I had a lot of trouble sleeping last night.  I couldn't fall asleep and then I kept waking up a whole lot.  Every time I did wake up, I felt the need to pray for someone or something that I had forgotten about earlier.

My mom and dad still live in the house that I grew up in.  There is a woman across the street who has been there since I was 3 years old.  She and her husband used to have Springer Spaniels.  Her husband passed away many years ago.

Her daughter lives next door to her.  She and her husband.  They never did have any children.  She felt she wasn't meant to have any children.  She has been a career woman. 

My mom has been close to the mom for about the past 10 years.  Probably since her husband died.  She is in her late 70s.  She's a tough, strong woman.  We have a lot of respect for her.

Anyway, last year, the daughter (who is in her 40s) was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease.  They gave her five years to live.  Within two weeks of the diagnosis she could no longer brush her own hair.  Since that point it has been a downward spiral of complete misery.  The mom and husband have been taking care of her.  The mom told my mom that she just hoped that God would keep HER alive to take care of her daughter until the end.

Yesterday we got news that the daughter is dying.  No details, but of course her mother knows.  Unsure of what to do, my mom just put all three of their cars in the driveway to make room for visitors to their houses across the street.  She is making food to send over.  Just waiting to hear what happens. 

We never really knew the daughter.  Even living across the street our whole lives -- she has always been a private person.

Well, at one point when I woke up last night -- I woke up startled == and in my head I thought "Judy just passed away".  I don't know if she did or not, but I prayed for her and her family at that moment. 

Our first spring thunderstorm started then and there was soft rumbling thunder and nice bright lightening.  I thought perhaps it was the thunder that had woken me up with a start.  I'm not sure.  Either way -- they need all the prayers they can get during this tough time.

My mom and I agreed that with all of her suffering and all of her husband's and mother's suffering, that death will be a blessing.  That poor woman who was always so independent ended up becoming dependent on everyone for the simplest of tasks. 

Emme's grandmother died of Lou Gehrig's disease.  (The other two are from my 1st marriage, their grandparents died of cancer and a heart attack)  I wonder if it is genetic and what the percentage of passing it on is?  I will have to look it up.  What a miserable disease.  So sad. 

So it's Sunday morning and I know my parents won't be up until after I get home from church.  I want to know if she passed during the night.  The reason why I think it may have actually happened is because of this:

About 10 years ago I had no religion whatsoever.  I was seeking and studying but had no answers.  I owned a couple of Bibles, family Bibles from my grandparents and Uncle, but they were dusty under a cabinet somewhere. 

On Good Friday for some reason I dusted off one of those Bibles, opened it to the back where there were prayers for different occasions, and read one aloud.  I then put the Bible back under the cupboard.

On Easter Sunday my mom and I went to pick up my grandfather from his apartment to bring him over for dinner.  We found him sitting in his chair, unmoving.  We pounded on the door and windows but he didn't move.  We realized he had passed away.

My mom fell apart (of course) and I had to be the strong one and call for help, etc.

Once they came, they told us that to their best estimation, he had probably died on Friday. 

I immediately saw the connection with the Bible (HIS bible, btw) and the prayer. 

Even though I had no religion, God was there with me.  He led me to pray for my grandfather at his passing.

So, now you understand why I have this uneasy feeling about our neighbor. 

On that sad note, I need to get ready for church.  I didn't mean to be depressing.  All of this was going through my head last night -- along with GOOD things too, which I will share in another post later today.

Be blessed,

Sherry