Merika

Duke · 02-06-2007, 08:09 PM

I put this topic here because I think it's best if we discuss members here as family, after all, isn't that what we are now really?

Anyway, has anyone heard from her or is there someone here who is in contact with her that can persuade her to come back and just fill us in? I know there's been troubles they've been facing but it would be really great if we could help her through them.

darkangelism · 02-06-2007, 09:08 PM

no but i was just thinking about her.

TKDLady · 02-06-2007, 09:10 PM

She sends me funny e-mails occasionally. I have asked her when she is coming back. I will send her another one in a few days. I don't want to innundate her and make her run the other way. I think she is going through quite a bit right now. I think Jackson is doing okay. At least the last time she e-mailed me he was.

Adonaicole · 02-07-2007, 09:40 AM

I haven't heard from her in awhile. I sent her a birthday card last month but never got a reply.

Hope she is doing well, I miss her.

Star · 02-11-2007, 01:39 PM

i got an e-mail from merika not too long ago. she is going through some really tough stuff right now and i think her plate is overflowing. i'll send her an e-mail this week sometime to make sure she's okay.

Luba · 02-17-2007, 01:11 PM

I received this beautiful message from Merika today so I could share it with all of you! It was so beautiful that I am still in tears just from her uplifting message! I e-mailed Merika when Ken first posted how much we missed her and here is her response:

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I wanted to wait until I had enough time to answer this email. ItÂ’s okay if you want to copy/paste the whole thing.

Jackson is doing wonderfully. Instead of freezing the cancerous cells in his neckÂ…..they burned them. It was kind of scary and left a bad taste in JacksonÂ’s mouth for a couple of dayÂ…..but as far as we knowÂ….he is well and all bad cells have been removed. There is still a hole under his chinÂ…but itÂ’s small and will heal eventually. This was probably the most terrible fear of my lifeÂ….and IÂ’m so thankful to my personal Jesus that this is now over. I donÂ’t think there is anything a parent has to go thru that is ever as worse as worrying about the life or well being of their childÂ…regardless of age. Even if you are 30 years of ageÂ….you are someoneÂ’s babyÂ….and please always remember that. Just because our babies are grownÂ….doesnÂ’t even begin to mean that we donÂ’t worry and love them just the same. So, the next time you think your mom is a nuisance Â…..look at your own childÂ….and remember your heart never changes.

Chloe is 14 weeks pregnant. We havenÂ’t found out yet if itÂ’s a girl or boy but we will next month. The baby and the mommy are doing very well . I learned through all of this that life isnÂ’t about it going according to out plan or convenienceÂ…..life is about taking things out of plan and in total inconvenienceÂ….and finding the joy and blessing. (I learned that from Star!!!) So, at the very moments I thought this was the end of the world, I thought of my dear friend and the great joy her granddaughter has brought herÂ….and I knew from all this messÂ….there was a wonderful life growing to bring joy to this worldÂ….if we chose to seek the joyÂ…rather than that old inconvenience. Chloe is not giving up her opera ambitionsÂ….she will just need a little additional help in getting there. Meanwhile, I will try to be a supportive Grandma (Nana) like StarÂ….and make love work.

I was telling SweetBilly the other day how I faced two of the greatest fears of my life all within a 3 month period. I feared the loss of a life of one of my children and that one of them might get pregnant which wouldnÂ’t work for me. I finally realized that we fear so much we totally have the strength to accept and live with. People are stronger than they thinkÂ…Â…God has given us such a wonderful resilient spirit. And through it allÂ….we do find laughter, joy, and a great reason to carry on. Worrying has never changed an end result. I think perhaps itÂ’s a total waste of time. Just accept life as it comesÂ….and donÂ’t try to make it the way you think it would work best. There is a great emotional freedom which comes from letting things goÂ…..

I am sorry I havenÂ’t posted. It is NO REFLECTION of my great love for you all. You could live next door and I couldnÂ’t love and cherish you more. Luba, Star, Duke, and tkdladyÂ….who has talked me through more beers than I can countÂ…..are the mainstay of my life forever. No friends face to face could replace the deep feelings I have for you. I want to also mention MeanonÂ….who is like the sister I never had. I truly love you guysÂ…..IÂ’ve just been so burdened down with stuff until I felt I needed to take an online break. Other than emailÂ…..IÂ’m rarely online at all. But you guys are so goodÂ….until Lifesupporters is only the icing on the cake of life of the best friends in the whole wide world. You have been so kind in your faithful emailsÂ…..even when I was too tired to respond.

You guys are the BEST. And againÂ…..I love you allÂ…Â…truly.

And LubaÂ…..maybe only Ken and I would know the great gift that you are to mankind. People like you are rare. You are cheerful, uplifting, and see the best in everyone all the time. It is a great giftÂ…..and you are blessed with it. From the bottom of my heartÂ….I so thank you for loving meÂ….even when I wasnÂ’t there to love back.

AND NOÂ….if you copy and paste my email inÂ….you HAVE to include that last paragraphÂ…..because IÂ’ll check to make sure you did.

IÂ’l l be back posting like a maniac soonÂ…Â…

All my love - kisses Â–and beer breathÂ…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â…Â….Merika

Star · 02-17-2007, 01:27 PM

thanks luba for posting merika's e-mail. it was beautiful and brought tears to my eyes.

Merika,

I am sooooo happy to hear the way you're handling things. you know that i know what you're going through (on my 3rd time here), and just accepting it is so much easier for everyone then trying to fight it. Like you said, you will soon have a beautiful, happy, healthy little baby living with you (I think?) that will bring you soooo much laughter and happiness you can't even begin to imagine it. I know that i will never regret taking my little bundle of joy into my home. she is the glue that holds this family together.

I've said it many times in different threads in here. things happen for a reason and god doesn't hand you anything you can't handle. what you've been going through proves that beyond the shadow of a doubt. jackson will be just fine and cloe, i'm sure, will be a good mommy and work at her future. and you, well, you'll continue being the loving mom, gramma and good person that you've always been. you're a strong woman, life proves that.

please keep us updated on cloe and jackson. give them both a huge hug from me and let them both know that they're all in my thoughts, always. and, you do know that you can e-mail me at any time. i may not respond immediately but you know i will when i can.

life sure through us both a curv huh? but you know, i think it made us even stronger and see what's important in the end. {{{{{{{ big hugs }}}}}}}

Luba · 02-17-2007, 01:31 PM

Star, your message to Merika brought more tears to my eyes! How fortunate am I to know two beautiful strong women such as yourselves! You both give me such faith in mankind where bad things happen so frequently now. It is wonderful to know that there are women of such strength as yourselves slugging it out with such love! I have never in my wildest dreams though I would meet such incredible wonderful people such as all of you on this loving Website. We are indeed all family, and how grateful am I to be part of such warmth, such love, such humanity, such caring!

Meanon · 02-17-2007, 01:58 PM

I got a wonderful message from her too. It's made my day

Quote:

I finally realized that we fear so much we totally have the strength to accept and live with. People are stronger than they thinkÂ…Â…God has given us such a wonderful resilient spirit. And through it allÂ….we do find laughter, joy, and a great reason to carry on. Worrying has never changed an end result. I think perhaps itÂ’s a total waste of time. Just accept life as it comesÂ….and donÂ’t try to make it the way you think it would work best. There is a great emotional freedom which comes from letting things goÂ…..

That is a great lesson to learn. It takes strength, humility and a degree of wisdom to be able to learn about people through suffering, but when you can it liberates you.

Quote:

I so thank you for loving meÂ…even when I wasnÂ’t there to love back

Merika, you've realised that you are an amazingly strong person. I hope one day you know that you will be loved even if you give nothing, just for being the beautiful person that you are.

Love and sisterly hugs from meanon

TKDLady · 02-17-2007, 04:01 PM

Thank you Luba for posting Merika's letter. I am glad to know she is handling all her trials with such perserverance. I hope one day to be as stong as you Merika. You are an inspiration to me. I am so glad I found this site and all of you. It has been a life saver and a sanity check. I hope I get to meet all of you one of these days. It would certainly be one of the best days of my life.

Luba · 02-17-2007, 04:07 PM

I am honoured to have 'met' you, too, tkdlady! I don't think anything happens by chance; we meet those people we need in our lives to share this journey with us! How fortunate I am to have 'met' you all and how much each member has brought something special into my life, and I thank you all! I especially have to thank Duke for "making" me buy a new computer and 'nag'' me (I use that term in the most loving way!) to get the Internet. I never dreamed how much I would gain in my life by getting to know all of you!