Weather coming and going was wonderful for traveling such a long ways on flat roads. Wide open spaces in which you can see for miles on end. A certain beauty to it. It might have to grow on you before you think it's 'purdee.'
Long story short, God helped me not be nervous around my In-Laws. It's been a rough ride being their daughter-in-law. Right now I won't go into details about being estranged from them and as to why.
I felt like we needed to go see them due to what was going on. My Mother-In-Law had fallen for the umpteenth time and broke her elbow. She was feeling like she was being held hostage while healing as her husband was in their assisted living apartment with her in the nursing home down the hallway.They've been living in Assisted Living for about a year and a half.
My Father-In-Law hated it from the get go before he was completely moved in as it is relatively a much smaller place than what he has lived in for over 40 years. I think it was just too much of a change for him. He's very bull headed as some would say.
Though the Assisted Living Complex is a very clean facility, my FIL called it a dump. Not hardly, but he isn't happy there and now he's in much pain.
I don't believe that they were prepared to lose so many of their privileges and be bothered so often by others about basic things.
As we were in their apartment, there was activity from Staff so their front door was being knocked on a great deal. One to take out the trash. One to take a meal away. Two to administer medicine.
One to check their lock boxed meds. One for physical therapy. One for this and one for that. Sometimes we just get interrupted too often. It was eye opening to how busy their HOME was compared to when they lived in their house.
They moved there for a variety of reasons. One of the MAIN reasons was my MIL has been falling often and my FIL has a bad back to where he couldn't pick her up. Both are in their 80s.
When MIL slipped and fell on wet tile in the bathroom breaking her elbow, she couldn't get up. He bent over to pick her up and when he did, his back popped. His back broke. The place in his back that had been fused together over 50 years ago broke apart.
I'm not sure why he didn't call for assistance as this is one of the reasons they moved into this Assisted Living Apartment. Perhaps out of habit, he went to help her without thinking others were available.
When my Husband talked to his Mom by telephone and he said she was practically panicky that she was going to be held forever in this facility's nursing home section. She was upset. So we decided we had better go see for ourselves and check on them. It was necessary.
We drove the distance arriving late on Wednesday night. We were treated to a Hotel room across town and slept well. Seeing my In-Laws in such poor health was painful. We took them out to Breakfast after my MIL got her cast off and was allowed to return to her apartment. We visited them throughout the day, ate, did some shopping for them and visited some more.
One of my brother-in-laws that now lives in their house came by to visit. By the time it was bedtime, I was pretty well worn out from the long drive to Oklahoma and the emotional visit.
The next day was long. Very long. Father-in-law will be seeing a medical doctor about his back. His back is broken and has been broken for over a month. Why he wasn't wearing a brace, I don't know. We hadn't been told he broke his back until we were there. Watching him walk with a walker where he had little control of his feet was painful to watch. 
I believe the best place for them is in Assisted Living, but not sure how long they will be there as it is incredibly expensive. When the money runs out for Assisted Living they will go to the Nursing Home.
As my Husband and I continue to downsize and get more organized, I have had to think long and hard as to what we should be doing to prepare for retirement. I am praying and working on the details.My earthly days may not be long enough to be in a Nursing Home or Assisted Living. Still I believe there must be some planning. BETTER safe than sorry.
My LIFE INSURANCE POLICY is in order for HEAVEN. My name is written in the LAMB's BOOK OF LIFE. The Lord Jesus is my personal savior and the very instance he became my Lord, my name was written in the BOOK OF LIFE. Never to be erased. Assurance of my salvation.
Do you have assurance of your salvation? Only through HIM.
I think of my Parents as well. Their apartment isn't in a assisted living complex, but really nice for them as a couple. My Mom had told me that when you get older you don't want all that STUFF to deal with. I think I am coming around to her way of THINKING and KNOW that I don't want to be dealing with so much STUFF right now.
So more downsizing and organizing we will do.
Is it freeing to turn loose of so much STUFF?
When we were HELPING my folks relocate from their house into this apartment, the gears were turning then as to what our next step would be in our own life as we were getting older ourselves.
That was nine years ago when we were in our 50s. 60 quickly snuck up and here we be. LIFE can be like a vapor.
After we left the Panhandle we made the rounds in Liberal, Kansas where I grew up. I want to go back and spend a few days there just going to see the places that are in my memories. It was a tad bit emotional.
It doesn't seem to matter where one lives, (please excuse my french) the drivers are h.e.l.l. on wheels.
It can be kind of scary when the drivers are so reckless
and aggressive.
Not my cup of tea.
I am so very happy to be HOME,
d
