Breaking news…it’s the phrase the news organizations use when they feel that the new story is big enough to interrupt the ongoing stories of the day.

We haven’t made a post in some time now, but we have our “ongoing” stories like the rest of you.

Ken had three back-to-back trips to Nigeria and then July arrived. It was the month we left open to do personal trips. Our Spring and Summer melded into one as each of us took three trips each to visit our mothers who needed care. Vacation, work, and a graduation all got fit in between. We had planned on writing and giving everyone a small update.

Then came the breaking news…Ken’s mother, Jean Haugh, needed emergency surgery. We knew she wouldn’t do well having a surgery in her weakened state, but she also couldn’t live without the surgery. The day after the surgery, Ken was changing his plans, boarding a plane from his work trip to Florida, and rushing to his mother’s side. On Saturday morning, about 9am, she passed into Heaven with all of her family by her side.

Breaking news…death breaks up your days and your weeks. It waits for no one. It’s never a “good” time. It’s painful and shocking even when expected.

My daughter and I will fly to Michigan tonight and meet our family to start the ritual of “laying Mom to rest.”

Yet we are restless. Yes, she was not healthy. Yes, we knew it could happen. Yes, she had lived a good long life. But it feels horrible and we mourn.

Thanks for standing with us. In a few days we will return and resume our work. The ongoing stories will continue. School has started for me…Ken is planning his next trip…life will go on. We’ll just be a little sadder for a while.