Grieving My Mom

This is a gentle warning. 

This post is not teacher related or back to school or anything. It's all about family. And since I consider many of you "family" I feel the need to share.

I feel that I'm mainly writing this for a journal aspect to keep for my own records. You do not need to stick around if you don't want to. I won't be offended and I understand completely.  

So you can either click on move on or stay and read on. . . You choose.

My family.

My family unit has changed this week. My mom passed away peacefully on Tuesday August 6, 2013 around 6:50 in the morning. 

My baby sister and my dad were with her. My sister Jackie, was up with her all night. A Hospice nurse was there to comfort her. . . but we never dreamed this would be the day.

But it was.

I had a great chat with my mom on Sunday on Skype. She looked great and sounded great! She and my husband were joking about the Tigers and their recent trades to get better players. We spoke about the newest great grandchild, Emily, who arrived around noon that day. She was happy to know that Emily arrived. It was the last time I spoke to her or saw her alive. I won't forget it either.

She had a great life. . . nearly 70 years with Dad. . . 5 children, 11 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren. She loved life, loved having us all around her, loved sharing her time, her cooking, her space, her knowledge for life. 

I was blessed to have the summer off and to have been told that her time on this earth was limited. I was able to be up there every week for a few days. I have 4 siblings who also spent as much time up there as they could. I have no regrets. We talked, we remembered, we were able to love each other deeply. I know she's ok. She gave us a sign. I believe it was truly a sign from her that she is ok. 

I have hesitated whether to share this here or to just move on. So many of you have reached out to me, so I felt the need to let you know. I appreciate all of the prayers and heartfelt comments that I have already received. They gave me strength and hope for a peaceful goodbye. Our faces may be strange to each other, but many of your names are in my heart and I know you care. 

We will have a memorial service on Saturday, August 17th.  It will be a memorable day filled with friends, family, and (something our family does best,) Food! I am so thankful to be able to hold my kids in my arms at this time. I need to feel them close. {My daughter is flying home for it and that warms my heart!}

My dad says he will be fine. He's two months short of 92. He still drives (fairly well), can shop, cook, clean, and take care of himself. It's the "lonely" part that concerns me. But he's an independent soul and we'll do our best to visit him weekly to keep him in good shape. {4 of us live in the same county about 2 and a half hours south of him} We told him he was welcome to come down with us, but he said, "I was born in this house, and I will die in this house!" Don't cha love his stubbornness!!!

As for blogging. . . I'm feeling real numb right now. I still read yours and I love the bargains, linky's, and sales going on. . . I just am having trouble getting back into the swing of things. 

I'll return. I know I will because I do love it and it has become a good hobby for me. 

If you are still here reading, thanks for hanging in there with me. Moral of the story. . . spend time with your family. Whether you know their time is limited or they should be taken from you suddenly, you'll want to know that the last thing you said or did was a good thing for each other. 

Blessing to all of you, 

Patty