A Week of Goodbyes

 My "babies" left last Sunday...

(Jake did not go with them)

These babies left on Wednesday...

A Glass of Milk

I love this.  This kind of story brings joy to my heart.  I hope you enjoy it.

A Glass of Milk
One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.
He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house.  However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.
Instead of a meal, he asked for a drink of water!  She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk.  He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"
"You don't owe me anything," she replied.  "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."
He said... "Then I thank you from my heart." 
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also.  He had been ready to give up and quit.
Many years later that same young woman became critically ill.  The local doctors were baffled.  They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.
Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation.  When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes.
Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.
Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her.  He recognized her at once.
He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life.  From that day he gave special attention to her case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won.
Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval.  He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge, and the bill was sent to her room.  She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all.  Finally, she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill.  She read these words...
"Paid in full with one glass of milk."
(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.
Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed:  "Thank You, God, that Your love has spread broad through human hearts and hands."
There is a saying which goes something like this:  Bread cast on the water comes back to you.  The good deed you do today may benefit you or someone you love at the least expected time.  If you never see the deed again at least you will have made the world a better place ~ And, after all, isn't that what life is all about?

Sunday Thought

Oh Happy Day ... They Are Back

Casey and Amanda at 16 West ~ May 3, 2013

They are back...
and I am so happy to see them.  Casey and Amanda have another wedding this weekend so they drove into town today.  Starting Friday night they will be busy with rehearsal dinner, wedding, reception, etc., and then will leave to go back to SC on Sunday morning, so tomorrow they are all mine for the day!  We'll go spend some time with Mom and then have lunch together.  We are definitely the 3 Amigos ~ as usual, we will head to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants.  It is SO good to have them home!

First Bluebird Brood For This Year

 You can barely see the little ones ~ still too small for much activity.

 Checking in.

 A snack for the babies.

 I'm pretty sure that glare is telling me to back off.  I'll check back in a couple of days.

A Good Mother's Day

It was a good Mother's Day.  Mr. Magic took me out for breakfast, I spent time with Mom yesterday, time with Casey and Amanda this month (they are returning this weekend), and even Jake had a few extra kisses for me.  Who could ask for more?

A Mother's Love

My sister Patty, Sister Mary Audrey, Me, My brother Patrick, and my pretty Mom ~ 1951.

My mother's life was always all about her children.  She is a remarkable strong woman.  I pray that the good Lord will give her the physical and mental strength she needs to be able to return home after the effects of the stroke she suffered in April. 

Mother's Day

My beautiful Mother and I a long time ago in my Grandfather's yard.  I love this photograph ~ it is hanging where I see it every day.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!!!

I love you!

♥

Corita Kent

"NOTHING IS A MISTAKE.  

THERE'S NO WIN AND NO FAIL, 

THERE'S ONLY MAKE."

Sister Corita Kent

1918 ~ 1986

Pop Art

Silkscreen and Serigraphy

 

Have a HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO !!!!

Visitors from the South

Casey and Amanda at Folly Beach, SC

It has been a very good day.  My sweeties arrived from South Carolina last evening.  We visited with Mom for a good while today at the care center, met up with Terry for lunch at Abuelo's Mexican Food Embassy, and made a few necessary stops in Roanoke.  There is nothing quite as soothing as time spent with loved ones.  As soon as they arrived and he gave me a gigantic hug, I told him that sometimes a son is the only medicine for an aching heart.
Last night the refrigerator died, so we spent a good amount of time transferring frozen foods, etc., into Mom's refrigerator.  Thank goodness, she didn't have much in there.  It doesn't look like the repairman can come until Monday, so we are going to have the inconvenience of running up and down a full flight of stairs every time we want something from the frig.  But that's ok.  I love having the "kids" home for the weekend, so I'm not going to let a "dead" refrigerator get me down.
Have a great Friday night, my friends.

May Dreamboard Workshop

I spent the evening at Barefoot Studios in Roanoke for the May Dreamboard Workshop.  It seems like we just made April dreamboards a few days ago.  Where did the month go?  I love spending time in Jane's studio ~ it is so very relaxing there.  I picked up a small pizza at Cork and Crust when the workshop was over. SO good.  It was an evening well spent to begin a new month after the worst April ever. 

 This guy was parked at the door when I entered 16 West.  He never even blinked when I walked by.

 Deep dreamboard concentration going on here.

 Jane and I.

 Jane and Maggie.

 Maggie brought her son, Brigger.  He is quite the little artist.  Don't you love his name?

Sweet Jane took time out to play Chinese Checkers with Brigger.  She has a "make people happy" personality!  Brigger made about 4 little paintings tonight and Jane hung them all on her studio wall. How dear of her to make Brigger beam.

I saw this on Blick Art Supplies page on fb.  It is the artwork of Aimee Myers Dolich of the shop Artsyville on Etsy. 

I need to take this to heart and make the time.  It will be good for me.  ♥

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.  Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.  The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.

~John Muir

I could sure use some good tidings and peace, and to feel some cares drop away.  Now which mountain looks like the best one to start climbing?

Earth Day ~ 2013

You must teach your children that the ground beneath their feet is the ashes of your grandfathers.  So that they will respect the land, tell your children that the earth is rich with the lives of our kin.  Teach your children what we have taught our children, that the earth is our mother.  Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth.  If men spit upon the ground, they spit upon themselves.

~Native American Wisdom

Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.

~Rachel Carson

The earth is what we all have in common.
~Wendell Berry

BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS.

DO NOT BE TERRIFIED;

DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED,

FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD

WILL BE WITH YOU

WHEREVER YOU GO.

Joshua 1:9

Mom's Journey

Mom ~ February, 2013

Mom was transferred to a Rehab and Nursing Care Center late yesterday.  She had a bad night with little sleep, so she slept a lot today ~ she now has her days and nights mixed up.  I sure hope they can get her on a regular schedule quickly. I called her room tonight and when the nurse put Mom on the phone, Mom told me she was eating her breakfast.  That was the end of the conversation as Mom either dropped the phone or just couldn't hear.
We have a meeting on Thursday to go over Mom's schedule for care.  Eager to see how things go and knowing it is in God's hands, we still pray for a recovery that will allow Mom to return home and be able to be as close to her former self as possible.  Everyone tells us it will be a long process.  We are trying to think positive thoughts and be strong for her.  It is hard.  My sister and I are both feeling tired after long days of seeing a mixture of encouraging moments and then heartbreaking moments.  We are doing the best we can while hoping for the best outcome.
Thank you for your prayers, support, and love.  So many of you have been through a similar situation and have offered support and words to help us understand.  You, too, know exactly how helpless we feel. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Maria !!

Wishing you JOY!!  I hope today is a fun day that will bring you many good memories.  No doubt, the boys will do something that will make you feel special and make you see how happy you make them every day.

Sending Birthday hugs to Ohio!

♥

Personal Meaning of the Word "Stroke"

I wrote this while in the ICU this afternoon.

What a difference a day makes.  One never knows what might occur at any hour of any day.  As I sit here watching my dear mother moaning with every breath she takes, wondering why she has to suffer, I think about Wednesday morning and how normal the day began ~ no hint of what was to come.

Mom has endured much physical suffering throughout her life.  The most recent being the terrible pain she experiences off and on with her spinal stenosis since 2005.  Now, this stroke has taken the Mother I know and before me in this bed is a broken hurt woman.  It hurts so much to see her like this.  The strong TPA clot busting drug they gave her, did repair her mouth droop, she is saying words, and her left side is now responding.  But, she is showing signs of confusion, pain, and she has large bruises on her body from her fall when she had the stroke.

She was a mere five steps from her chair that she was walking to.  She fell in the kitchen on the hard tile, hitting her chin on the edge of the counter and scraping her throat all the way down her neck.  Her glasses put a small gash in her nose. Thank God I was there.  I heard her fall.  When I saw her face, I knew immediately and dialed 911.

She didn't sleep last night.  She needs rest.  She needs to eat but only took a few sips of some juice this afternoon and didn't want more.

They will be moving her from ICU tomorrow to the Stroke Unit where she will receive special care, physical therapy, and speech therapy if needed.  

So now we watch and wait and pray.  Please, dear God, help my Mother return to the woman she was Wednesday morning ~ the woman who has always had the strongest faith in You and who says many prayers every single day.  She's not able to pray right now.  Please hear my prayers and the prayers of all my friends and family on her behalf.  Amen.

Movie Star Mom and Colors of Spring

 Mom absolutely looks like a movie star!!!!  She had cataract surgery in one eye yesterday and has to wear these glasses when she goes outside.  She is NOT happy wearing the big plastic patch to bed at night, but it is necessary and she has 4 more nights of that to go.  Next Monday she will have surgery in the other eye and, uh-oh, eye patch for 5 more nights.  She has been a little miserable since the surgery that was at 6:30 AM yesterday, but tonight she suddenly sat up and said "I can see so much better!"  Thank God for eye surgery and a good surgeon!

 I drove around the neighborhood after taking Mom to post-op Dr. appointment this morning.  It is unbelievable that we had snow last Thursday and today it was 87* and gorgeous out.  Bushes, trees, and flowers are blossoming everywhere!  I thought I would share some of the beauty!!

Spring is here!!!

A Perfect Sunday

Haven't reached this stage yet ~ this photo is from last April.  But, today was the best!!!  Surely Spring has truly decided to arrive and stay.  The temperature was PERFECT!  I was outside in a tank top and flip flops working in my flower garden ~ raked the remaining Fall leaves from their hiding places, transplanted a cactus that was too close to Jake's favorite path (nasty long pricklies), trimmed a few bushes, filled the birdfeeder and put out one of the birdbaths.  The fountain is filled and running and now the warm sun can help the flowers push through the earth and bring smiles to my face.
Spring is a time of renewal, a time to be happy.  Today was a good start. 

Oh, YES !!!!!!