To our family and friends,
For Anya, Masha and myself, it was a sort of an emotional roller coaster of a weekend, but as I thought about it in the middle of the night (woke up at 1:30 and last time I saw the clock before falling back to sleep was 3:30), kind of a snapshot of this last month and a half. In many ways we are trudging through, in other ways we are flying through.
Yesterday we continued Diane’s loving tradition of visiting and putting blankets on her family graves; for reasons of comfort, the girls and myself changed the tradition a little by putting on wreaths. We did go to the 7 grave sites in 3 different cemeteries (including Mishna, her dog), but we could not do what Diane did. In the wintry cold & windy cemeteries she put together blankets by tying large boughs together, and then decorating these created blankets with such loving care. Though we did not do the boughs being made into blankets, the girls and I did do the decorating of the wreaths, so we kept much of the tradition. We did buy a pre-built but undecorated blanket for Diane which we decorated. The cemetery blankets were just one more manifestation of Diane’s loving ways. Though none of us wanted to spend a few hours in the wintry cemeteries, the decorating of the blankets (wreaths) was something all 3 of us wanted to do. Can’t say we enjoyed it, but I felt good doing what Diane would do out of love. And of course it was emotionally difficult for the 3 of us to do to her and her grave what she so lovingly did to her deceased family members each year.
Then in the evening we decorated our tree. Diane would not let an ornament be placed on the tree without telling the story of where it came from, from whom it came from and when it became part of the tree. You could hear in her voice the appreciation she had for all of the ornaments, especially the ones given to her by her family and friends. And the ones she had purchased or made herself – always something interesting to say about why she has it. The wonderful memories these ornaments invoked in her she was able to share with us. There is no way I could do that, but the ornament stories I remembered, the kids heard about again this Christmas and they enjoyed it. Anya and Masha did much more decorating than I did. They worked through my preparing for dinner, a call with a friend and the beginnings of a visit with Catherine. They enjoyed putting the ornaments on the tree and remarking about the ones that they realllllly liked, which seemed like most of them. Even having experienced the girls’ joy and excitement of last evening, I was surprised this morning that Masha said she had a good time yesterday. This was unsolicited from me, really out of the blue and so I know she wasn’t just saying this to please me.
That is what I mean by trudging and flying. In the late morning, early afternoon she was silently crying and sullen going cemetery to cemetery and then in the evening truly enjoying the decorating of our Christmas tree. I have to think that the Christmas / New Year season will continue the roller coaster ride for Diane’s brothers and sisters, the girls and myself. I did say to their aunt Catherine last night, I just think Masha and Anya are doing remarkably well, and she agreed. Thank you for your many thoughts and prayers as we continue to move forward with our lives. Let us pray for one another during this holy season.
When you get the chance please browse through her place in the Newsday Guest Book and if you are so inclined, please enter in your own memories, your thoughts. I find them tremendously rewarding to read and in the future I am sure the girls will also find it rewarding as they read about the place their mom had in so many lives.
http://www.legacy.com/Newsday/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=119709141
Love, George
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Thanks
To all,
With Thanksgiving approaching I have spent some time on Thanksgiving reflection. For the first time that I can remember in my life I am having difficulty giving out a blanket Thank You God! Certainly not all the blessings in my life have been removed, but the loss of Diane and the blessing she has been to me has left a big void in having a thankful Thanksgiving. I know I was blessed overwhelmingly, beautifully, powerfully for so many years with Diane, and now there truly is that void. Because all that you have meant to Diane and myself, especially during the last year plus of her life, I felt I wanted to tell you this. But there is so need to dwell on this within this email.
But really a no brainer during this Thanksgiving season, is a huge blanket of thanks for all you have meant to us during this last year and a half. Your loving support, encouragement and prayers brought us through to where the fight against CA ended on November 1. Also all the practical assistance that you have given to us – everything from being ride companions, to shot clots, to child minders, to cooks, to giving special things to the kids, to….so much & more to thank you for.
Since November 1 I have heard from so many of you about what Diane’s presence in your life has meant to you. This happened during the wake and the luncheon after the funeral. It happened in cards and letters. So many emails and phone calls coming from so many of you. It is spoken about in the Guest Book of Newday’s Death Notice (http://www.legacy.com/Newsday/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=119709141) Please read through it and add to it if you are so inclined, I love reading them and through the years I expect that it will be good to read them over and over again with the girls. A great way to remember what a tremendous gift my wife, their mother was to us and to so many others.
So many wonderful things she has meant to so many of us. And so often the comments include phrases such as feeling blessed, of being thankful just for being a part of her life. And that is what I feel toward all you wonderful people during this Thanksgiving season – blessed and thankful that you chose to be in our lives, to take this journey with us. May you and your loved ones have a wonderful Thanksgiving day.
Love, George
With Thanksgiving approaching I have spent some time on Thanksgiving reflection. For the first time that I can remember in my life I am having difficulty giving out a blanket Thank You God! Certainly not all the blessings in my life have been removed, but the loss of Diane and the blessing she has been to me has left a big void in having a thankful Thanksgiving. I know I was blessed overwhelmingly, beautifully, powerfully for so many years with Diane, and now there truly is that void. Because all that you have meant to Diane and myself, especially during the last year plus of her life, I felt I wanted to tell you this. But there is so need to dwell on this within this email.
But really a no brainer during this Thanksgiving season, is a huge blanket of thanks for all you have meant to us during this last year and a half. Your loving support, encouragement and prayers brought us through to where the fight against CA ended on November 1. Also all the practical assistance that you have given to us – everything from being ride companions, to shot clots, to child minders, to cooks, to giving special things to the kids, to….so much & more to thank you for.
Since November 1 I have heard from so many of you about what Diane’s presence in your life has meant to you. This happened during the wake and the luncheon after the funeral. It happened in cards and letters. So many emails and phone calls coming from so many of you. It is spoken about in the Guest Book of Newday’s Death Notice (http://www.legacy.com/Newsday/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=119709141) Please read through it and add to it if you are so inclined, I love reading them and through the years I expect that it will be good to read them over and over again with the girls. A great way to remember what a tremendous gift my wife, their mother was to us and to so many others.
So many wonderful things she has meant to so many of us. And so often the comments include phrases such as feeling blessed, of being thankful just for being a part of her life. And that is what I feel toward all you wonderful people during this Thanksgiving season – blessed and thankful that you chose to be in our lives, to take this journey with us. May you and your loved ones have a wonderful Thanksgiving day.
Love, George
Thursday, November 13, 2008
To all, Below is a Eulogy that Diane’s sister Catherine wrote for the day of her funeral. It was distributed at Church, and now we would like to share it with the wider community of those who have been so lovingly touched by Diane.
This link should bring you to Diane’s Death Notice in the Long Island Newsday. Within this web page there is a link to the Guest Book. Please read the entries. I encourage you to sign the Guest Book, it has been a positive experience to read through them.
Thanks, George
http://www.legacy.com/Newsday/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=119709141
George and Diane’s family would like to thank all of you for gathering for this celebration of her life today. We would also like to thank everyone for all of their love and support during this difficult year and a half. This time has been painful and scary and loving and hopeful and prayerful. Diane’s struggle has taught so many of us how to love and to nurture and to put aside our differences and to focus on what is important.
Diane has taught us that we have all been given a gift. Some can do things that others cannot. There were people who could care for her physical needs and others who could give love and hope and nutrition. Others spent hours in prayer, whether it be silent or verbal. Some held her hand. Some sent comforting meals. We have become a community of love where everyone had a part to play. Diane knew this. Her heart was so full of love for everyone she knew and even those she didn’t know.
I would like to take this opportunity to ask everyone here to extend themselves to someone in need. It could be today or next week or next year. To take yourself out of your comfort zone and do something kind for someone else who needs it. It could be a hot meal or a ride somewhere or a compliment or a prayer or a smile to a stranger. Remember that we are all broken in some way, whether it be illness or sadness or poverty or emptiness. We are all carrying something in our hearts and in our lives and we are all in need of some comfort. Let us all make an effort to commit to doing even the smallest of things for one another. Diane’s illness taught me to enjoy even the little things like being able to enjoy air and mobility and family even in times when our loved ones “drive us crazy” I am quite sure that we all at times may be the person who may sometimes “get on someone’s nerves”. I figure we can give a pass on them as I would like a pass on the days that maybe I may not be so nice to be around.
I also trust you will keep Diane in your heart. And call on her in times of need and in times of Thanksgiving, She has been given both need and Thanksgiving in her life.
She loved each and every one of you. May she rest in peace. We are all blessed with the privilege of knowing, and loving her.
This link should bring you to Diane’s Death Notice in the Long Island Newsday. Within this web page there is a link to the Guest Book. Please read the entries. I encourage you to sign the Guest Book, it has been a positive experience to read through them.
Thanks, George
http://www.legacy.com/Newsday/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=119709141
George and Diane’s family would like to thank all of you for gathering for this celebration of her life today. We would also like to thank everyone for all of their love and support during this difficult year and a half. This time has been painful and scary and loving and hopeful and prayerful. Diane’s struggle has taught so many of us how to love and to nurture and to put aside our differences and to focus on what is important.
Diane has taught us that we have all been given a gift. Some can do things that others cannot. There were people who could care for her physical needs and others who could give love and hope and nutrition. Others spent hours in prayer, whether it be silent or verbal. Some held her hand. Some sent comforting meals. We have become a community of love where everyone had a part to play. Diane knew this. Her heart was so full of love for everyone she knew and even those she didn’t know.
I would like to take this opportunity to ask everyone here to extend themselves to someone in need. It could be today or next week or next year. To take yourself out of your comfort zone and do something kind for someone else who needs it. It could be a hot meal or a ride somewhere or a compliment or a prayer or a smile to a stranger. Remember that we are all broken in some way, whether it be illness or sadness or poverty or emptiness. We are all carrying something in our hearts and in our lives and we are all in need of some comfort. Let us all make an effort to commit to doing even the smallest of things for one another. Diane’s illness taught me to enjoy even the little things like being able to enjoy air and mobility and family even in times when our loved ones “drive us crazy” I am quite sure that we all at times may be the person who may sometimes “get on someone’s nerves”. I figure we can give a pass on them as I would like a pass on the days that maybe I may not be so nice to be around.
I also trust you will keep Diane in your heart. And call on her in times of need and in times of Thanksgiving, She has been given both need and Thanksgiving in her life.
She loved each and every one of you. May she rest in peace. We are all blessed with the privilege of knowing, and loving her.
Unexpected Update and thanks for the last 1.5 years of prayer
This message was emailed on November 3, 2008
To our friends and families,
This is the email that I did not expect to write for a very long time, always hoped it would not be anytime in the imminent future. Diane died Saturday night just before 11:00 PM. As Randy (our nurse) said on Friday morning, her will, her heart, her head was still fighting, but her body would no longer allow her to do the things that could help make her better. Let me thank you for the so many months of faithful prayer, loving encouragement and acts of kindness shown to Diane, myself, Masha and Anya. All of that and our faith and hope in God and one another is what has kept us going for so long. As Diane would say, always needed, always appreciated. Hopefully as I get my act together in the weeks to come I will be able to better express myself, but for now please accept my heartfilled and sincere thanks.
Love, George
To our friends and families,
This is the email that I did not expect to write for a very long time, always hoped it would not be anytime in the imminent future. Diane died Saturday night just before 11:00 PM. As Randy (our nurse) said on Friday morning, her will, her heart, her head was still fighting, but her body would no longer allow her to do the things that could help make her better. Let me thank you for the so many months of faithful prayer, loving encouragement and acts of kindness shown to Diane, myself, Masha and Anya. All of that and our faith and hope in God and one another is what has kept us going for so long. As Diane would say, always needed, always appreciated. Hopefully as I get my act together in the weeks to come I will be able to better express myself, but for now please accept my heartfilled and sincere thanks.
Love, George
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Leg Weakness
Hi All,
Just a quick update and call to prayer today. Diane has been doing well with the pain management, but she feels that her legs are getting weaker. Saturday she spent the whole day in bed having sleepy Saturday (while the kids were running through a corn maze with my sisters Mary and Betty). Before I address the Sauerbraten, I remember Dr. Franckfort encouraging Diane to walk around each day after her surgery because the body loses X% of muscle tone (wish I could remember the amount) everyday you don't use them. So I am attributing the leg weakness to Saturday's lazy day because yesterday she did pretty well, certainly better than Sunday. Mary cooked Saurebraten for our Saturday night dinner and it was delicious. Though Diane did not join us at the table she did enjoy the noodles, gravy and the Sauerbrate (we finished the red cabbage before she got a chance at it). Her appetite has waned in the last couple of days and so she needs to be encouraged to eat and because of her determination to get better, to get stronger, she does eat. Please keep praying for the poundage, please keep praying for her total healing. Love, George
Just a quick update and call to prayer today. Diane has been doing well with the pain management, but she feels that her legs are getting weaker. Saturday she spent the whole day in bed having sleepy Saturday (while the kids were running through a corn maze with my sisters Mary and Betty). Before I address the Sauerbraten, I remember Dr. Franckfort encouraging Diane to walk around each day after her surgery because the body loses X% of muscle tone (wish I could remember the amount) everyday you don't use them. So I am attributing the leg weakness to Saturday's lazy day because yesterday she did pretty well, certainly better than Sunday. Mary cooked Saurebraten for our Saturday night dinner and it was delicious. Though Diane did not join us at the table she did enjoy the noodles, gravy and the Sauerbrate (we finished the red cabbage before she got a chance at it). Her appetite has waned in the last couple of days and so she needs to be encouraged to eat and because of her determination to get better, to get stronger, she does eat. Please keep praying for the poundage, please keep praying for her total healing. Love, George
Friday, October 24, 2008
Rescheduled Appointment
Today is Friday, the day we had scheduled an appointment with Dr. O'Reilly at MSK. My brother asked last night whether we were still going in and I realized my last update and call to prayer left that up in the air. We decided to cancel that appointment to give Diane an opportunity to put on some more poundage. Please pray for that! She has been eating very well, but it is tough putting on those pounds. The next appointment is scheduled for Fri November 14. Please pray for that also! Diane has found that walking with a walker (with front wheels) has given her extra stability while standing and walking, and so now she is taking to exercising her legs, strengthening her body by walking with the walker. She looks forward to the day she can exercise walk without the aid of the walker, but for now it is a great tool to be used for her to get stronger. A little about the weekend. My sister Mary is going to cook us a Sauebraten Dinner. She is coming out early Saturday (sure it has been marinating in vinegar through a good deal of this week) to put it in a crock pot. Than she and her husband John will take the girls out for the day. If the weather cooperates doing the corn maze, haunted house scene, if not, we'll see what we can come up with. Sunday the girls may go to the street fair in Bellmore (Diane's cousin Ann is working it) and I may get out to purchase a laptop - that is important because the stairs to the basement (where the computer is) are just too tough on her. With the laptop she will be able to correspond with emails, keep up with her adoption chat groups, once again play hearts on-line and surf the net. So we are looking forward to all that is happening this weekend and wish you a great weekend. And of course I can never leave off without asking for your prayers for Diane's complete healing. The prayers are so essential for her healing, so appreciated. Keep them up, love, George
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Prayers for Diane
To all our friends and families,
Diane has been waging a war against the cancer in her body for 1.5 years. During this time we have had many ups and downs. Also during this time we have had constants such as a courageous fighting attitude, hope and faith in our God. Even though we have the best “Cancer Care Anywhere” (one of MSK’s mottoes), from the very beginning we knew we were going to defeat the CA only with the help of God. And that is why for the last 1.5 years Diane and myself have been asking for your prayers. We continue to ask for those prayers and we continue to depend upon those prayers. Friends from Virginia are trying to bring me in to the world of blog. I think this allows communication back and forth on the internet and I look forward to using this medium to update all of you on Diane’s progress and asking for prayers. Thanks so much for all of your loving encouragement, support and most especially prayers during this time in our lives when all of that is so much needed and appreciated.
Love, George and Diane
Diane has been waging a war against the cancer in her body for 1.5 years. During this time we have had many ups and downs. Also during this time we have had constants such as a courageous fighting attitude, hope and faith in our God. Even though we have the best “Cancer Care Anywhere” (one of MSK’s mottoes), from the very beginning we knew we were going to defeat the CA only with the help of God. And that is why for the last 1.5 years Diane and myself have been asking for your prayers. We continue to ask for those prayers and we continue to depend upon those prayers. Friends from Virginia are trying to bring me in to the world of blog. I think this allows communication back and forth on the internet and I look forward to using this medium to update all of you on Diane’s progress and asking for prayers. Thanks so much for all of your loving encouragement, support and most especially prayers during this time in our lives when all of that is so much needed and appreciated.
Love, George and Diane
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