponsive. By the next morning she was running a fever and Hospice said her organs were in the process of shutting down.

Mom passed away last night. It was peaceful and painless and she is now in charge of hospitality in heaven! :-) We're all glad for our hope in Jesus and our confidence of her eternal life with Him.

Now, we face the trials of traveling again this week, facing and talking and serving the many people who will be grieving her. Bill was born and raised in that church and I attended it from the time we moved to Davis, so there will be a lot of people to talk to and a lot of work to do.

And of course, the whole family is tired and emotionally drained already. Dad needs your prayers. Bill is so good for his Dad, and I know Bill's presence will bring him comfort. But he's still grappling with letting go.

Please pray for all of our plans and travels. Some or all of us will drive the 11 hour drive. I may fly and shorten the trip as I am still recovering from last weekend. And we'd like to get Chris home for his High School retreat if possible so we are looking into Alaska Airlines Bereavement fares.

Yes, I will get back to the questions when I recover from all of this. But for now, let me leave you with some words from Isaiah.

Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return.
They will enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy.
Sorrow and mourning will disappear,
and they will be filled with joy and gladness.Isaiah 35:10

Crash

I'm sorry for my slow answers to the questions that have been posted.

I've had a sudden and very deep crash this week. My whole body system is "off" but most of the fatigue is like nothing most people can imagine. Even I forget how bad it can get until it does!

I get some IV fluids today and tomorrow. Our plans were/are to fly down for one day and one night to see Mom and Dad P.

Mom continues to hang on, but they say it will only be a couple weeks at the longest.

I hope so much to take this trip, and maybe with the IV's and lots of meds I'll be able to do it - but I know that will mean a major crash again when I get home.

Pray for us to have peace over God's direction. I think of one of my favorite verses from Question 2: It is Psalm 23. I've never been very good at memorizing, but my 3rd grade Sunday School teacher was patient with me and I memorized it and earned my pack of lifesavers. That Psalm has stuck with me all my life.

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

We are walking in a Valley right now, but the LORD is my comfort. He is rest for my tortured soul! I am so thankful for this Psalm of King David's and for these reminders of who and what I really have!

Thank you for your prayers.

I will post soon. Either when I get back, if the LORD is willing to get me to a place that I can travel, or while Bill is away. Because he needs to go and see his Mom, whether I can go or not.

Much love to my readers!
~Melanie

Question #1 - Artists who inspire me the most

"A Tribute to Van Gogh"
(c) M Pruitt 2007

Question: "What Artists inspire you the most?"

Great question!

I would have to say - the number one artist that inspires me is Vincent Van Gogh.

I had never been all that interested in his art - he often went a little too unrealistic in his impressionism for my logical brain.

But it wasn't until the day that I visited the Toledo Museum of Art that I really became interested in Van Gogh. I am a fan of the impressionists so of course, I insisted we start there - not knowing how my energy would hold up!

I knew I would be seeing a real Monet, several Cezanne's and a Van Gogh among other famous artists. But I did not expect the impact that Van Gogh's painting would have on me.

I walked up to it - a simple painting of a wheat field, with harvesters and rolls of wheat - but as I looked at that painting - there was so much feeling in this beautiful simple, yet complex painting, that tears began to well up in my eyes. I eyes were glued to that painting and I returned to it several times that day.

Later, I learned more about Van Gogh and his life. We remember him as the crazy man who cut off his ear. But he was really a man who couldn't find his place - partly because he was different and partly because society rejected the beautiful gift he was able to offer God and humankind!

I was really touched by the story his life. His father was a preacher, and he too went into the ministry. He loved and wanted to serve people, but he was a quiet man - and not well spoken. Yes, he was gifted, but not with the gifts that were valued by the church of that time. He was let go from his position and was set adrift. He spoke through his painting - calling out to God and mankind through his art.

I could go on with more of his story - but this last thing is what inspires me from Van Gogh's difficult life as an artist. He spoke to God and he spoke to people through his art. I knew it the moment I saw that first painting! That's what brought tears to my eyes.

Someone can be a good artist but not give a care about God or people. And we stand and look at that art and are interested and even amazed at the ability.

But an artist that paints speaking to God... an artist that paints with a deep love for people... his/her art moves the heart and soul of the viewer!

And that's the kind of artist I want to be!

I may come back to this question, because there are several more artists that really inspire me... but this is a long enough blog for now! :-)

Watch soon for the answer to Quest #2!

AND ... I added a new gadget to my blog! You can become a "Follower" . What does that mean? It means that my blog will show how many people like to follow up on what's happening on my blog and, if you have a blogger account, you get to see snippets of each blog you are following so you know when you might want to read them! So if you'd like, add your self to my Follower's list!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

What would you like to know about me?

Leave a message with a question and I will answer as many as I can!

"What would you like to know about me?"

Ask away!

(c) M Pruitt 2006

To begin with, I'll share with you one of my favorite poems (but it's not my favorite of favorites so if you want to know that.. you'll have to ask):

The Road Not Taken

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

~Robert Frost

Update on my MIL

Thank you to all of you who have known of, and prayed for, the recent pain and difficulties for Bill's mom. I thought you all might like a little update on how to pray - and for all my friends that I have not yet contacted - a bit of an update as well.

Bill's mom has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and though progressing, we didn't know how long or how fast it would develop. Then she was diagnosed with cancer and underwent surgery to remove a tumor. The Alzheimer's began to quickly progress.

Against the better judgment of their children, they took a last trip to Hawaii. Mom had found a lump on her head, but didn't tell anyone because she really wanted that trip to Hawaii. As it turns out... it was a good choice. They had a wonderful time and the lump, though cancerous and diagnosed as untreatable, may have kept them from enjoying this last trip together.

Mom and Dad P. have been married for over 60 years and have enjoyed traveling the world together so this really was a blessing.

The cancer found on her skull, has spread through her body and now shattered her hip. She had surgery yesterday and we were unsure if she could even survive the surgery. But she did! Thank you to all of you who prayed for her surgery.

Now, you can pray, as the children all figure out what facility to move Mom to from the hospital, and how to best care for Dad.

They're both in their 80's, and have lived good long lives. They have enjoyed world travel many times, opened their home over and over again to strangers and newcomers, were blessed with children and grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Thank you for your love and care and prayers!