FLASHBACK FRIDAY andFRIDAY FOLLOW #3

Granny Jewell and Mama

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY, GRANNY and MAMA!

With Mother's Day coming up this weekend, I thought I'd share this picture of my Grandmother and my Mom taken 2 years ago on Mother's Day. This is the last Mother's Day we were all able to spend together as a family before my grandmother (now 95 years old) fell, fractured her pelvis and eventually ended up having to go live in a skilled nursing facility where she could be properly cared for. The last couple of years have been very hard for my parents and a select few family members who take turns visiting and helping to make sure she is taken care of.

Granny Jewell has always been a very intelligent, dignified and self-reliant woman, who proved all that to be true by living alone more than two decades after my Grandfather died of cancer back in 1986. Needless to say, it has been extremely difficult and sad to watch as her once very beautiful human body has really started to deteriorate, her mind has begun to fade and, bit by bit, she is losing all of her glorious memories she used to enjoy sharing with us each and every time we would see her. I can remember she LOVED to tell us stories about when she was a little girl. Her mind would wander back in time as she would recount how different (and better!) things were back in the day. Oh, how I wish I would have thought to capture those stories, her memories, either in writing or on video. What treasures those would be! I'm not sure that it is completely too late, but it definitely won't be the same quality as when she was well and completely lucid most of the time. My parents say you just never know where her mind is going to be when you visit. Unfortunately, I wouldn't know because I haven't seen her since she moved. I just haven't been well enough. I want to go, I need to go. I just haven't felt well enough to do so. Part of me really just wants to remember her like she used to be but part of me knows that if we should get the call that something has happened, I will never forgive myself for not going. *sigh*

Thankfully, I am very blessed to still have my amazing mom here and close by to me! However, her health is not very good and seems to be progressing in the wrong direction. That really scares me. I can not imagine the day when she is no longer just a phone call away. My mom (and dad) has always been an unshakable anchor for me, no matter how rough the waters have ever become; no matter what kind of mess I've managed to get myself in. She never, ever says no! She only asks when, where and/or how much! Unfortunately, it has only been in just the last few years that I have truly grasped the magnitude of my mother's love for me and just how incredibly smart she really was during all those years when I thought 'I' was the one who had all the answers. I sure wish I had listened to her a long, long time ago. I'm certain it would have saved me a whole lot of pain and heartache. But, as the old sayings go, 'Hindsight is 20/20' and 'We all have to learn from our own mistakes'. Well, let me tell you, I have learned plenty - for me and lots and lots of other folks, too! :o)

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and a VERY HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

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FRIDAY FOLLOW #3

It's Friday Follow again! I have REALLY enjoyed this blog hope and have met some AMAZING bloggers. Friday Follow is a weekly blog hop hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades. They started this awesome and very popular blog hop as a way to get more blog 'Followers' and to find and follow other interesting blogs. It is all about sharing and having fun! Just click on the icon below and check it out!

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Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope to see you again really soon! Have a wonderful Mother's Day.

Blessings,

Teresa