SAYING GOODBYE

I had to say goodbye to my sister-in-law, Judy, this past week.  She was the strength of her large family and will truly be missed.  Judy was just a few months older than me and she and her husband, Bill, were married the year before us.  Although they lived in Illinois, we stayed connected by emailing each other almost everyday.....that was the way we kept connected to the family in Illinois and Arkansas.  She was here for me dthrough the loss of my daughter, husband and home due to fire.  I will be there for her husband, children and grandchildren, doing what I can to help them through this difficult time.  Life is so short, we never know when our last day will be......tell your loved ones how much you love them!

TIME!!!

Where does the time go?  It is so hard to believe that it is already August!  My Dad used to say that the older you get, the faster the time goes by.  He was so right about that! 

I love that my flowers are doing well.  I am not getting as many tomatoes as I had hoped for....but grateful for the ones I have.  This summer has been one for the records.  We have had plenty of rain and the cool weather we have had is just unheard of in the summer in Arkansas!  It has been wonderful!

I miss Pete so much!  We loved this time of year with the flowers and garden and of course, watching all the hummingbirds!  It still just doesn't seem real that he and Jennifer are both gone.  I will miss them always.....am so grateful for the promise of seeing them again!

Mom and Dad loved this time of year too.  I have so many good memories of them!  People that still have their parents are so blessed!

I got my shots again yesterday.....makes me feel bad for about a week, but still so much better than chemo!

Kimberly has been a sewing maniac.....making so many wonderful quilts and gifts!  She is amazing!  Her talent amazes me!  She is so creative.  She is the best sister ever....always there for me.  Of course, she won't let up on the idea of me moving to Little Rock.  She just can't understand that I love it here and am happy here.

I have the pleasure of keeping my neighbor's beautiful baby girl.....Rylee...she is four months old today and she is such a joy to me!  She is the sweetest and happiest baby....always smiling!  Children are the best medicine ever.....for mental and physical health!

Our great-niece, Abbi, is pregnant and expecting in the Spring!  We keep her close in our prayers....praying she will have a healthy baby.  She is very excited about the baby....I just don't think she really realizes the responsibility she now has. 

I still love my card making.....truly the best therapy ever for me!  I can go into the craft room and lose my worries. 

Although I have sad and down days at times, I am very grateful for what I have!  God is good and He is good ALL the time!

MOTHER'S DAY 2014!

I miss my Mom each and everyday....always will until that wonderful day, when I see her again!  I don't know why this year seems like it has pulled on my heart strings more than in previous years....Kimberly said this year has been harder for her too.  You just never get over the void in your life without your Mother.  I called her every morning.....always!  Loved hearing her sweet voice answering me when I asked her what she was going to do that day....saying, same ole, same ole!  She was so sweet, funny and loving.  She loved cooking for others and she loved this time of year, planting flowers and watching them grow!  She loved me unconditonally and was always there for me! 

I hope that everyone that is still blessed with having their Mother, will ket them know how much they love them....not just today on Mother's Day....but everyday!

EIGHT YEARS!!

It doesn't seem possible that my precious Jennifer has been gone eight years today!  Sometimes, it feels like it was yesterday.  I miss her so much!  I miss her beautiful smile, the sound of her laugh, cooking for her, listening to her hopes and dreams.....I miss everything about her.  I learned so much from her in her 28 short years here....she was so compassionate and never judged others.  She was my light and joy.  I would never want her back here....knowing now that she is healthy and happy and with her Dad and other loved ones.  I will always miss her and will always try to keep her memory alive.  She touched the hearts of many.  I am so grateful for the promise that I will be with her again!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JENNIFER!

It is so hard to believe that my baby would have been 36 years old today, harder to believe that she has been gone for eight years.  I miss her every second of every day!  She was truly the light of my life and she touched so many lives of others. 

When you lose a child, you think that you will never be able to breathe again....you think that your world has just stopped.....which it seems like it did.  With the love and grace of God, you get the strength to go on....knowing that it comes from Him!  You are so grateful for the promise that you will be with them again.

I do my best to keep her memory alive.  We still have the Jennifer Project in her honor.  I know that she would be pleased that we are doing this.  ACH was such a huge part of her life....she would love knowing that we are trying to make hospital stays a little brighter for the kids.  I am still sending sunflower seeds each year to be planted in her memory.....I cannot see a sunflower, without thinking of her.

Happy Birthday, Jennifer!

WINTER IS NOT OVER!

We were teased with a taste of Spring!  You could just feel it and hear it!  It didn't last long, and we are having another round of cold weather.  I know after talking to my relatives in Illinois, I have nothing to complain about....they are still having single digit temperatures.....can't imagine having that kind of weather for an extended period of time!

Spring was one of mine and Pete's favorite times of the year!  We could sit on the porch for hours and talk about our dreams for the garden and flowers and of course, the anticipation of the return of our beloved hummingbirds....those little guys kept us entertained for hours.

I miss him so much....always....but there are certain times, it just hits you like you have been run over by a truck.....and you never know for sure what triggers those feelings or when they are going to come.  With Jennifer's birthday and the anniversary of her death coming up, these feelings just seem to be stronger.  I always had Pete to help get me through the bad days.  I just take it day by day and do what I can to keep their memory alive and to do something for others.  Kimberly and I have been working hard on items for the Jennifer Project bags....so glad that we are still keeping this project alive after eight years.  Jennifer spent so much time in the hospital, I know that she would love this project.   I will choose a bush or tree and plant it in her memory. 

Spring will soon be here and I am looking forward to the dark and dreary days of winter turning into beautiful colors and sounds.  God is good and He is good ALL the time!

2 of #48 WALKS

Since my first walk on this challenge, I have been pretty much homebound because of the ice and snow!  My driveway going up the hill is still ice and snow covered.

I still have to walk using a cane.  When I go grocery shopping, I always ride in one of the electric carts.  I hate doing this, but get tired easily when walking, and don't want to take a chance of falling!  Yesterday, my sweet nephew...Bobby...came over and took me to the grocery store and to do some errands.  When I got to the grocery store, I decided that I would not use the electric cart, choosing to walk and push the buggy instead.  I know that this doesn't sound like a big deal to most people, but it has been a couple of years since I have walked while grocery shopping.  These are baby steps for sure, but thanks to Alison's inspiration and encouragement, I walked!  YAY ME!

Our weather is going to be gorgeous and warm this weekend.  I will be under the bridge after church, helping feed the homeless.  I hope to get in another walk while there.

Taking baby steps, but trying!