A to Z Blog Challenge (2) - Letter A

 It's really interesting that in 2010, my word was ALONE. (LINK) It's interesting because ten years later... I could have written this exact post! I'm not sure why I felt so alone back then, but I KNOW why I feel that way now. 

Anyway... My word for today is... ART.

You could have probably guessed that one! LOL!

I truly am enjoying being back into it. Painting and creating... along with writing... are my passions. They bring me joy and take my mind off of the things that have me stressed or down. I am in my own world while I am painting.

I've actually been doing it on and off again for about a year, but during this Covid-19 Pandemic CRAP... I have really been enjoying it! 

God tells us to find Joy in ALL THINGS. Well.. there you go! Painting is the joy that I have found through this pandemic, crazy MESS that we are living in this year! 

That makes me think of another word that I could have used for the letter "A" --- AMERICA. I won't go into just "what" I would write about it, because I might use those thoughts for when I get to the letter "U" for United States of America. (If I can remember to!)

Anyway... back to ART. 

I guess you can say that I have always loved art. I can remember way back to when I was little and I had drawn a very colorful picture that was nothing but one big line, drawn with a black crayon or marker, that swirled around and made lots of small sections that I colored in with every different colored crayon that I had. (I'll have to make one and come back and insert it here to show you.) I can remember my mom showing it to one of her friends and her friend thought it was so beautiful and said that I should make more, frame them and sell them. 

I wish I still had that piece of "artwork". I probably WOULD frame it and hang it on my wall! Hmmm.... maybe I'll frame the one that I make and just do that, for the memory! 

In high school, I took every art class that I could!! I learned to draw and to use acrylic paints. I did other things as well, but those are the two that interested me the most. I'm pretty sure that I didn't learn about watercolor or oil painting. 

I went on to go to the Art Institute of Atlanta to study "Commercial Art". I didn't stick with it, though. I learned real quick that I was NOT as good at art as I thought I was! 

Through the years, I have done many types of art. When my girls were little, I painted on t-shirts and sweatshirts for them. I made them for gifts as well. 

My mom was an artist. She did some BEAUTIFUL work!!! So detailed!! I am thankful to have several of her pieces! She took some classes at an art school after high school, as well.

My daughter, Ashley.. is also an artist. She took art classes in high school and went on to study Art Education in college. She does BEAUTIFUL work, as well!! I am also thankful to have many of her paintings. 

I'm not sure if being artistic is an inherited trait, or not. BUT... in my book... I would say it is! I think I have proof! 😊

A Book for My Mom

A couple of weeks ago, a friend told me about this wonderful book ----

In case you can't read the subtitle.... it says...

"A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back"

As soon as my friend told me about the book, I knew that I must buy it for my mom to read.

For those of you that may not know... my mom is in a nursing home as a result of a stroke that she had in November of 2005. She bounced back pretty good from the stroke, but over the past few years... has been declining in health and now suffers from Congestive Heart Failure. I know that my mom does not have much time left with us, here. Her heart is getting more and more weak. I have accepted this fact and I am prepared.... or at least I "think" I am prepared... for her to leave us and pass on to live forever in eternity with Jesus in Heaven.

For the past month or so, my mom and I have been having some deep conversations regarding how she feels about death and her wishes for when the time comes. Through these conversations, I have sensed that she has many fears and questions about it all.

I have tried, the best that I can, to comfort her, answer her questions, and ease her fears. But, of course, I do not have all the answers. No one here on earth, does. All that we know is what we read in the Bible, and from books such as the one above.

So, when my friend told me about this book... I knew that I must get it!

My mom's birthday is Sunday. I would like to give her the book as one of her presents. Fortunately, she does like to read. I just pray that she will enjoy this book and it will ease her mind and her fears.

I have started reading it myself and I am hoping to finish it before Sunday.

Let me share a little bit of what the back of the book says --

Colton, not yet four years old, told his parents he left his body during the surgery-and authenticated that claim by describing exactly what his parents were doing in another part of the hospital while he was being operated on. He talked of visiting heaven and relayed stories told to him by people he met there whom he had never met in his life, sharing events that happened even before he was born. He also astonished his parents with descriptions and obscure details about heaven that matched the Bible exactly, though he had not yet learned to read.

With disarming innocence and the plainspoken boldness of a child, Colton tells of meeting long-departed family members. He describes Jesus, the angels, how "really, really big" God is, and how much God loves us. Retold by his father, but using Colton's uniquely simple words, Heaven Is for Real offers a glimpse of the world that awaits us, where as Coltons says, "Nobody is old and nobody wears glasses."

I can't wait to finish reading this book!! And....So far, it is easing "my" fears about dying and going to Heaven. I sure hope it helps my mom, as well.

A Good Day with My Mom

Last week, when I visited my mom, she barely talked to me! But, today... she was in a more talkative mood, which is always MUCH more enjoyable!

Sadly, our pastor's father passed away this morning in Mississippi. He (our pastor) and his family were supposed to leave this morning to head that way to see his father one last time before he passed. Unfortunately, they didn't make it in time. He passed too quickly. They knew that he wasn't doing well, but still... I am sure that it was news that they weren't ready to hear.

I had planned on sharing this news with my mom when I went to visit her this afternoon, but another church member had been by for a visit and had already shared this sad news with my mom. That's ok. I didn't mind. It, apparently, stirred up some thoughts in my mom's mind, tho. She, fortunately, does not mind talking about when "her" time comes and she goes to live with Jesus, in Heaven.

Today, she said to me... "I've been meaning to share something with you. I would like to have butterflies released at my funeral". She loves butterflies, birds and flowers... so, this did not come as a surprise to me. I am just not sure how I can make this happen! It's a beautiful thought, tho. We live close to Callaway Gardens and they have a butterfly center there. I may ask them about this and get their thoughts on the idea.

She also started to talk to me about going on a picnic with her Sunday school class... way back when! This was her "Young Adult" class. They were headed to a park in Columbus called "Flat Rock Park". This was right after she had met my Daddy and he was with them. I think she had invited him to the picnic. She said that they were all riding in the back of someones pick-up truck and she was the one standing behind the "cab" of the truck, giving the driver directions. (Sounds like my mom!) When they arrived at the park, it was closed, so they had to find another place to have their picnic. She said that she asked her Daddy (my Grandfather) if they could have the picnic and bonfire at their house and he agreed.

She said that they picked out a spot in the yard, that was at the edge of the woods and was mostly flat. Her Daddy asked the young men... many who were soldiers from Ft. Benning... to follow him to get a "arm load" of wood. She used another term for that, but I can't remember what she said! It was a southern term, and the soldiers didn't understand what he was telling them to do! He had to explain to them that it meant an "arm load".

She went on to say that the ground was more wet than they expected and she had to ask her mother (my Grandmother) for some old magazines for them to use to sit on. (I can just see my Grandmother scurrying around the house, searching for old magazines!! **Smile**)

Apparently, when my Grandmother learned that the class was coming to "her" house for the picnic, she went across the street and borrowed the neighbor's big coffee pot so that she could serve everyone coffee. The neighbor's owned a small restaurant at the end of their drive called "The Brown Buggy".

My mom went on to tell of how my Grandmother had begged for a new rug for their living room and my Grandfather had finally "given in" and bought her one. (I still remember that rug from when I was little!) The rug was brand new when the Sunday School class came for the picnic. I am unclear as to how the picnic went from being outside to inside, but apparently one of the soldiers spilled coffee on my Grandmother's new rug and she had a fit!! (I can just see her, in my mind!! LOL!)

My Daddy must have asked my mom out for a date while at the picnic, because the next night was their first date! She said that my Daddy came to pick her up and she asked him if they could first stop by the neighbor's house and return the coffee pot. They did and then ended up eating dinner at the restaurant... The Brown Buggy. (I wish I knew more about this restaurant. I may try and look it up!)

We continued to talk a little bit about the house that she grew up in... the same house that I remember visiting as a child. My Grandmother lived there until I was about 12 years old. My Grandfather died a year before I was born. Sadly, I never knew him. But, I learned that my Grandfather had sanded all of the wooden floors in that house, by hand! I also learned that the floors were pine, which is not a hardwood. I remember those floors well, and also that rug!

I know that I did not grow up living in that house, but I did spend a lot of my childhood there and have SO MANY wonderful memories of it! That house is about 6 miles down the road from where I live now. Another family lives there. I still get the "warm fuzzies" whenever I pass by it... which is just about ever day! .... But, I also feel a sadness because I miss it so much.

Anyway... I am so thankful to have had such a nice visit with my mom and hear stories that I had not yet heard. Right now, with my mom... there are good days and bad days. Today, was definitely a GOOD DAY!

Snapshot Saturday - 12/11/10 - Susan's pick!

My friend Susan, over at KardKornerKrib, picked this combination 42 - 0 - 29.

Thanks for playing, Susan!!

Here is the photo --

This is a photo of my mom (In the white sweater) when she was a contestant in the "Miss Canterbury" contest at her previous nursing home.

Pretty neat, huh??

This was in May of 2007, two and a half years after her stroke. She was doing fairly well at this time. She wasn't walking well, but felt pretty good.

She didn't win 1st place, but came in as 2nd Runner Up. She even has a trophy to prove it!

In this picture, you see the director asking her questions... like they do in the "real" beauty pageants. On the wall, you can see photos of previous winners. 

It was a really special day for my mom. **Smile**

I need a RESTART!

I feel like I need a restart for this Christmas season!!

Before Thanksgiving, I was all excited about getting ready for Christmas. Then, my mom went in the hospital the day AFTER Thanksgiving and that has been all that I can think about!

I was so excited to start decorating, shopping and planning a beautiful Christmas celebration for my family.

Now, those things are still on my mind, but I have had to put them to the back of my mind so that I can focus on my mom. This has lead me to the feeling that I need a restart!! Or maybe I should call it a "do-over". I'm not sure which. 

Once my mom gets back to the nursing home (no... she's still not there!) and settled... I really wish that I could go back to Black Friday and start over!

My girls DID pull down the Christmas decorations on Sunday, thankfully, and started decorating the house. I was too numb to help. I just sat there and watched mostly, which is NOT what I had intended to do.

I did help Miranda move the furniture around and put some ornaments & garland on the tree, Sunday evening.

I have barely been home since Sunday, so at the moment.... my house is cluttered with boxes of decorations and my everyday decor is "misplaced" at the moment until I find another home for it for the holidays. Yes, it's a mess and it is driving me crazy! But..... #1) I haven't had time to mess with it all. And... #2) I've been too exhausted in the evening!!

I haven't taken any pics of my decorated house yet, this year (I will once I finish decorating and get the clutter put away!)... but, here's a picture of our tree from last year.

So far this year, it looks almost the same. I may do a little "tweaking" to it. I'm not sure yet.

I joined a gym 3 weeks ago, and have only been 4 times! I am frustrated with that, too! My plan was to start going BEFORE Thanksgiving and continue to go throughout the holiday season so that I could keep those nasty unwanted pounds away!! But... just before Thanksgiving.... I caught a nasty cold and didn't feel well enough to go to the gym. Then, my mom got sick and my extra time has been at the hospital.

I haven't even bought the first Christmas gift!!! YIKES!!

Soo... as you can see..... I need a RESTART for my Christmas!!!!

Don't you just hate it when.....

you have your whole day mapped out and then... BAM! ... things change!!
Yep. This is what happened to me today. I took off work so that I could be at the hospital this morning when my mom was discharged from the hospital. (This would be a non-paid day off, since I used my 3 paid days when I had my surgery!)

When I arrived (about 9:00am), I passed my mom's heart doctor at the nurses station. I thought to myself... "Oh good! He's here! That means that I should see him soon and he will release her soon." He was busy, of course, so I didn't stop to talk to him.

I went down the hall to my mom's room and found her sound asleep! I snuck in and sat down with my "everything bagel" that I stopped and bought at Panera Bread. YUM!! I turned the TV to my favorite morning channel and sat there, in peace, eating my bagel, waiting for the doctor to arrive and release my mom.

My mom awoke to the nurse coming in to do her job, about 30 minutes after I arrived. After the nurse left, she fell back to sleep and I enjoyed more "me time". **Smile**

The next time the nurse came in, I asked her when the doctor was going to come and release my mom. She, of course, had no clue!

So.... I waited some more. I watched TV. My mom snoozed. I read my book. My mom snoozed.

Finally.... about 11:30am, her heart doctor came in. He said that he wanted to keep her another night to continue draining the fluid off her lungs.

My heart sank, but I understood.

Now, I had to make the dreaded phone call to the nursing home to beg plead ask for more time to be given to us so that my mom would not lose her place at the nursing home, without us paying the extra expense.

Thankfully, the director granted us another day! So.... I am now praying (again) that my mom goes home TOMORROW!

I hate that I wasted a day of not going to work. I don't think I can afford to miss another day, so I WILL be going to work tomorrow, but my phone will be GLUED to my side!! 

you are in the middle of typing a blog post, email, letter, etc. and then... BAM!! ... the screen goes blank!!
This happened to me as I started to write this post!! I HATE when that happens! Thankfully, Blogger saves your posts in a draft! 

you just clean your carpets and then... BAM!! ... the dog tracks in mud!!
Yep. This happened just the other day! We don't get rain for weeks!!! And as soon as we clean the carpets.... here comes the monsoon! Guess it's a good thing that we now own a carpet shampooer!

you get a flower garden planted and then.... BAM!! .... the dog digs it up!!
Yep. I never had a dog that liked to dig until we got Chester. Of course, with my other dogs, I had never had a freshley planted flower garden in the yard either! I sure hope he grows out of it before Spring! I want to replant what he dug up!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Days 28, 29 & 30

YES... I missed a couple of days! (I"ve been just a little busy!)

This post is going to be short & sweet, because I have other things on my mind this morning.

On Day 28, I was thankful that... (This is going to sound really stupid to those of you that are not football fanatics, like I am! But, bare with me, please!)... The Atlanta Falcons won their game against the Green Bay Packers!!! If you are one of my regular readers, then you know that I am a HUGE football fan and my favorite team is the Atlanta Falcons.

During football season, you will always find me in front of my TV on Sunday afternoons, watching MY TEAM play. The Falcons are doing extremely well this year, only losing 2 games, so far. They are in 2nd place in the NFL and 1st in the NFC!! That is BIG TIME!!!!

On Day 29, (Yesterday), I was so VERY thankful to my friend, Heather, for coming to visit my mom and being able to stay with her while I had to leave for a couple of hours. I know for a fact, that God sent her to me!!! He knew that I needed her, and there she was!

Today, (Day 30).... I am VERY thankful that the heart catherization that the doctor did on my mom yesterday, showed NO SIGNS OF BLOCKAGE!! Wow!! That was a surprise! I was really expecting them to find something and then we would have more decisions to make and possibly a longer hospital stay. This was GREAT news tho, because she "should" get to go back to the nursing home TODAY! ---- Which was another concern!! But, God came thru again and should be no worries of her losing her room over there!! YAY!!

MANY THANKS to those of you that prayed for her (and me!!!) and wrote such kind and sweet words. That means SO VERY much to me and I definitely count you among my FRIENDS!

Sending ((BIG HUGS)) to all of you!!!!

Life Changes Quickly

Once again, that "roller coaster" called LIFE has taken a huge dip down again for me.

My mother was admitted to the hospital on Friday because of difficulties in breathing.

About a year and half ago, she was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure and was in the hospital for about a week. Since then, her doctor has managed to keep it under control with medications & oxygen 24/7.

Over the past few weeks, I knew that she wasn't feeling well... but, I also know that she has so many health issues, that it could have been any number of things causing her to feel bad. I didn't really worry about her because I felt that she was in great care at her nursing home.

Friday, I got the "always dreaded" phone call from the nursing home that they were sending her by ambulance to the emergency room. This, of course, was NOT a good day for me to spend at the hospital! (What day is??) David and I were in the middle of shampooing our carpets.

You may think that I am a terrible daughter, but I decided that I would wait and see how serious her condition was before I went rushing down there to sit ALL DAY in the emergency room. I knew that she was in good hands. I did call our pastor to let him know, so that he would be alerted.

Later in the day, she was admitted to the hospital and I learned that they were treating her for the Congestive Heart Failure, once again. Chest x-rays showed fluid on her lungs.

I talked to her on the phone and she sounded good, which made me feel better. I decided to wait until the morning to go visit her.

The next morning (Saturday), she was taken for another x-ray and an EKG. Not long after she came back to her room, the cardiologist that read her x-ray and EKG, came in and talked to us about what he saw.

Apparently, her heart has weakened over the past couple of years to only 40-45%. This is not good, but it explains a lot.

He asked her a lot of questions about her stroke that she had 5 years ago and also about her symptoms with the CHF. He said that for now, they are just going to continue to drain the fluid and to treat her with medications, but he would like to know what is "causing" the CHF.

Yesterday, (Sunday), when I talked to the doctor... he suggested that they do a Heart Catherization on her so that they can determine what the cause is. So... that will most likely happen this afternoon (Monday).

Another problem that we are facing is that, because my mom is on Medicaid, the nursing home can only hold her bed there for so many days. The "number" of days, at the moment, is unclear to me. THAT is my #1 priority this morning ... to find out how many days she has left before she loses her bed.

I am trying VERY hard not to worry about this and to remember that God is in control of the situation and He knows what she needs. AND.... He will take care of her needs and mine.

I have to remember that.... it is not MY will, but HIS.

It's about what HE wants, not what I WANT.

I don't know how many of you are Christian, but if you are.... I would love it if you would please add my mother (and myself) to your prayers.

My prayer for my mom is "healing", whether it be on this earth or in God's Kingdom in Heaven.

Thank you.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Day 23

Today, I am thankful that I am no longer a teenager, living with my mom. I know this is a weird thing to be thankful for, but after the conversation that I had with my mom today, it is something that has been strong on my mind, ever since.

Many of you know that my dad died when I was a young, eighteen years old. I thank God that David was in my life at the time, because my mom and I did not have a close relationship. The only place that I wanted to be was with him, so I didn't spend much time at home. This didn't help my relationship with my mom, of course.

David and I were married when I was 20. The two years in-between our marriage and my father's death, were a rough couple of years, to say the least. I look back now and realize that my mom really needed me to be there for her. But, at the time (and being so young)... I was only interested in "me" and what was going on in "my life".

Today.... I was talking to my mom about my daughter, Miranda, who is 19 years old (the age I was during those "rough" years that I had!). I was telling her that Miranda made it safely to Arizona, when my mom decided to bring up the subject of ME when I was that age!! And believe me, this is NOT a good subject for her and I to talk about (BAD memories!!), so I stopped her before she went any further and told her so. Believe it or not.... she then tried to talk to me about one of my old boyfriends that I dated BEFORE David!! She actually said...."I wonder what ever happened to him?" YIKES!!!! I cut her off on that subject, too!!!

When I went to go visit my mom at the nursing home today, I had no idea that I would be taken down a not-so-fun memory lane! I am thankful that my mom still has such a wonderful memory after having her stroke 5 years ago, but today..... she chose memories that I had no desire to remember.

Here's a couple of pictures of me at age 18 and David at age 20.

Sorry for the depressing post. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a more joyful one!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Day 5

Today, I am thankful for my mom's Nursing Home and the staff that is there, day after day, taking care of her.

I love my mom, but I knew that taking care of her myself after her stroke (almost exactly 5 years ago!), was beyond my limits of what I know I could do.

I struggled with this for a couple of years. I felt very guilty that I wasn't taking on the HUGE responsibility of caring for her myself, but I knew in my heart that it was something that I couldn't possibly do. Still, the guilt remained.

After a couple of different nursing homes that just didn't "feel right", God blessed us with the perfect one.

She is now in one that is privately owned and operated (unlike most that are ran by the state). They take care of her every need in every way possible.

One thing that I especially love, is that the residents get to make lists for Santa at Christmas time. They can ask for anything that they want. Then, on Christmas Eve.... Santa comes and brings them their gifts! Last year, my girls and I just happened to be there when Santa arrived and it was such a delight to see the residents see Santa and receive their gifts!

My mom had asked for new shoes and a necklace with a diamond cross pendant. I really didn't think she would get these gifts, but SHE DID! She also got a few other small items. I was in awe of the generosity that was showed to these 30+ residents.

It took a while, but the guilt that I used to feel is finally gone. I know that my mom is in the right place and that she is well taken care of.

Thank you, Lord, for Phenix City Health Care!

Family Day With My Mom

Yesterday was Family Day at my mom's nursing home. This is the third year that my mom has been at this particular nursing home. For the past two years, Hubby and I have ridden the motorcycle over there because, being October, the weather is so nice. This year, Hubby was helping out at our church's "Turkey Shoot". -- Ya. You're probably wondering what that's all about. I'll have to explain that in another post. It might actually make for a really good one!! **Smile**

Anyway.... Dtr. #2 was working, so Dtr. #1 went with me. This was actually the first year that she has been able to go to Family Day. The previous years, she was away at college.

Family Day is really a wonderful thing among one of the many wonderful things that this nursing home does for it's residents. They invite the families of the residents and provide BBQ, music & games for all. They have a beautiful yard that they use and families come from all over for the event. Unfortunately, we don't have a big family.

I was glad that Dtr. #1 got to go with me and I am pretty sure that my mom was, too. Here are a few photos from the day.

Outside decorations. They always do such a beautiful job.

The front entrance is always so warm and inviting.

Dtr. #1 and her MeMaw

Me and my Mom



A to Z Blog Challenge ~ Y

Today's word is... YELLOW. I picked this word because it is my mom's favorite color. She was just talking about it yesterday, in fact.

So... as a dedication to her... I have found these beautiful pictures of YELLOW things. ~ Enjoy!

 My mom loves flowers!

My mom loves butterflies.

She loves birds.

She loved to decorate with the color yellow.

Everytime that I see the color yellow,

I think of my mom.

I Felt Like My Mom Today

I have been driving since I was 15 years old. That means that I have been driving for about 30 years! YIKES!

I couldn't wait to learn to drive, unlike my mother who didn't learn how until she was 51 years old! The only reason that she learned to drive at that time, was because my dad had passed away and she new that she had to. This was in 1983.

When I was little, anytime my mom wanted to go anywhere, my dad would have to take her. I was an only child, so this meant that I had to go along, too.

I can still remember sitting in the car with my Daddy, listening to the radio, while my mom went grocery shopping at the "Big Star".

If my mom wanted to go to the mall, I would sit with my dad on a bench and wait for her. My daddy liked to "people watch", so I don't think he minded too much.

My mom's "not knowing how to drive" seemed to only be a problem when my dad was at work and wasn't able to drive her somewhere. This was usually during the week, when she would need to take me to the doctor. (Seems like I was always needing to go to the doctor!) She would have to call a neighbor or a friend and ask them if they could take us.

Today, I realized how my mom must have felt having to ask someone to drive her somewhere that she need to go. Because of my recent surgery, I am unable to drive for one week. I had to ask Dtr. #2 to drive me to "Wally World" (Walmart) so that I could get some things that I needed. Luckily, like my very patient dad... she didn't seem to mind.