Over the last five years Rodger and I have bought three houses and sold two of them. We are now living in Edmonds but the house we own is in Utah. We are both caring for aging parents. The Picketts stubbornly remaining in their house in Walnut Creek and my parents firmly planted in their house in Edmonds. To thicken the plot Rodger was called to be bishop last August. That put a stop to his working in the temple with me and limited his trips to California to care for parents. It has given him a real opportunity to serve and teach. He is a great teacher and has brought some energy and an emphasis on love to the ward. It has been a great blessing to us and to the ward.
Years ago when Rodger was working for Novus but being courted vigorously by Dave and Cindy to move to PA and work for them, Rodger asked the whole family to start praying about what we should do. The kids complied of course. I did not. I thought that once I prayed and got the answer I would be obligated to obey. I did not want that obligation. So early one afternoon Rodger showed up at home. Unusual, right? I said, "What are you doing home?" Rodger said, "he fired me". Nine year old Bill said, "Well dad, you asked us to pray about moving to PA and we all felt good about it, I guess God had to fire you so you would get it straight." I have been thinking that Rodger had to get called to be bishop so he would get it straight that we should stick around here. To complicate matters our house was for sale when he got called. Not much was happening with the house and we thought we would just let the listing run out. Well we got a cash offer before Christmas and accepted it and now it is sold. Now we just need to figure out a place to live. In the meantime we are getting lots of input from my brothers who think my parents should be somewhere besides their house and some of them think things need to be decided.
So my Sunday miracle today was finding my mom's hearing aid. She was complaining a few weeks ago that she can't hear and can't see and can't remember. Well I said you can see right? She said yes and she said yes she could see with glasses. And then I said, "you do have a hearing aid, you could start wearing that". She said, "I do? Where is that?" I thought is was in her drawer and went to retrieve it. I found the case, empty. I found the batteries. But no hearing aid. I have sort of been on the lookout since. Today she was frustrated that she could not hear in Sunday school or Relief Society. So when we got back to their house I started thinking about where she might have taken it out and started looking around in the other bedrooms because occasionally she gets up in the night and changes beds. Well I found it in my sister Mary's old room, on the dresser, plain as day. I replaced the battery and viola she could hear!!!! Fabulous. We spent the afternoon watching a video Kelly made in 2006 of my dad's 80's birthday celebration at the Lake house. My dad got a little emotional. I think it is good for them to do those kinds of things that trigger their memories.
I am glad they are still here even though they need help with most basic activities. ADL's as nurses say. I help them get ready for church every Sunday morning and I have to say I am getting pretty good at shaving my dad and tying ties. They are very grateful for every act of service they receive from us so it is very sweet work I do.
I am not sure the point of this post but I want to remember the time I spend with them during this stage of their lives as well as when they were their true selves and leading out in service to us and the church and the community. They were both constantly busy with church work, family and my dad with his practice. They will be difficult to top for sure.
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