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200 words, caring, community, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, family, health, hope, living in the moment, love, parents, Relationships, struggles
“It is not necessary to always feel strong. It is sufficient to have hope that we will be strong enough at the proper time and place.” –St. Francis de Sales
For the last few years, I’ve struggled with the fact that my family is so spread out.
My daughter is 3 1/2 hours north of me.
My parents and brother are a 5-hour flight east. My other relatives are in Germany.
This becomes more challenging when something goes wrong.
Several days ago my Dad was hospitalized when his leg just gave out, due to a medical condition, and he fell into a marble table.
I spent a lot of time on the phone; with Mom, my brother, my daughter just updating and encouraging each other.
Long story short, he’s fine.
They had to do emergency surgery.
It went well and he is recovering.
We can’t save ourselves or our loved ones from heartbreak.
We can’t protect ourselves from bad things that just happen.
We can’t wave a magic wand around to fix everything.
We’re not bullet proof.
Yet we can hope that we are strong enough to bear these things together.
Maybe that’s enough.
~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~
talktodiana 
Life sure is more complex whenever one’s family is spread out across Canada or overseas. My father is dying of cancer…and now it’s accelerating. Bought my plane ticket for late fall visit in Toronto, but now I may be prepared to change ticket to earlier visit. We’ll see.
Your father is probably like mine…probably healthy for the longest while until noticeably frailer in latter part of life.
I think of my parents: who each immigrated to Canada in 1950’s. ..They never saw their parents again. Forever, good-bye…when they were in their early 20’s. : plane travel was very expensive in the 1960’s-1970’s (and they had 6 children so could not afford to visit). Their life together, allegiance is Canada but you wouldn’t know it: my mother still cannot speak much English @80 yrs. She was a picture bride. I have tried to understand via limited Chinese, what it was like to give birth (Hamilton) to her first child, me, in a hospital when she didn’t understand English.
Sometimes having family member around at the most crucial times in life is a salve for the soul.
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Jean,
Six children? Wow! It sounds like there could be quite a few stories about your parents. So like me, you are a first generation Canadian and the oldest who moved far away…
My thoughts are with you and your family as your dad lives this terrible disease…
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I can imagine that was a tense time; I’m glad it worked out well! (My folks live out in California and have hit the 90 mark, so I think about what the future holds sometimes.) Hope is good. Doing whatever you can (even just being there on the phone) is, I think, always good enough.
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Yes, thank you Smitty!
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I’m glad to hear that your dad’s surgery went well and that he’s recovering. A few years ago I moved about 3 1/2 hours away from my hometown where most of my friends live, and now I have to choose whose birthday I’m going to visit for, and whose I won’t, and it was much easier when I could just go out for everyone’s birthday, without packing an overnight bag and sitting through tolls. But I guess that’s our transient world. Hopefully technology makes it at least a little bit easier.
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Thanks Mark. Dad’s getting better every day. I’m glad they figured it all out and took care of the problem. I think on your birthday, you should make all your friends drive to you! 😉
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I’m glad your dad is doing better. big hugs
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Thanks Kristi!
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Sending good thoughts, Diana–and glad your father is going to be ok. Sometimes it’s hard to be in this brave world of distance and boundaries don’t matter–because sometimes we feel those miles, no matter what. ❤
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Thank you so much mrs fringe! It is so true that distance is more than miles, very philosophical of you!
Peace to you,
Diana
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❤
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What can I say that you haven’t already heard. I skipped reading lately, Ray’s oncologist apt. Was today and the level of stress was too high. I was just talking to George and he was giving me the details……. I couldn’t believe it….. We ( family ) love your parents. They are a very important part of our lives……and I was devastated, thinking of you especially, until George told me that surgery went well and he was fine. You are so much in my prayers….since you re far and would want to be all over the place, at once. You need the strength and if I go by what Heinz and Margot tell me, you have it inside. Remember that God never gives you anything too great. If He gives it to you, He will bring you through. I have no fear, all will be well. P.S. Ray is Cancer Free, when the first doctor we saw on Jan. 3, 2012 saw us…he said…YOU HAVE 3 MONTHS TO LIVE….imagine that….but Jeremah 29:11 said otherwise. Have a great day my friend…..Faith, Trust and Believe. Hugs
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Ahh Linda, thank you for your prayers and support and I’m thrilled regarding the news about Ray!
Hugs
Diana
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It’s good to hear that your dad’s doing okay. I don’t live near many of my relatives, and I also find it difficult sometimes.
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Thanks for your good thoughts Sheryl. ❤
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Distance does make things much harder. Glad your father is ok.
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It sure does and so am I! Thanks Lisa.
xo
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I’m glad that your father is going to be ok and that he has a loving daughter and family who cares so much for him, Diana.
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Thanks Russ, I’m glad he’s ok too.
xo
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When I read things like this it makes me even happier that my family all live within 20 minutes of each other………..
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I’m happy for you too Joanne. ❤
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I’m glad your dad is OK – I live far from my family and usually have to make the trip in an emergency or when there’s a celebration – I prefer the latter. I was home over Labor Day weekend when my father’s health failed – no way to get a flight. Sometimes the distance is just too far.
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Oh wow, sorry you couldn’t make it Lorri. Thank you for your good wishes for my dad.
xo
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Distance IS a tough for hugs and really “seeing” each others’ lives. (My daughter lives in Los Angeles and I live in South Florida.) I’m glad your dad did well with his surgery. It was an opportunity for all of you to tune in again and recognize all the love you have for one another.
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Yes it was – thank you very much!
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I can relate to this so much! My (step)Dad & sisters & brothers live in Canada. The rest of my family live in England. I live in the Netherlands.
Times can be hard when so many of your loved ones are so far away, especially when bad things happen. My Mum was hospitalised suddenly two years ago, she passed away. It was devastating. The thing you have to remember is that you can’t be with everyone you love every second of the day because then it would be impossible to live your own life and I know that my Mum wanted me to be happy and do that.
I’m happy to hear your Dad is well. Stay strong 🙂 I love the quotes ❤
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I’m so sorry for your loss Alicia. Thank you for your encouraging words to me. It means a lot.
❤
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I am so glad your dad is doing okay. We do not live close to family either….it can make it really tough at times. Thinking of you and yours ♥
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Your support is precious – thank you!
xo
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♥
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Hope and faith does wonders. I am glad your father is ok Diana. Sending love and prayers your way!!
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Thank you Rashieda!
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That must have been very difficult, not being near your dad at such a vulnerable time. On the up side, it sounds like he is doing better. Thank heavens for that.
Having lived through my parents’ illnesses and deaths, I can tell you looking back at it my heart simply broke seeing them so needy and sick. I miss them every single day, because we were pretty close. Sometimes I get so lonely for their voices and their reassuring talks. Hugs. x
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Jennifer I am so sorry for your loss. They (your parents) raised a beautiful woman. I bet they look down at you with great pride. Thanks for your words of support.
xo
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Diana, you have no idea how much I needed to hear that right now. Going through a bit of something, and without getting into it, it was as if my parents whispered those words in your ear to pass on to me today, when I needed to hear it the most. Thank you!!! xo
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Maybe they did Jennifer, and if so, I’m glad I was listening. Whatever bit you are going through, I know you’ll come through it. 🙂
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Glad all is well, but it’s not easy being all spread out from family, friends and loved ones.I often imagine what it would be like to have my peeps all in one place, Life is certainly interesting with knowing loved ones are living interesting lives in interesting places, but it’d be nice to have everyone a little closer! Most importantly, your father is ok!
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Yes, most importantly my father is OK! 100 years ago or more one was born and died in the same town. Family was always together. People married the people they went to school with. I wonder how many wished to leave their homes…
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I’m happy that he’s doing ok ~ so scary! I like your enormous book of quotes! ♥
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Thank you so much!
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glad to hear he’s going to be ok Diana x
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Thanks! Me too!
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