Not good in our circle....

[Janet]

This past Sunday a very good neighbor just down the road passed away. He was 57 years old and a wonderful man. Very active in church, served on many boards for the church and school system. His children were grown and out of the house, but his wonderful wife Vicki is alone now. It breaks my heart that something so horrible can happen to truly good people. Then just four days later...Vicki's brother passes away.

And now I've learned the neighbor just to the south of us has cancer. I was told it started out as melanoma and spread to her lymph nodes. Hopefully they'll be able to do something for her. It's so hard to just go down there and ask how things are going, but I would like her to know I'm here if she would need anything. She's just a couple years old than I and has three daughters.

[AngieDoogles]

Aww Janet, I'm so sorry your neighborhood has had so much bad news lately! You are a great friend to be so concerned about them and I'm sure they'll see that in your actions. I'd let your friend know that you are there for her and let her talk about her illness if she wants. You can visit without mentioning it if she isn't ready to talk about it just yet. I'm sure she'd appreciate the company and friendship. *hugs* I know this must be very hard on you.

[Janet]

Yes it is hard. You know...when you're a kid..you can't wait to grow up and for things to change. Now, as an adult...I want things around me to stay the same. My older friends, neighbors and family are dying. It sucks growing older and losing people I care about.

[Mandy]

Not easy! You are great for caring Janet, and i know they all appreciate your kindness, they have a wonderful neighbor, and friend in you.

[AngieDoogles]

Yes it is hard. You know...when you're a kid..you can't wait to grow up and for things to change. Now, as an adult...I want things around me to stay the same. My older friends, neighbors and family are dying. It sucks growing older and losing people I care about.

You're right Janet. As a child, it's hard to comprehend that growing older means bad things happen...to friends, to family, to yourself... You never think about people that are such permanent figures in your life suddenly being gone. But at the same time, if you didn't grow older, you'd miss out on a lot of blessings. For one, you wouldn't have your adorable and sweet son and 18 years of watching him grow and change. Sometimes when bad things happen, it's easy to forget about the many good things we have in our lives. Try to focus on that Janet...and hopefully it'll make you feel better! *more hugs*

We love you!

[Tink]

{{{Janet}}} My prayers are with you.

I know it's all too true that the older we get the more people we lose around us. The alternative of course is that we ourselves die instead, and that doesn't sound any better!

It's always hard to know how to approcah someone who's seriously ill, but just offering them to call if they need to talk, and telling them you're praying for them can make a lot of difference.

I had a heart attack a few years ago, and it was quite an eye opener for me in that area. It didn't have to be anything profound that people said... it was just the caring and fact that they let me know I had them praying for me that meant the most to me.

For example: Greg and I have always had a housefull of "extra kids". Most were teens that many looked down on because they'd been in trouble, had a wild streak, and so on. When I was in CCU eleven of my "extra kids" came to the hospital an hr away to visit me. It was funny! The nurse asked if they were immediate family and of course they all claimed to be my children (or they'd not have been allowed in). The nurse didn't believe them, so came and asked me how many kids I have. I could see them all waving and bouncing around by the nurses station, so told her "IF they admit to being mine they are." So they all got in to see me.

None of them had anything to give but their love, but that is one of my best memories of that time. Just the fact that they cared enough to organize a way to travel to give their support and check up on me really lifted my spirits.

I'm sure that's the same affect your concern would have on your neighbor. 5 minutes of your time and an "I care" can mean so much. You're such a warm and caring person; just let that show and it's bound to help.

[Gina]

Janet I am sorry to hear about your neighborhoods, life sometimes is not fair. But we never question the will of God. Be yourself and offer your friendship to both women at this time. Just them knowing that you are there for them is a comfort I am sure. Your a good neighbor and friend.