Filling In The Blanks

This entry is from Grandma Mattie:

The last few days have been another way to see the Fryer family at work doing what they have been taught, by their mother, wife, Tara.  How are they doing?  Amazing!  It is not everyday a grandma gets to be a fly on the wall observing the life and daily struggle that many of you also have in your busy lives.

Tara is a great teacher, wife and mother.  Her  whole life each day is dedicated to those she loves and adores:  Russ and their five children.  Each one is taking their situation in stride and doing their part. Tara left a lot of reminders and helps for her family to do and function while she is recuperating and facing the challenges as a patient and the caregiver of her little flock. 

Russ:  What a trooper. There is no doubt of his great love for his wife and dedication to his family.  He takes care of the details and is the "go-to-guy" and handles the day to day stresses and carries on with what needs to be done.  He is more  the protector and provider.  He is showing a lot of patience with Tara especially.  His thoughts are first of her and her comfort and willingness to be at her side and attend to her needs.  Tara is able to depend on him and know he deeply loves her and cares about her and her well-being. 

He spent the morning at the hospital at her side.  But, Saturday afternoon was spent away from her to be at home for several hours to help can peaches.  He and the kids pitched in, he had ordered several bushels of Lemon Elberta’s and put up thirty-two quarts of peaches. He single-handedly made it a priority for Tara not to miss out on having bottled fruit, which she may have done, had things been “normal” for her had she not been in the hospital at this time. 

He had grandma babysit with Tara at the hospital so he could manage and tackle the fruit for their winter food storage.  The kids all pitched in and together they got the job done!  How pleased Tara will be and delighted when she gets to have those delicious peaches to add to her meals when she gets home! 

The children were very cooperative and had things under control by doing their chores, with a little encouragement from grandma. Their mother, Tara left a lot of lists and notes for them to remember which chores that needed to be done while she was absent.  She taught them and they had learned to work and focused on what they needed to do . . . everything from dusting the base boards, to scrubbing them too with  a tooth brush, to wiping down the doors of the house and cleaning, sweeping and mopping the bathroom floors. 

They have all been blessed to do their chores and remember the “glue that holds it all together."  MOM!  Allie, Jacob, Courtney and Erin all practiced their music without complaint and went to their lessons as usual this last week.  Grandma hardly had to do anything but gently remind them to practice and get them to their music lessons.  Erin is assisting in making sure to download some family pictures she took to post on the family blog. Way to go, Erin!

Sydney is filling too in making sure the kids get to and from their activities and worked hard to get to her responsibilities as well.  Courtney took over the task to get the laundry caught up for the week as the Saturday jobs were done.  She single-handedly made it a high priority and focused on organizing everyone’s clothes, sorting, washing, drying and folding laundry.  She also made sure the lawn was mowed, front and back besides without having to be told    

[Tara, they all miss you and pray for you to get well and be with them when you come home from the hospital.]       

Erin and Allie went to pick sunflowers for a small bouqet in a vase to send to Tara at the hospital. She loved them! They brighten her room. 

Saturday is a busy day for everyone else, I know. Yet kindness knocked on their door and lunch was brought in-- food fit for royalty. . with chicken salad, croissants, fresh cut fruit with Ritz crackers and yummy dip.  Thank you, from the Fryers.  It made their day.

Then, as they were wrapping up the peach patrol, dinner was brought in too! Enchiladas! Yum.  They really are thankful for someone bringing that “bit of sunshine” to their home.  It is especially appreciated.  How can we ever thank everyone enough?

So, there are a lot of helping hands here that are filling in the gaps in Tara’s absence. Thank you so much, again, neighbors, and friends.  You all mean so much to the Fryer family. 

Bless you all,  “Grandma Mattie”