Late as usual...Memories and Thanks Blog

I have to add a disclaimer here, I'm afraid to edit this at all... When posting the original blog, I added pictures and found that when I went to the blog, half of my text and pictures had disappeared. I went back and tried to fix it and found that more text disappeared and some pictures... I persisted and finally ended up with a very choppy and disjointed blog, I have gone back again and edited, still not all the pictures are up, but I'll try again soon. Please bear with me :)

 OK,  here it is January the 12th nearly a month since the last posting... We had the flu, and me with bronchitis afterwards but we survived and I can’t wait until the vaccine is done that isn’t egg based… I thought I would update my blog, and realized that it was time for the blog hop so I decided to combine both my blog and the blog hop, so please keep this in mind when reading. 
My blog is in honor of Mom, Lometta,  born in January 1925, she is just a few days shy of 88 years old, and spry and chipper as ever.

The blog hop is for the Memories and Thanks blog hop, which is to honor someone that has made an impact on your life. I am excited that today is the blog hop,  This hop was started in the memory of a person that passed away too soon,  Marianna , by Lori Anderson at pretty things, use the link and go by and read about it if you haven't heard the story . I am excited to see a lot of new blogs, and some of the ones that I really enjoy visiting. So many new ideas, and things to spring your imagination into full swing. I so enjoy looking at the artwork that others do. There are so many talented people out there, so many people that have such a wonderful spirit. The blogs in this are really touching, there are so many people that are honored and remembered and loved, respected and cherished. 

 If you see my Facebook page, you’ll know that before Christmas, while I was sick for a few days, I was working on a necklace and had a handful of blue and green beads and thought they were so pretty, I dug through and found all my blue and green ornaments and voila... here's the tree I did this year. I thought the colors were good, I love these and it seemed that they cheered up the place a lot. I painted the kitchen in a very pale robin's egg blue so it kind of tied in with that since I have a very open floor plan in the house.

Mom with her antlers on Christmas morning 2012

This year I didn't get much  done for Christmas. I had not been able to go shopping myself and didn't get to take my mother shopping at all. Actually, I had gone to the store back somewhere just after Thanksgiving and never got to go again until Christmas eve… sigh… We made do with the little that we had.  Mom spent the night on Christmas eve and Christmas night and we enjoyed the visit so much. I made muffins for breakfast, the cranberry and pecan ones that I always make for Christmas...and we had tamales for dinner and it was really nice. Mom was excited with presents, even though we didn't do a lot.  I suppose she remembers many years of her being sick or one of us kids being sick (usually me) at the holidays.  My Christmas present from my daughter was a beautiful diffuser and the one from my son was sweet, he bought me some bath stuff and he even bought it with his own money!! Really, I was so happy just to have Mom with us that it didn't matter if I had any gifts or not, their presents were just icing to me :)   My son didn't do so badly with the gifts, I had bought his a while back so he was not unhappy. He had a lot of fun with his grandmother. They did some card tricks and read a bit, listened to Christmas music and sang some,  played some word games and when Mom was tired, she just napped, and so did my son. The two of them sacked out and the dogs laying all over the place... it was priceless. 

My son and Mom Christmas this year

Mom with my oldest brother maybe 1944?

 It is so great that Mom is feeling so much better, and her memory was so much clearer!!!!  That in and of itself was Christmas present for me. She has really had the hardest year. The surgery she had in June really took a toll on her body and mind. It has been slow, but she is getting better every day. There were a few times that I thought she wouldn't ever recover, but as usual, she surprised us all.  Usually she just jumps right back up and carries on, but this one was different. This time it made me take a look back and think of everything she has done for me and been for me. It isn't easy to think about some of the times…There is a lot of good times but there are the  hard times, but then this is how relationships are, right? They have their ebbs and flows, and when two headstrong women are together, well… I know that she and I have had issues over the years, but really... I love her so much and can't think of what life would have been like without her. You know the youngster with bruised knees and strong will, the bumpy teen years and the very hard early motherhood years. All the advice she has given me that sometimes I didn’t want to hear and all the times that she was really the only person that understood what I was going through. Those times have all shaped our relationship into this unique bonding of hearts. 

My sister and Mom at Thanksgiving this year

Mom has been through a lot over the years, both physically and mentally. That she was born in 1925 says a lot. The depression and living in the panhandle of Texas was tough on it's own.  She could tell you stories of the dustbowl and how hard her mother and father worked. She has endured at least ten surgeries, all major, and through five babies... losing one and raising four of us… my older brother passing away was hard for her and losing  close family and friends, I can’t imagine how hard it has been…  and the hardest of all, the death of my father. In that, she and I shared such a huge bond. I think that it was unique since I was young and still living at home.  His death was not easy for anyone in the family, but it had to be the hardest on Mom.  Through everything that went on at the time I think that she held up through such circumstances was admirable.

 Mom was pretty young when my father was killed, I didn't realize how young she was at the time, but she was. To me she was old and, well, my mom...I guess you don’t really realize how old your parents are until you get older… I realized just how young she was when she went through that but it was years later when she helped me through one of  the worst times in my life… again...  this time when my husband died. 
When Greg died I was just a year younger than Mom was when my father died... and my husband died leaving me with a six year old so we had so much there that made us bond even more.  I don't know how I could have made it through that time  without her. She knew how hard it was to go through this, and she knew to be there and not say anything sometimes, because sometimes you just need someone to be there. I don’t think anyone else knew that, but she did. I don't know how she made it through when my father was killed. I really don't. She has to be the strongest woman I have ever known.  I am not saying that it was all graceful for her.  There was the doctor that gave her way too many sedatives and there is a big part that she doesn’t even remember, but what she does remember…haunts her even to this day… The reality of it is that she did make it through and kept going and kept surviving and helping and living. Sometimes that is all we can ask, and sometimes it is that living that means the most.

Mom with my son and grandson  2004

The times that we are allowed to spend with someone that impacts our lives is sometimes short, sometimes it is long and we get to savor the changes in the relationship. Mine with my mother has been, thankfully, long. Now it is that I am the adult and she is the child, not always, but it is more frequent now. This has changed our relationship a lot, but it is a good thing not only for me but especially for my son. Her living and surviving has made an impact on my children, my son is able to see the cycle of life, from the beginning with my grandson to the ending with my mother. This is teaching him (I hope) to respect life, to cherish it and to love unquestionably. My son and grandson sat at the hospital with me when Mom had surgery this summer, they were so good, they were so sweet and patient, and they hugged Mom so gently and held her hand. I cried when I went to bed every night, thinking, some day that will be me, I pray that they will be that kind to me and teach their children to be as well. 
 My daughter is older and has a son of her own,  and really, that my mother is still alive has made my daughter stronger I think. She sees that my mother is a strong woman, that she has been there for all of us and I think we all need that. Just that she has kept going, something like the Energizer bunny... she just keeps going and going.... makes a difference to us all. It gives hope that we all can be like that, keeping active and until this summer, she really didn't slow down. Well... there have been setbacks when she was sick, and days that she didn't want to move out of her chair... but at 87 she has done pretty well. Until the middle of June, she was still driving and coming over to visit and going shopping... though some of her trips were short since she was having problems with her heart. She was still able to be up and around.  She has made me realize that there is so much you can do in your life, so much you can live and how quickly it can be taken away from you.

home made  blueberry muffins

  Mom spent New Year's Eve with us also. We had blueberry muffins for breakfast (my son has announced that he really doesn't like muffins, he wants a new tradition for the holidays... bacon and eggs...) and watched the Rose Bowl Parade, it was very nice. It took me back to my childhood when we would be so excited that the parade was coming on. We ooed and ahhhhd  and my son was actually kind of amazed at the floats and the bands and horses and all the hoopla...  This time spent with her is invaluable for my son... he is 10 now, my grandson is 8 and the time that they share with her will last them all their lives. Maybe they can tell their kids something like..."when I was a kid, your Great-Grandmother and I watched this parade together."... That would be nice. Really nice.

Then all of a sudden it was back to school and my son's awards, he got three (I had to add that, I am busting at the seams, I am so proud of him!) Only a four day week but we were soooo ready for the weekend! I haven't worked much on jewelry or anything for that matter. I am still trying to catch up and clean up around the house. There seems to be a clothes monster that came and dropped off all their laundry in my laundry room..... I don't know who wore all these clothes. I stayed in pajamas for a whole week (actually two altogether)... my son as well! Somehow the monster brought in four beds worth of bedding and a months worth of clothes!  So the whole of the house is a wreck and all I can think of is beading :)

.

Two hearts

I did start on jewelry for the blog...a necklace and bracelet and matching pair of earrings and ring (does anyone else do that? I started on the bracelet and had to work on a necklace because I had an idea, then the ring... back to the bracelet then to earrings and back to the necklace... then back to the bracelet!!). I only have the picture of the bracelet from earlier in the week, working on it. I wanted to set up and take pictures last night, but... my son had other plans. I love it that he is sociable and has friends. He is growing up to be such a sweet young man. Anyway, I am seriously going to try to get pictures done later on. Promise!!!

 The theme of the bracelet I made for this blog is "two hearts" . In our case it is many hearts involved... but to me it was my mom and me. Two hearts... I started it in Valentine's colors without really thinking about it, it isn't Valentine's, but it really is a Valentine's... you see, well, my birthday is the day before Valentine's day, and for a long, long time Mom celebrated both my birthday and Valentine's as one. I know that I didn't appreciate the hearts and the pink and white back then, I thought I was being gyped out of a day of my own... but now, I miss that... I miss that she thought that I was her Valentine. She used to tell me every year about my birth... what she was doing when her water broke (making Valentine’s cards with my sister) and that I was her Valentine's Day gift. Well.... It makes me want to cry right now.

Sooo, my mother was the one all these years that made an impact on me, she made such a difference in my life... and I want to honor her for all the years that she was there for me... yes, the rough and the smooth times in our relationship, because without the rain you can't have a rainbow, without dark you don't appreciate the light. I hope that she is here for another year or two, but I have been bracing myself for the past ten years or so, and after the death of my older brother, I really tried to get my head around the fact that she might not make another year... Cherish each and every day. Pretend that this is the last day, say I love you time and time again... when her memory goes and she asks the same question over and over... be patient and always remember the rainbows.

memories-and-thanks-blog-hop.html
sorry....the link is just above th picture... having so much trouble today...

Hostess, Lori Anderson       Pretty Things

 Adlinah Kamsir                   Dream Struck Designs

 Aimee Biondolillo               Aimee's Jewelry Treasures

 Alicia Marinache                 All the Pretty Things 
 Andra Marasteanu               Handmade by Indra Marasteanu 
 Andrea Trank                      Heaven Lane Creations
 April Grinaway                   Brooklyn Bead Goddess

Barb Solem                         Vivi Magoo Presents

Becky Pancake                    Becky Pancake Bead Designs

Beth Emery                         Stories by Indigo Heart

Bonnie Coursolle                Jasper's Gems

Cassi Paslick                       Beads: Rolling Downhill

Catherine King                    Catherine's Musings

Cece Cormier                      The Beading Yogini

Chandra Leitz                     Juniper Goods

Charlie Jacka                       Clay Space

Christina Hickman              Vintage Treasures Jewelry

Christine Stonefield            Sweet Girl Design

Chrizette Bayman               Bead Soup Mix

Cindy Wilson                      It's My Sea of Dreams

Crystal Thain                      Here Bead Dragons

Cyndi Lavin                        Beading Arts

Debbie Rasmussen             A little of this, a little of that

Denielle Hagerman             Some Beads... and other things I like
Diana Gonzalez                  Arte y Poemas

Diane Hawkey                    diane hawkey

Dita Basu                            ankarshilpa

Donetta Farrington             Simply Gorgeous

Dyanne Everett-Cantrell     Deeliteful Jewelry Creations

Emma Todd                        A Polymer Penchant

Erin Kenny                         beadiful therapy

Erin Prais-Hintz                  Treasures Found

Gina Hockett                      Freestyle Elements

Gloria Allen                        Innovative Dreams Jewelry

Heather Marston                 CSW Designs

Inge von Roos                    Inge's Blog

Jacqueline Marchant          Fiddledeedee Jewelry

Jami Shipp                         Celebrating Life!

Jean Yates                          Snap Out of it Jean, There's Beading to Do!

Jennifer Reno                     Musings of a Crafty Jenny
Jenny Robledo                   Peppa's Dream

Jennifer VanBenschoten    Jewelry, Art and Life
Jessica Klaaren                  Cellar Door Jewelry

Jessica Murray                   Whimsical Monkey

Joan Williams                     lilruby jewelry

Jo-Ann Woolverton            It's a Beadiful Creation

Joanne Browne                   josjewels1

Jodie Marshall                    Jodie Marshall Lampwork Beads Wearable Art

Johanna Rhodes                 Fire Phoenix Creations
John Rasmussen                 Rasumussen Gems and Jewelry LLC

JuLee Wolfe                       The Polymer Penguin

Julie Bean                           Blue Pig Blog

Karen Mitchell                   Over the Moon Designs

Karin King                         The Sparklie Things Blog
Karin Slaton                       Backstory Beads

Kat Douglas                       Washoe Kat's
Kay Bolton                        Toodles and Binks

Kelly Hosford Patterson     The Traveling SideShow

Kim Ballor                          Vitamin C ... A Daily Does of Creativity

Kim Dworak                       CianciBlue

Kim Houston                       The Pink Martini
Kym Hunter                         Kym Hunter Designs

Laren Dee Barton                Laren Dee Designs

Lea Avroch                          LA Jewelry Designs

Leanne Loftus                      First Impression Design

Lena Adams (Mari's daughter) --Lena's Beady Blog
Liddy McLaughlin               Liddy McLaughlin Art

Linda Florian                       Lily's of the Valley Jewelry & Creative Creations

Linda Inhelder                     Must-Haves Jewelry

Lisa Hamilton                      Simply Irresistable Jewelry
Lisa Suver                            Fancee That

Lori Bowring Michaud        Artfully Ornamental

Lori Poppe                           Adventures in Creativity with Lorillijean

LouAnn Elwell                    Southpass Beads

Mandi Effron                       Craft-o-licious

Marcia DeCoster                 MadDesigns

Marcia Dunne                     The Alternative Foundry

Marie Covert                      Creating Interest

Marjorie Savill Linthwaite     bennubirdrising

Marlene Cupo                        Amazing Designs by Marlene

Martha Aleo                           Ornamento

Marti Conrad                          Marti's Buttons -n- Beads

Mary Ellen Parker                  BeeTree by m.e.

Mary Govaars                        MLH Jewelry Designs

Mary Lindell                          Mary Lindell Artisan Jewelry

Maureen Connolly                 Mrs Beadsley's Workshop

Maybeline Tay                       The Jewelry Larder

Melissa Elgin                         The Addicted Beader

Melissa Mesara                      one-eared pig beads

Menka Gupta                         Menka's Jewelry

Michaela Pabeschitz              la mar de bonita

Mischelle Fanucchi               Micheladas Musings

Mona Rae Baroody               Who Does She Bead She Is?

Nan Emmett                          Spirit Rattles -- Spirited Earth

Nancy Pedersen                    Something Heartfelt by Nancy

Natalie Davidson                  NorthShore Days
Nikki Douglas                      Bead It and Weep

Pam Farren                           re-maker

Pam, the Crazier Sister        The Crazy Creative Corner

Priya Krish                           Hellopalz  
Rebecca Anderson               Song Beads

Rebecca Sirevaag                 Becca's Place

Robin Kae Reed                   Artistry HCBD

Rochelle Brisson                  a creative chelle

Sabine Dittrich                     perlendschungel

Sandi Volpe                          Sandi Volpe

Sandra McGriff                    Creative Chaos

Sarah Goode                         Pookledo
Sarah Singer                         String a Song of Sixpence

Serena Trent                         All Things Made Jewelry

Shai Williams                       Shaiha's Ramblings
Sharon Palac                        Sharon's Jewelry Garden

Sharyl McMillian-Nelson    Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections

Sheila Davis                         Stone Designs

Shelley Graham Turner        Fabric of My Life

Sherri Stokey                       Knot Just Macrame

Sherry Baun                         Unicorns Jewels

Skylar Bre'z                         Brising Beads

Stephanie Haussler              Pixybug Designs

Tania Spivey                        Moobie Grace Designs

Terri G.                                Blooming Ideas

Terry Carter                         Tapping Flamingo

Terry Matuszyk                    Pink Chapeau Vintage Jewelry

Toltec Jewels                       Jewel School Friends
Tracy Kruse                         Goldkisses Art

Tracy Martin                        Nutkitten's Jewelry

Zia Parks                              Anzi~Panzi's Work Shoppe

Zoe Marcin                          Beads, Tea and Sweets