Last week my wife, daughter and mother-in-law had a quick get away to Rehoboth Beach, DE. While it’s getting to be “that time of year” and beach trips aren’t that uncommon, this trip was very special to our family.
Almost three years ago, my mother-in-law, Joan, was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. Needless to say our entire family was devastated. Visions of suffering and funerals filled our minds and our hearts were truly broken. We just knew that Joan was not long for this world. That was three years ago.
We found out in April that after her last round of chemotherapy, Joan is cancer free. Needless to say we are all very grateful to God and her wonderful Doctors for this. To put Joan’s “numbers” in perspective, her CA-125 measure was 381 after her initial chemotherapy. (It subsequently rose again to almost 800 which necessitated this last chemotherapy treatment). In April, her CA-125 measure was 91. What a great test result!
You’ll NEVER catch Joan swimming or frolicking in any body of water but she LOVES the ocean and beach! Some of her favorite memories are of her vacations to New England beaches with her late husband, Eddie. So when she mentioned how much she’d like “to see the ocean again” it was a no brainer! A “Mother’s Day Present” beach trip was in the offing.
Wednesday May 13 would have been both Joan’s and her late husband Eddie’s wedding anniversary and Eddie’s birthday. To mark the occasions, Joan took time out from all of the fun and festivities to visit St. Edmond’s Catholic Church in Rehoboth Beach to light a candle and say a prayer for Eddie.
The trip was really a quick one; (3 days & 2 nights) but “My Girls” did have fun though and enjoyed the time together, the beauty of the beach and some great dining & deserts! The Blue Moon Restaurant is one of our favorites and boasts the famous ‘Moon Pie’ dessert. (Believe it or not, I’ve actually eaten that by myself before!)Obviously, it was a hit!
While I missed them terribly, I am so happy that My Girls had the opportunity to get away, have some fun and celebrate three generation of extraordinary Ziegelmeyer women! Karen embodies the essence of strength and character that she learned from her mom. Emma Rose could have no better examples.
At every sales seminar I’ve ever attended we’ve always been instructed to get to know our “Why?”. Our “Why?” is simply why we chose the career that we are in. My girls are the foundation of my “Why?” and they teach, inspire and edify me daily.
RE/MAX Gateway
Thanks for sharing your story of your girls! My mom passed 16 years ago from ovarian cancer. We had 7 short months with her after her diagnosis, a month longer than the doctors thought. Mom loved the ocean and she really wanted to go back to the island of Anguilla, where we had served as missionaries for 17 years, but was not well enough to do that. My husband booked us a condo on the beach in Destin, FL and we got permission from the doctors to take her there. My sister and her girls met us there and we spent a week with mom at the beach, she mostly sat on the balcony but a few times made it down to the sand. We charish those memories because it was shortly there after that God called her home.
Thank you so much, Joy, for sharing you experience with us all. I loved your story and believe I know just how precious those memories are. God bless
Thank you both for sharing these precious stories. They are both sweet and heart wrenching. Joy, your story reminded me that “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” Why? Because that is when we finally go to be with Him ~ and He loves us so! Ed, we thank God for Joan’s Wonderful Report! “The Lord Gives Life!” Every heartbeat and every breath are a concious gift from God! We must all love and appreciate each other every day that we can!
God Bless You!
Hi Annette ~ I’m so glad you appreciated my post & Joy’s response. Your comments remind us all how temporary our lives here are! God bless.
That is really a sweet story, Ed. Life is short, we have to treasure and cherish each and every moment. I’m so glad that you honor and value the women in your life!
Praise the Lord for His healing touch, Our God is truly an awesome God. You are blessed. 
Thank you, Rhonda. Yes, life is short! While Joan’s illness has not always been pleasant, it has driven that message home ins unspeakable ways! I really think that we’re better people and a better family because we’ve experienced what we have.
I really enjoyed reading your story, Ed — and yours also, Joy! My mom was just diagnosed with uterine cancer in late March of this year. Thankfully, at this point, it look like it was just in her uterus — she had a hysterectomy and, when they tested the lymph nodes, they didn’t find any cancer in them. She is scheduled to start radiation in June. Life indeed is short; and the older I get, the more I realize how important it is to savor every moment with those you love. Thanks again for sharing such wonderful stories!
Brenda, Thank you for your kind comments and for the courage to relate your experience to us all. I’ll continue to pray for your mom & family. Don’t hesitate to let me know if I can help in any way…even at this distance!
Ed and Karen, thank you for your link. Thank you for sharing the special moments and your thoughts. The mother’s day trip sounds was very meaningful and special. Ed, I really like your postings and the way you have put your blogs together..nice job.
Lidia Dennis