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In 2007, I began my original website, Sonshine's Haven. In 2007, it was turned into a blog and used to keep family updated on my first husband's fight with liver cancer. He passed away November of 2009. We were married for 34+ wonderful years and this journals some of that grief process I've gone through.

I have since remarried another widower, but Mike is missed dearly, and will always be a big part of my life.

At times, all of us will be called to act as witnesses to the suffering of another. We will be unable to affect the outcome physically. Words will fail us. Prayer will seem futile. And yet, the act of bearing witness to someone else's trials is a sacred sorrow that offers and astounding glimpse of eternal joy." by Ginger Garrett

"Being willing to stay with a loved one throughout their travail, can be difficult....YES! But offering yourselves as faithful companions on a dark and dreadful journey can be an unmeasured blessing." (paraphrased by me)

2.23.2011

Drew Giving 'Nama Away

The Wedding Ceremony



The Luau themed Rehearsal Dinner
(my daughter-in-law Jill decorating)

After a brief honeymoon in Branson over the weekend,
we're off next to a 2 week cruise to Hawaii.  Pray I find my sea legs!  I've got the sea-wrist band packed, along with the patches, and the Dramamine. :-)  I should be set.

2.17.2011

A New Journey

Countdown:  2 days

2.15.2011

Busy.....busy.....busy!  Just finished taking the Cocker Spaniel's, and the Grand Prix, to be bathed and cleaned up. Both needed it badly!

Ahead of me today....two doctor appointments.  Just trying to hold on to what little bit of sanity I have left!  I feel like I'm going to jump outside of my skin.  Be still, my racing heart.

I rediscovered a cassette tape yesterday, of boxes I cleaned out of the attic.  It was of Amber and I singing together a few years back.  We had a lot of fun with that Karaoke machine back then.  Listening to her sing was calming.  Me on the other hand....:)  As I kept listening, I reached a part where we must have become tickled over something, and couldn't get it together.  We would begin...and just kept cracking up.  Such fun to listen to and just the medicine I needed this week!

2.11.2011

"It's Who You Are"
performed by AJ Michalka



It's not the price

It's not the game

It's not the score

It's not the fame

Whatever road looks way too far

It's not what you have

It's who you are



It's not how fast

It's not how far

It's not of cheers

It's who you are



In darkest night

You make your sun

You choose your race

And then you run



It's never the glory

It's never the score

It's not about seeing about who's less and who's more

Cuz when you find out how fast and how far

You'll know it's not how much you have

It's who you are



You lose the moon

Then be a star

It's not too soon

Be who you are

Whatever road looks way too far

It's not what you have

It's who you are



It's never the glory

It's never the score

It's not seeing about seeing

Who's less and who's more

Cuz when you find out how fast and how far

You'll know it's not how much you have

It's who you are



When you have found

How fast you can run

When you have found

Your place in the sun,

It won't be just you that you'll find

Has made the run and the climb

It's everyone



It's never the glory

It's never the score

It's not seeing about seeing

Who's less and who's more

Cuz when you find out how fast and how far

you'll know it's not how much you have

It's who you are

It's who you are



Learning to bend and not to break

Living to give more than you take

Dying to live

Living to try

Feet on the ground

Dreams in the sky



It's never how much you have

It's who you are

2.08.2011

Saw the hairdresser yesterday to see if I wanted to do anything different with my hair on the wedding day.  Decided to leave it down but do something a little unexpected.  That's what the theme of this wedding seems to be turning into.....doing something a little unexpected.  I'm just crazy enough to try anything!

2.06.2011

It has been an eventful week for me.

I have officially "retired" from working....or so my former employers are calling it.  Friday was my last day at FBCR, and now I'm blessed to be putting the finishing touches on my wedding with Glenn.  It will be a small ceremony on February 19th at FBCR, more from a praise ceremony style, than a traditional style.  Leave it to me to step outside the box and try something a little different.  My only prayer is that God will be glorified, and family and friends will see how God has given me someone very special to share my future with.  It wasn't quite the original plan 36 years ago, but Mike completed his mission God sent him here to do, and somehow I need to do my job as faithfully as he did.

Today I attempted the daunting task of packing up Mike's clothes and items.  For months I hadn't the strength to do this...but I'm realized keeping things the same couldn't work anymore, and ready or not, this step was necessary.  The kids have slowly taken a few of Mike's treasures, which was hard watching, but I knew they would be having a piece of their dad that way and perhaps that would help their healing process.  Hanging on to Mike's clothes kind of kept a part of him with me for a little.  Smelling his clothes or even putting them on was a huge comfort.  But...with a new marriage soon, I needed to get through this next step.  It was tearing me up doing it alone, so Glenn came over to help me.  We cried together, as he knows all too well what this feeling was like, since he had to do this himself a couple of months ago.

So, with boxes everywhere and some extra time on my hands to accomplish a few things, I just may make some progress finishing things up this coming week, between doctor appointments, etc.

Less than two weeks away.........!

2.04.2011

2.03.2011

NOTE:  This post was an assignment my therapist gave me to write.

I spent today training my replacement at my job.  He is a nice young man and I know he'll do a wonderful job as administrator.

It's hard to believe it has been almost two years since I walked in that church, desperate for a job, to help pay for medical insurance Mike and I needed.  Some days I feel I've been there forever.  But there are other days when I still feel the stinging tear inside my heart of the loss I've experienced.  I don't believe that pain will ever go away.  I still see Mike sitting in a chair, walking through a door way, waving goodbye.  I'm always searching for him.  That part of Beverly is unconsciously wandering around trying to find herself too...knowing very well, a huge part of herself has slipped away for now, and she has to learn to go on without her.

I have changed, and maybe some would like to say, not for the better.  But I have survived the best way I could, and continue to try and survive.  It is a day by day process.....to choose life.....and to go on.....believe me.  There is no exaggeration here.

I'm so grateful for the blessing God has given me in Glenn.  He wraps his arms around me and reminds me as Mike once did, that I matter, and that I'm cherished.  He watches over me, keeping me safe.  I see Glenn as a gift from God, but I also can't help but think Mike realized I needed this kind of physical reminder or strength and comfort...and Glenn's arms became Mike's wrapped around me.  Glenn's sense of humor reminds me to laugh at life and find the fun and joy that still can exist within it.  And Glenn and I have many plans to live life as fully as we can, while we can.

I'm getting married in two weeks, and I feel extremely blessed.  I want others to be happy for me, but if not, I pray God gives you understanding that you may stand in my shoes one day, and you may find it hard too.  It's an individual journey and we may not all take the same path, but if joy is at the end of it, and heaven ends up as our eternal home; then, I'll see you on the other side.  If not, please allow me what little joy I can take from this time in my life, and let me be happy. This is my time.  I can't be weighted down with guilt trips, concerns about confusion I may be causing, or plain disapproval of decisions I'm making.  I am doing the very best that I can...and according to all three of my therapists....I'm doing it in a healthy and positive manner.  Just allow me to have a little joy and peace.....please......with no strings attached....no criticisms!  If this is too much to ask, then wish me well, and hopefully we can meet at another opportunity.  That being said....I'll love you always.

2.01.2011

Hard Shoes to Follow




Knowing that the "heart", the "energy", the "strength" of the family was Mike....at the end of each day, my best was all I had to offer.