Christmas....what a wonderful time

Christmas time is normally a wonderful family time...This year is so different though, my Mom is still in the nursing home and may never come home. It is so hard to enjoy the holidays at Nancy's without seeing Mom sitting on the couch or fixing her plate and helping her eat. It is a big adjustment....On the lighter side we have Katelyn and she has brought so much love and joy into our lives, she can makes us forget, even for a moment about the real loss we feel, not having Mom with us. I wish that no other family has to go through this, Alzheimer's is a horrible disease... I HATE IT!!!! I FEAR IT!!!! I just hope Mom knows I love her and miss her...I hope she feels it...

Greg and his girlfriend Jenelle are

such a cute couple,

I can see they really care/love one

another, it is so refreshing.

They remind me a lot of Zack

and Krista, they have a respect

for each other. Greg deserves to be happy, he is a wonderful

man..And I am not just saying this because he is my son....LOL

I found out today, that Michelle's husband Marshal passed away....I know her heart aches so bad and I know she is scared; I hope she knows we are all praying for her, her children and her family..God Bless you all and know that Marshal is at peace.

So much to be thankful for...

I have the best family....I knew this would be a hard Thanksgiving, with Mom being in the nursing home and not there to celebrate with us. Some of us took time to go visit her several times that day and I am not even sure she was aware it was Thanksgiving, which is a good thing.....I miss her so much, not just during the holidays, which is all about spending time with family, but everyday. I miss the woman, Mom and friend she used to be....I miss the happy person...I did get her and her roomie Grace to laugh a bunch the other day, when I was visiting, the nurse even came in and said "what is going on in here". As hard as it is, I will be there for her as she has always been there for me.

On a lighter note.....look at the cute little turkey, Katelyn....She is the bright spot in our lives, she gets Gma Betty to smile more then anyone can. When Krista takes her to visit Mom, all the little ladies roll there wheelchairs to their door ways and wave and say "Hi Baby" it is like bringing a puppy in, only better. Katelyn eats it up and puts on quite a show for them, running up and down the halls, waving and blowing kisses. Too cute!!

Love this!!

I received this email the other day and I have been forwarding it onto the beautiful women I care about and to some men who have daughters so they can pass it on. Here it is for all the ladies....

'MAYA ANGELOU'S' BEST POEM EVER A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

a youth she's content to leave behind....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

one friend who always makes her laugh.. and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...

a feeling of control over her destiny...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to fall in love without losing herself...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without; ruining the friendship...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

where to go... be it to her best friend's kitchen table.. or a charming Inn in the woods.... when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

What she can and can't accomplish in a day...

a month...

and a year...

Happy Birthday Momma!!

It is my Mom, Betty's b/d, she is 76 today! Nancy, Krista, Katelyn and I celebrated with her tonight. Well, we celebrated she just lies there with her eyes closed. They had to up her meds, because she is getting more combative and it just makes her so sedate. I HATE IT!!! It is not my Mom, my Mom was always the sweetest lady in the world, very independent and always ready to lend a helping hand. She helped me raise my two children, that's a BIG reason they are the wonderful people they are. I owe my Mom so much, that is why I will always be there for her. It breaks my heart to see her there and in that condition, but I make myself do it for her.

On a lighter, happier note, Katelyn is so darn cute...She and Krista showed up tonight and Katelyn was a little stinker, testing her boundaries. She will probably be very confident, stubborn and wise like her Mommy. I admire that spunky and strong-will in them both....

I got her a pretty cupcake and put a candle in it and sang her Happy Birthday. She really enjoyed the cupcake and the root beer, but wasn't too impressed with the balloons.

Greg had me call him and put the phone to Mom's ear, she lit up a bit and talked to Greg, even saying " I love you too".

I miss her so much and on the other hand I am so luck to still have her.

Momma, I love you!!

VOTE!! GO USA! #1

OK, that is my patriotic moment..I did go and vote tonight after work, no lines..Yah!! I as Krista says "Baracked it"...I really wasn't sure until the end, but it felt good to be a part of history.

We have a truly wonderful country here, thanks to great men and women who stand up and defend us against the evils of this world.Thank you Tommy for one, you are the best and I am so happy you are safe at home with the wifie and kiddies. Tayde you rock, for holding down the fort, you deserve a massage or some serious pampering... USA!!!! #1

Fondue for Krista

YUMMY fondue for Krista's belated Birthday party. Do I need to say more than YUMMY? I am talking about the best cheese fondue, served with potatoes, apples and bread, served with Krista's great spinach salad. We finished it off with chocolate fondue served with snickers and twix bars and rice krispie treats.....Thanks April, even though I am now 25 pounds heavier then I was this morning, but like I said YUMMY!! Sorry, there are no cute pics of the evening...too busy piggin out, laughing and playing with Katelyn. Happy Birthday Krista, you look Marvelous!! Isn't it fun to celebrate more than one day?

Well, I thought I would give my hand at this.... I am not sure what I will do, what I will write about or what I will say...I am sure most of it will have something to do with my sweet granddaughter Katelyn Marie.

I am in the house buying mode...It has been going on for a while now, I got so much great advise and time from Phil, but he is super busy following his dreams and trying to support a family, I felt I was adding too much to his plate. Thanks Phil for all you did for me. I met with a new realtor today and looked at about 6 houses, nothing to wonderful, but they had potential. I will keep searching, but I need to act soon.

Being a homeowner is so important to me, it is something I want to achieve on my own. I want a place, a home my family will enjoy coming to visit me at. I want to be able to leave something to my children, not just a home $$ value, but memories of Christmas at Gma's, Katelyn coming for a sleep over. I think I have come a long way in the last few years on my own and I want to build on that. Wish me luck!!!