This truly has been an astounding year. It started with the usual New Year excitement plus the preparations connected with the opening of our new Divine _Mocha Espresso Shop in our Real Estate office area. The Grand Opening was February 9, 2005. My capable manager, Kristin Schaffer, had every thing under control and was totally prepared.

We couldn’t be at the Grand Opening because February 9, was also the day my hubby was rushed to the hospital. For many years he had battled with high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. Over the most recent 8 years he had about 6 tiny strokes which affected his mental functions including balance, memory, vision, speech and walking patterns. He was never paralyzed. If I held his hand, then he wouldn’t tip over and fall, so, I held his hand. Every morning we went to breakfast at Heidi’s in Gresham. The whole staff gave us such loving care. Their laughter and attention to him did Ed as much good as all of his medications put together. He loved it.

After breakfast, we came to work. My goal was to care for him and never have to place him in a nursing home facility. I believe that families need to take care of their loved ones, if it is at all possible. It was working well. The reason I chose our present Fairview building was because we could both live and work at the same location, where he could be living all on one level. I knew that I could handle his needs, even if his health worsened. The concept was outstanding.

At the hospital, I was allowed to stay over night, resting in a chair, beside Ed every night. He was healing and beginning to tease the nurses, when he developed pneumonia and was placed in ICU. Their wonderful care was bringing him back.

Early, one of those mornings at the hospital, I received a call from my son Tim, telling me that our building had been broken into and that several things had been taken. That was most distressing; however, the Police were right on top of the situation, recovering all of out lost items.

Sadly, on March 3, 2005, my hubby passed away. His body just gave out. That hurt my heart. Caring for Ed was a heavy load, but it was never a burden. He did all he could to make it easier. Lots of good memories.

For several years, my youngest son had been addicted to alcohol and narcotics. Our family is not into alcohol, drugs, tobacco and even excess prescribed medications. I couldn’t comprehend why anyone would want to choose to go down that path in life. I loved him dearly but despised his choices. I felt he was lost to me. This grieved my heart. Unbeknownst to me, the day my husband died was the day Tim and Kristina got my youngest son and took him to the Teen Challenge recovery home. There were no beds available at that time. They suggested that the Victory Outreach Recovery Home in Battle Ground, Washington might have space. The 3 of them went there and there was a bed available. Victory Outreach is a free, faith based, addiction recovery facility.

On Sunday morning, May 15, 2005, I got an early call from my grandson David in Modesto. He said, “Grandma, last night my daddy died.” Chip’s wife had died 2 years earlier of cancer. I was stunned! David had been orphaned twice in 2 years. Tim, his wife Kristina and I were in Modesto that evening and in 2 weeks had David up here in this area. The sudden change for David was difficult for him. His father and mother were both dead, he was moving away from his school friends, church friends, area friends and the only home he had ever known. At breakfast, on our drive back to Gresham, David’s prayer included “Thank you Lord for giving me peace about the move to Oregon.”

I had expected that I would be raising David. In order to have time to be able to shift gears with my housing arrangements, David stayed with Tim and Kristin for a while. A few days after we were back, my son Dan came to talk with me. He said “Mom, you’re a wonderful mama, a wonderful grandma and a lousy daddy.” I didn’t have any rebuttal for that statement because I have no capacity to be a daddy. (In 1987, when I adopted 3 of my grandchildren, as a single lady, it was a no-brainer. It was me or the State and the Foster care system for the kids. I knew that I was the best option available for them.) Dan said that if there is an option, David needs a daddy at this time in his life. Then he really got me. He said “Mom, what would Dr. Laura say?” I hadn’t thought about that, but, I knew that she would say that a child needs a stable mom and dad type of family to ensure the healthiest develop. Tim and Kristina were thrilled and anxious to raise David. He was thriving at Tim and Kristina’s home and really “nesting in.”

After his mom died, David’s grades really dropped at school. Loosing a parent is really hard on a kid. It took about a year for him to get back to normal at school. An 11 year old boy desperately needs mama. Several weeks after we were back in Oregon, while we were all at the espresso shop, I saw David, now 13, laid his head on Kristina’s shoulder. That was a touching moment and I knew a strong bond was developing and that he was where he belonged.

Click here to see how God has been working through these events.

Barb Sellers, Principle Broker