July 4th, 2011: This 4th is for Mollie

To the other blogs that are participating in the Right BlogFest, my apologies as what I had for today was no longer appropriate and this just feels right. Hope you all understand.

Please be sure to visit Steve Bussey, Two Sisters From the Right, The Spin Cycle and Raised On Hoecakes for some excellent posts for the 4th of July.

For Mollie: July 4th, 2011

My very good friend's wife was called home to be with the Lord this morning at 4:45 A.M. I got a call from Steve about 3:30 A.M. that she had slipped into a complete sleep and was barely breathing. I went over there straight away and sat with him and their three dogs as God gently eased her into the sunrise. So the posts I had finished  seemed to no longer work. Their two children will be arriving in a few hours and everything has been planned for quite some time. Those who suffer from ALS usually have their affairs in order.

We were talking after Mollie had passed away and we agreed that is somehow seemed very fitting that today, July 4th, is the day that she went home. Mollie was very passionate about this country and one of most amazing Patriots I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Before she had lost the ability to speak she had joked about dying on the 4th and being able to finally have the 'best seat in the house' for the fireworks that will light our skies later on tonight. Well Mollie, you got that seat we joked about and somehow she will let us know how good thing look from up there. She raised their two kids with the sames values many of us grew up with. Honor, duty, love of country, service to others to help make this country work, Freedom was extremely important to her and that is why ALS was and is so cruel an affliction. It robs the body of everything over time. These are two people who never asked for help but were always the first to help others. Mollie led the way for the family. Steve was a bit screwed up from his tours in Vietnam so Molly just stepped in until he could again, lead the family. I remember her battling against hers children's teachers and the local school district right up until she lost her ability to speak, write or type.

They never missed any major holiday that honors our country. One time, the two of them stayed all day at one of the cemeteries in a town where they used to live to escort those who wanted to be sure to visit the graves of loved ones on Memorial Day. Except this day was through pounding thunderstorms and tornado warnings. They escorted over 75 families that day. The two of them summed that day up this way," If we are to die here and today, we can think of no better place or way in which we could be called home, serving those who have lost loved ones. Maybe it might be the last these folks get to do this and we are humbled and honored to help with this." This was how Mollie lived, each and every day until she could no longer do so.

Completely humble and others always came first.

This couple has lived a life of near poverty at times and still do. Steve is a disabled vet and served four tours in Vietnam. He was a 'tunnel rat' for three of those tours and has shared some deeply violent, bloody stories with me. He survived solely on God's hand upon him at all times and the instincts God blessed him. Mollie was a wife and mother first, an administrative assistant for many, many years second. They never had much and ALWAYS were helping those who had even less than they did. Not once do I recall either of them not giving and helping those in need or crisis. They lived off her small pension and his disability. The V.A. finally stepped up to the plate and got their house set up for Steve first and then helped with Mollie's care as ALS took over almost everything in their lives.

I am just taking a short break and need to get back over to their house as there quite a bit to do as you all can imagine or know.

Prayers are all that Steve has asked for and I mentioned to him that I would doing a short post about Mollie and him.

I will try to be back late tonight.

This 4th of July is for you, Mollie.