What's Up

I haven't done much in the creative corner for a few weeks.  Lots of downers at the Gardner house the last couple of months. 

We had both our mothers in the hospital in critical condition off and on since December.  Since then we've taken trips to see my mother at least once a month to spend time with her and make sure she's doing okay.  She has made giant strides since December and getting better everytime we see her.  She went from being on life support and not being able to walk, to walking a few steps with help, to almost being able to run around the house on her own....no not really, but almost....I'm so proud of her, she is such a fighter.  She is still on oxygen and will be from now on.  She wakes up each day and counts her blessings, treasuring each and every moment she has left.

Jim's mother didn't do as well and passed on the Friday before Mother's Day.  It really was a shock, we knew she wouldn't be with us for another year but to have her die so unexpectly was a shock.  She had been in the hospital to treat her congestive heart failure which was triggered by her pneumonia.   We went to see her that Friday because we were going to see my mom for Mother's Day.  She was in such an up-beat mood, joking with Jim and talking about getting her hernia fixed when she was better.  It was a good visit, we spent about an hour and half with her and then went home.  We were home for only about 20 minutes before we got the call that mom had passed away.   The next week was a whirlwind of taking care of things, she had already made arrangements years ago to be cremated and her ashes scrattered in the Bay.  She didn't want us to grieve, but grieve we need.

A couple of weeks ago we had a family gathering to remember her and say our final goodbyes as well as share some special memories of her amongst each other.  We had gift bags for the great grandchildren,  which included a dollar from their Nana, she loved to give them each one everytime she saw them. 

After the brief ceremony, we all went outside and released balloons saying our last goodbyes to our beloved Nana.

God bless you Nana, you are missed!