LynneH

Pat, I am with you and Brian. I hope you can feel my love.........Lynne

Happy New Year to everyone here at LCSC! 2005 brought pain and sorrow to so many of us here, but it also brought joy, smiles, and laughter. May 2006 shower each of you with good health, many smiles, and fond memories. Love and Thanks, Lynne

Beth, I am so glad to see you here. Keep holding on as we are holding on real tight to the rope and we won't let go. Every one is different, so I cannot tell you I know exactly how you feel inside. But I do know that you are feeling such an immense emotional pain that it is actually felt physically. I tore through rooms looking for a note that I was sure Jim must have left me. I too save anything that has Jim's writing on it. I wear one of his hoodie sweat jackets. I talk about him. All of those things make me feel better. Do those things that bring you a momentary smile, even if it is followed by a sob because we have to get those out too. I think about you and Bill every day and know that with Bill's help, you will be able to put those feet on the floor each morning and trudge through another day. I promise that one day, if only briefly, you will take a step that will have lost the 'trudge' and will feel lighter. Just one step at a time, that is all you need to do right now.......... Love, Lynne

Carleen, I am so very sorry to hear about Keith's reports. I remember the same feelings of knowing that my whole self was wrapped up and intertwined with Jim, as yours is with Keith. Please continue to let out that agony and anguish with us as you continue to lift Keith's spirits. And when you can't put the smile on for Keith, he too will understand because he knows you are human, and that you are madly in love with him. I lost it once and told Jim that I couldn't do this thing called "life" without him. He gently replied that I was not going to have a choice and would have to figure it out. Sounds harsh to write those words, but they were uttered softly, and those words have helped me so many times when I have been ready to crawl under the rock and leave this earth. Pounding pillows, sobbing in the car, sobbing in the shower, venting here........whatever it takes, please do it so you can gain the strength you need. You are an amazing lady and Keith is so very lucky to have you by his side. Great big hugs to both of you, Lynne

Pat and Brian, always front and center in the middle of my heart, every day........ Love, Lynne

Your words here say so much about how much you love your father. So I know without a doubt he knows how much he makes his daughter's heart smile. I am so sorry. We are always here. Take care, Lynne

Cindi girl! You talkative thing, you! And a good thing that is for the rest of us. Thank you for all of the support, love, and big dose of humor you have given me when your own plate is piled a mile high... Congratulations and thanks from the bottom of my big fatty heart, Lynne

Pat and Brian, Pain relief and time together is indeed the most precious gift of all. I know you are holding hands when you can as you feel the love flow back and forth...... Love to both of you, Lynne

Thank you Ann. This is the BEST family I could have. Wish our super glue bond had been due to a different reason , but we play with the hand we're dealt. I started reading and bonding with so many of you in March of '04, but didn't really start speaking until Jim passed away in March '05. I cannot ever find words to express the gratitude I feel for the love, support, and lifelines I have received here. I try to give the same to so many I love here, but I can do that until my last day on earth and I know it will never be enough. I just think of my favorite color of Lifesaver to be LCSC. Some people don't know what that color is. Enjoy the Season, Love, Lynne

Oh Pat, there are no words. Just know that I am here any time, any hour of the day. Please give Brian my love and then sit down with the rest of my love wrapped around you. I hope the Osberg home is filled with tremendous love and much peace during this holiday time. With love and indescribable sadness, Lynne

Cindi, Unbelievable! I hope you plan to give them the what's what, give them a letter from our resident Bunny (and man she's cheap!), hire or just hang out with Tony and Vinnie.........you get the drift. This really P's me Off. Doesn't matter if you want to use the license right now, the point is that you earned it. Of course, only you can decide where you want to expend energy, so vent and write letters to us if that helps.... Big Mama Size Hug, Lynne

(((Nancy, Shirley, Peggy)))......big hugs...Hey, I think if I get in the circle with you that we just started a hug circle. Squeeze tight and let's hold on and draw strength from and give strength to those in the circle with us. I think there may be others that want to join in too. Thinking of all of you and hoping these hard days pass quickly, Lynne

Snowflake, your tree is absolutely gorgeous!

There are so many memories, but last Christmas will stand out as the most special because it was the last one with Jim. It started badly. Jim was having chemo Christmas week. He didn’t tell me until Thursday, the 23rd, that he had been in horrible pain the entire week. He knew I would tattle and he didn’t want anything to stop the chemo. He got the chemo he wanted, got an xray, got some pain medication. The doctor called Christmas Eve to say it looked like pneumonia. Gave Jim the option of hospitalization or curling up at home. No brainer for Jim, he curled up on the couch. Now, the good part. We were both relieved to know what was causing the pain. He had medicine to help dull it. Since I now knew he was hurting, he would let me help him sit up as that was when the pain was so gripping. I opened all of his presents for him which he loved because he didn’t really like opening presents. Now, the best part. We shared hot cups of cocoa, played Christmas music, he smiled while I danced with the dogs, we wound up and listened to the beautiful snow globe music box he had given me one year, we laughed because we always laughed, I rubbed his feet, and then we took our nap. A Christmas very different from most, but one that I will treasure forever.

Cindy, What a difficult time for all of you. I hope Tom was able to enjoy some of this time with his father and siblings. My heart goes out to all of you. Lynne

Luna is fabulous! What a life!

Very nice Debi...

Okay, I've been reading and waiting to see who's house I needed to go to this Christmas. Ry is the winner as soon as I read the pumpkin pie. Ry and John, please set a place for me........ I usually made Jim and I turkey, mashed potatos, gravy, french-style green beans with toasted almonds, those store-bought dinner rolls, and his Mom's Christmas cookies that had the cherry on top. He loved those! Since Jim isn't here and my oven is still broken , I have no choice but to show up at Ry's, uninvited. Lynne

Ann, thanks. You're always looking out for us even when this was a 'special' week for you. Love, Lynne

We are always here for you Beth....

Cindi-girl, I knew in my heart you were going to come up for air, but now that you have, I can let my breath out with a big ol' sigh of relief. Thank God for Jackie, for your new helpful GP, for your kick-a@# PT, and mostly for you. Now, we all sit here together at the wet-pants party. I'll let Lori drill the ice hole but I'll wait back at the heated house with the interesting MIL to offer you a cup of warm chocoate when you return with your smelly fish. I wondered if showers were hard; they were very hard on Jim's lungs. So, just open the coffee scrub and breathe in deep. Will get the stinky fish smell out of your nose and will be a good breathing exercise! I understand your cave-dwelling coping style as I share the same. Different strokes for different folks. WELCOME BACK! Love, Lynne

Katie, I'm with you and the Dallas 'Boys. Bunny and Jim would have had a good time, because he too rooted for ANYONE playing against the 'boys.

Ann, Yesterday was a difficult day but I did smile. Last night, I half-heartedly decided to start wrapping the presents I'll be taking to my family next week. I shuffled into the wrapping paper closet and discovered new paper I had bought last Christmas. When I pulled it out, I smiled really BIG because it was all glittery, shiny, sparkling type of paper. The kind that Jim loved! He loved to make presents shine and sparkle and look pretty. I usually did well just to get them wrapped and taped. So, I had bought Christmas paper last year that I thought he would love this year! I used some last night and talked to him about how he would really love this stuff! I could just hear him say "Now, see, don't those look much better?!". (They still didn't get any bows or ribbons.) Thanks for reminding me of this. I stayed home today because I couldn't find where I put my smile up last night and you just helped me find it, Lynne

Sue, I'm happy to see that the doctors are pursuing a fix for the cough. I remember Jim's coughing episodes that interrupted his days and nights for months. It sounded so miserable for him. I hope they come up with a solution in time for the holiday feasting. Take care, Lynne

Ann, May your loving memories of Dennis bring you smiles and laughter today........ Lynne