September to Remember

So sorry about our lack of communication via the blog.  September came and went before we knew it.  By the time it was over, we felt like we had survived a hurricane of mass proportions.  It was all so hectic; I can't remember what we did for the majority of the time.

I know one thing - COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS BACK!  Which means my husband has a date every Saturday with Dabo Swinney and his boys at Clemson.  I have actually not minded it as much as I anticipated.  I do, however, not like watching all day football.  We had a conversation about that.  Four hours of anything is enough (in my humble opinion).  

Now, the problem with Saturdays lies herein: Phillip had to work nearly every Saturday in September.  Fortunately, I have been pre-occupied so our lack of "dating" hasn't phased me in the least.  Phillip, on the other hand, is one tired kid come Saturday night.  

Several weeks ago we received a phone call from Florence informing us that Phillip's grandmother was found unconscious.  Not much more was told at the time.  We packed up around midnight that Sunday night and headed down to South Carolina.  We got there around 2 AM to something I never could have imagined.  

I've always said that if anything ever happened to Ms. Elwood, I wouldn't know how to handle Phillip.  He adored his Papa and Grandma.  He grew up next door to them his entire life (until some evil woman came in and had him move to North Carolina).  

Over the next three days I watched an amazing family come together in a way I had never seen before.  All of the trivial things were left behind to focus on the matriarch.  I have never seen that many people in an ICU unit before.   She had suffered, among other things, a massive stroke and hemorrhaging in the brain.

On September 22, 2010, Grandma Taylor was able to meet the Lord that she loved so dearly.  We came home to get clothes, make some arrangements, and come back to SC for the funeral arrangements.  This was the only weekend Phillip took off in September, but thank the Lord for a great company.  He was given three days of bereavement so he didn't have to use all of his vacation.  

The visitation was held that Thursday and the funeral took place that Friday.  I will say that watching Phillip and his family go through this broke my heart.  Phillip is a really big guy, but he's such a softy at heart.  I had no idea what to do with a husband that was completely broken.  His friends were amazingly supportive.  (I have never had so much delicious food in my life.)  Phillip took comfort in the fact that his grandma left behind an incredible testimony to God's provisional love (and that she was enjoying time with the husband she loved so dearly in heaven). 

The rest of the month was slightly bumpy, but we made it.  It's October and it feels FABULOUS outside.  Don't you agree?  I broke out the jacket this week.  Can't wait to carve pumpkins in a few weeks!


Thanks for being patient with us!  Happy fall ya'll!