Constance Ore is a retired Teacher, Choir Director, and Organist. And a formidable cook.

July 27, 2010

Filed under: — Constance at 2:27 pm on Tuesday, July 27, 2010


Pneumonia. Here is an illness that brought more misery than I could have imagined. My last week was spent coughing constantly, using an inhaler, breathing in oxygen from a large oxygen machine brought in by the hospice, ingesting several powerful antibiotics, and losing more weight. Sunday the coughing decreased quite a bit, though now I am too weak to walk very far. Tomorrow my hospice nurse will come and we will review the situation. I give thanks to everyone who remembered me with prayers, cards, well wishes and flowers.

Stick Bug In Seward County, Nebraska
John-paul has come to be with us during this trying time. He takes a camera with him as he walks Alphie and brings back amazing photos of the life that teems below our level of noticing. I had never seen the tiny red mushrooms that he discovered on the path, nor the stick bug that is an amazing looking creature.


As most rural dog owners know, the moment when the dog meets a skunk is inevitable. Last night, right over the bridge to the meadow, John-paul heard a rustling, located it with his flashlight, and behold, very near and ready to spray was the skunk. Alphie, in his great wisdom, pounced, and John-paul said that the spray was so intense he moved away quickly, then he had to convince Alphie to come back. Alphie finally came, but had to stay outside because now he smelled awful. Charles and John-paul found the recipe and ingredients which I had gotten some time ago in anticipation of this happening, so they mixed up the hydrogen peroxide, soda, soap, etc., and brought Alphie into the greenhouse where they hosed him down, washed him thoroughly, and got rid of most of the stink. Charles said that Alphie was utterly confounded by their behavior, and possibly thinking that his humans were losing it. Today our dear dog has beautiful blonde highlights and some small remainder of the scent of his encounter. Charles said that perhaps Alphie learned a lesson – we are skeptical.

I’m not sure how this is going to continue. Hopefully, I will have enough energy to write several more blogs. I pray mightily, cry sometimes, and hope for the best always.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Soon bears us all away;
We fly forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the op’ning day.

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Still be our guard while troubles last
And our eternal home!

18 Comments

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Comment by Neighbor

July 27, 2010 @ 4:26 pm

Oh My– Pine sol is very good and will do the job w/o turning Alphie into a blond bombshell. Have to use it very strong and probably is not super kind to skin (yours or Alphies). It took Sunday three times before he learned but learned he did —- and would run the other way if one was about. Maybe those fumes will help clear your bronchial tubes—ya tink?

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Comment by Lance Klamer

July 27, 2010 @ 6:04 pm

Dear Mrs. Ore,
You are (and have been) in my thoughts and prayers. The love and peace of Christ be with you now and always!
In Him,
Lance Klamer

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Comment by Michael Dwyer

July 27, 2010 @ 7:14 pm

God be with you, dear lady, to strengthen you and those you love.

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Comment by irene Beethe

July 27, 2010 @ 8:21 pm

Dear Connie, That you are able to share with those who love you through your blog is a wonderful gift to us….it helps us know how to continue our prayers. Although I know you have enjoyed your wanderings with Alphie, it was probably good that his first encounter with the skunk was not with you! I’m only trying to picture Alphie with the blond highlights!
Love, peace, and joy to you all in Jesus, who continues to hold you in His arms. Irene

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Comment by Tom Ramsey

July 28, 2010 @ 8:30 am

God’s blessings, Dear Connie and family. Jesus loves you…and so do we! Tom and Peg

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Comment by Diane Cassady

July 28, 2010 @ 9:51 am

While I feel selfish for writing this, thank you for sharing your life and stories with us, I can only imagine how difficult it is for you. You continue to be the creative and generous person that I remember. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

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Comment by Rhoda

July 28, 2010 @ 2:11 pm

We sang that hymn yesterday at our Grace Place Retreat. It’s been a good time of learning and reflection. You would love the setting in the Wisconsin woods. God be with you all!

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Comment by Lois (Meyer) Voeltz

July 28, 2010 @ 2:44 pm

Dear Connie & Charles and family,

You continue on this sacred journey with many folks standing beside you – in Nebraska and other places across the USA. From your blog it’s obvious that you all have found a precious centering in our Creator and the creations seen out your back door. We celebrate the peace and joy each of them bring to you. Rest in the palm of the Creator’s hand!
Lois (Meyer) Voeltz – Herb and Norma’s daughter

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Comment by Mindy Werling

July 28, 2010 @ 5:06 pm

Okay, Connie, I am having trouble with this part of that hymn:

We fly forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the op’ning day.

Now there are some people that we all would rather forget! But I would stake all of my possessions, including my darling dogs and cats, that this does NOT apply to you. Generations down the line will be talking about Constance Ore (and Dr. Charles, too, of course!). Humorous stories will be passed down (and you know they will get a little mixed up, as they often do). Your recipes, your writings, your music, your special things will be treasured for a long, long time. Your strong faith and courage through your illness will be a witness for those coming long after you. Photographs of you will be proudly displayed on walls. I’m not sure who the hymn-writer was referring to, but he certainly did not mean you!

My prayer is that you will feel God’s love, peace, and strength every moment. He is with you now, just as He always has been, and always will be.

Love you,
Mindy

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Comment by Karl Fink

July 28, 2010 @ 6:21 pm

Thank you, Connie, for your wonderful observations as you spill your thoughts and prayers into this blog. You have strengthened our faith in our mighty God who is waiting to welcome us home. We are holding you in prayer.
Karl and Mary Fink
Long Beach, CA

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Comment by Betsy Bobenhouse

July 29, 2010 @ 7:12 am

Dear Connie:

Although our friendship has not been long nor often face to face you are such an inspiration. God Bless You, Charles and your wonderful family for all that you have shared with your wider creative community through writing and teaching over many years. My thoughts of and prayers for you are frequent and filled with gratitude for your spiritual wisdom and insight. You are a window through which we can see the span of God’s blessings. May God’s peace and love surround you.

Betsy

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Comment by Jeff Parker

July 29, 2010 @ 8:02 am

Dear Connie,
My thoughts and prayers go with you as you travel this journey. May I also echo the feelings of others here who have been inspired and uplifted and strengthened by your great faith. Your words are a most powerful witness!
May God’s peace be with you

Jeff

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Comment by Mira

July 29, 2010 @ 11:55 am

Dear Friend,
You will not be forgotten until everyone who knows you is a dream. I hope that today brings an unexpected joy. You and your family are in our hearts and prayers.
Mira & Dick

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Comment by Irene Beethe

July 29, 2010 @ 3:00 pm

Dear Connie,
May God’s peace continue to enfold you as He continues to care for you today!
Love, Irene

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Comment by Rebecca Schoepp

July 31, 2010 @ 4:02 am

Dear Connie,
Some of the wonderful memories I have from our days in NE are memories with a connection to you, music, you with you’re spirit filled wonder of God and his creation, meals as a time of celebration and of delectable creations, an attitude of seeing the beauty of God’s world everywhere. Thank you.
Thank you for your efforts with your blog. I am sure that sometimes it may have been a struggle to post but I and I am sure others are deeply appreciative of the effort it took to do the task and to share your experience with us all, thank you. Your witness honors our LORD and Saviour. Becky Schoepp

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Comment by dick gale

July 31, 2010 @ 7:57 am

To Our Dear Connie and all —

We are visiting friends in Green Valley, AZ, south of Tucson.

It is “monsoon Season” here, with thunder. lightning and 4+ inches of rain last evening.

You were thought of and thought of as Susan and I sat on the patio, watching what the weather gods were up to. In all, it yielded a strong sense of peace. We hope that you and your have a comforting sense of peace, as well.

As a steady blog fan over these years, I want you to know how much your writing has meant to me. I appreciated getting to know your local midwestern ecosystem. You also contributed much to the spiritual growth that Susan (an “unlabeled” Unitarian/Universalist) and I (returning strongly to my lifelong Christian Science center) have experienced over the past year.

I have always enjoyed Tom Ramsey’s closing “Jesus loves you and so do I” — now we’ll add “and so do Dick and Susan” to that nice phrase.

There is, I think, a hymn line that goes something like “Lo, I am with you always, watch and pray”.

With much love, we are with you alway(s),

dick and susan gale

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Comment by David Held

July 31, 2010 @ 8:35 pm

Dear Connie,

During the 21 years I led the Concordia Singers, we closed every concert with “Peace I Leave With You” by Walter Pelz. Every year when evaluating the repertoire we did during that year, “Peace” always received the most votes. While Christ’s words, “Peace I leave with you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid,” may bring comfort all through life, they are especially true for you at this stage of your journey. Nancy and I send our love.

David Held

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Comment by John Casey

August 2, 2010 @ 3:47 pm

Dearest Connie –

This note represents a “Thank You” for your many gifts of music given so freely to so many all these years, not to mention the inspiration imparted to the numerous individuals who have benefited greatly from reading your inspiring story told through this blog. I am hoping that the combination of antibiotics and hospice care will give you well-deserved relief from your pneumonia and allow you to rest comfortably. Although I have not faced what you do now, the following prayer of John Cardinal Newman has always given me solace in difficult times.

“May He support us all the day long, till the shadows lengthen and the evening comes and the busy world is hushed and the fever of life is over and our work is done – then in His mercy – may He give us safe lodging and a holy rest and peace at the last. AMEN”

John Casey

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