The Swicegoods
Patti and Allen - Established 1979

Happy Birthday to my 'little' brother, Wendell and to Keith...and happy birthday to me...it was 'my' birthday first!! :)

The day before Thanksgiving my cousin fell at home and hit his head. He was home alone at the time and we don't know how long he laid on the floor injured before his wife came home from work and found him. He had emergency surgery but suffered brain damage from the bleeding and then suffered a stroke. He has never regained consciousness. He was on life support for a while but when the breathing tubes were removed he started breathing on his own. In December, the doctors told his wife and family that he will not recover and there was very little brain activity at all. Feeding tubes were removed and he was taken to hospice to die the first of the year. Since then his body has just deteriorated but he is still holding on to life.

I have never been close to Roger. He is just younger than I am. Growing up, when our families were together for holidays, he was always playing with my brothers while I visited with his older sister. I know very little about him...his likes or dislikes. I've never been to his home. I send him and his wife a Christmas card every year but I haven't actually seen him in years. Seventeen years this February in fact. The last time I saw him was at our Grandmother's funeral. The time before that was at our Grandfather's funeral. We talked and I told him that we need to try to see each other more often instead of only at funerals. I didn't realize that the next time I would see him will be his funeral.

I believe in God. I believe that He is control of things and things happen the way He wants them to happen not us and when He wants them to happen. I do not understand why He seems to have forgotten Roger. If he couldn't be saved, why didn't God taken him when he first fell? That would have been so hard on the whole family to lose him suddenly but watching him slowly deteriorate is so much harder. He can't speak so he can't say goodbye to his family. He can't tell anyone that he loves them. He can't say he is sorry for anything he did to hurt anyone. The family can talk to him but the doctors say there is no brain function so he probably doesn't hear them. Why is God leaving him here? Why doesn't He take him and give him and his family peace? What lesson are we all supposed to learn by leaving him here to just deteriorate? I do not understand all of the 'whys'. I do understand the pain and grief his family is feeling. I do understand all of the 'what ifs?' everyone is feeling. I wish there was something I could do to help Roger or help any of the other family members but all I can do is to continue to pray. Pray for strength and understanding for the family. Pray that God will do what is best for Roger. I just wish I could understand why?

Happy 29th Birthday to Travis! Hope you have a great day!

The last day of the year is here...time to reflect on all that has happened this past year. 2009 has been a very busy year and a very sad year so it is one that I am glad to see come to an end.

We have lost some family members and friends this year. One of Allen's cousins passed away suddenly and shortly after that a good friend was diagnosed with a brain tumor and died less than a week later. We were especially saddened when Allen's Uncle Bill passed away this fall. He always had a special place in Allen's heart.

I had to have breast surgery last April (but everything was benign). One of my cousins was diagnosed with colon cancer and had surgery and has been undergoing chemo treatments all fall. At Thanksgiving, another cousin fell and suffered a severe head injury and has been in a coma since and is not expected to recover. My parents have had several health issues this year but both seem to be doing better now but the saddest part is my Mother's memory issues.

The year has had some very good and happy times as well. 2009 saw some special birthdays as my brother, Wendell turned 50, Sarah's husband, Keith turned 30 and Allen celebrated his 60th birthday! Allen and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary at a very special party.

We also made a trip to Colorado with my parents in August. My Mother was able to spend her birthday with 4 of her 5 children. Denver was the only one who couldn't join us but Mom and Dad had just spent a week with his family in May when his youngest daughter graduated from high school.

Travis and Megan are doing well and enjoying their new home. Sarah, Keith and Alex are also doing well and Alex is growing up so fast. It is hard to believe that he will be 5 in April. We are so thankful that they all live close enough for us to see on a regular basis and spend holidays and special occasions with.

So, as 2009 draws to a close, we are looking forward to new opportunities in 2010 and hope all of our friends and family have a wonderful new year! Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas! Blizzard warnings have been issued for the Kansas City area for tonight and tomorrow. Heavy snow (up to 14" expected) and wind gusts to 50 mph. Travis and Meg drove in this morning from Lawrence and Sarah and Keith and Alex came over for a Christmas breakfast and we exchanged gifts in an effort to get everyone home safely before the storm hit. When Travis and Meg headed home around noon Sarah and Alex rode with us to my parents' house with their gifts. They were invited to breakfast too, but Mom wasn't feeling well this morning so they decided to stay home. We didn't linger, just let them open their gifts and then got back home as sleet started falling. Keith had worked last night so he headed home and slept this afternoon. Sarah and Alex decided to spend the night here tonight since Keith is working overnight again. We've been enjoying the fire tonight and watching "It's a Wonderful Life". We hope everyone has a safe and Merry Christmas!