Timing is everything! Although I missed posting to the Ten Things of Thankful blog hop last weekend, I'm sneaking one in now to share some great things for which I am thankful. A lot has to do with time, as you will quickly see.
With planning for my Mom's 100th birthday celebration this past week, I was beginning to wonder how we were going to be able to pull this off. The weather reports weren't looking good in a number of ways. We had our family arriving on different days, some of which were days that were forecast for storms including snow and freezing rain. Some of the family was driving and others were flying. We were picking up and taking people back to the airport on different days. The weather report kept changing as to what days the storm(s) was going to hit.
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| I felt a little bit like I had the deer in the headlights look as I was trying to prepare! |
As it turned out we celebrated my Mom's birthday on two different days since not everyone could make it on her actual birthday. Too many people probably would have been too confusing for her because of the Alzheimer's. And there is always room for more cake. We ordered two cakes, one for each celebration!
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100th birthday cake
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There were delightful moments when she seemed to recognize people! I loved seeing her smile. I'll be sharing birthday cards she received, even from some of you bloggers, with her for days to come. That is how it works with Alzheimer's. She doesn't remember seeing them, so it is enjoyable again and again. Thank you so much for the cards.
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| Mom on the day she turned 100 years old |
There was a day when I took our daughters and a granddaughter to go browsing in an antique mall in a small town that I thought was about a 45 minute drive from our house. About the time I realized I must have driven right by the turnoff, because we weren't that far away from the coast, we all decided going on to the coast was a great idea! A few minutes later I saw the turnoff I'd been looking for, but by then we were coast bound for sure. Then I was doubting my sanity of having to drive over the coast range where the roads still had some icy/snowy stretches, not to mention the curves. We do not have the studded tires that perhaps would have made driving easier. We made it safely there, saw the ocean, ate a mid-afternoon meal, and headed back to the valley. It was quite warm (48 degrees) compared to the near and below freezing conditions in the valley.
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Sea gull and Pacific ocean on a beautiful sunny day in January
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The day after the last of our family departed, we were hit with another storm with sleet/snow/freezing rain, but we knew it was coming and were thankful it waited until after the parties and needed traveling to the nursing home which is a 40 minute drive away, and to the airport, about an hour and 45 minute drive from our home.
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The snow storm that hit the day after everyone departed.
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Other thankful moments: Being able to see my brother and sister-in-law and part of their family, having some of Mom's friends be there to celebrate her birthday, enjoying interactions between our adult children, being able to enjoy seeing grandchildren as they develop their talents and skills, and to learn how they are preparing for their futures, playing a number of Scrabble games and Big Boggle, eating out, having sweet snacks way too much, and LAUGHTER, lots of laughter!
I'm so happy you got to celebrate 100 years of your mother's life with her and family. A trip to the coast, at any given time, on any given day, in any given type of weather is always something to be thankful for. Doing it with family on a sunny day - even better. The winter weather here has been freezing and snowing. I haven't left the house in two days, but I'm venturing out in a little while - as soon as the sun rises. Loved seeing the deer in your yard. We have visitors like that, as well as foxes, turkeys, wild rabbits and raccoons.
ReplyDeleteI stay home too when we have snow and ice, especially the ice. I can't seem to get over the fear of falling now. Besides the deer, we've seen skunks, rabbits, cougars, coyotes and elk on our property over the past 36 years. We only saw elk once, and cougars twice, and a coyote once. Most of the snow melted today, but more is supposed to come tomorrow night in our area.
DeleteBless you for hosting not one but two parties for your Mom: her smile shows that she knew and appreciated your efforts.
ReplyDeleteToday we looked at all the photos we took at the parties and enjoyed seeing those smiles again.
DeleteWas just over at Kristi's blog reading about your mom's birthday. So wonderful that so many could be with her to celebrate such a long and full life! May she have many more in good health and happiness. I love how her spirit shines through!
ReplyDeleteWinter weather is not my favorite at all. I don't enjoy the cold. I'm ready for spring!
During the colder weather, I layer up. It is the only way for me to feel comfortable besides just standing in front of the stove or hugging my husband. :-)
DeleteOh, you really did get some snow! I can't believe how sunny it was for most of the days I was there.
ReplyDeleteMost of the snow melted today, but we did get big flakes falling this morning, and more snow is forecast for Tuesday evening. I still marvel at the breaks we had in the weather last week. Those parties just had to take place!
DeleteThese are such precious heartwarming moments to remember! Not many get to celebrate a hundredth birthday! I am so thankful that the weather cooperated, family and friends made it in and out safely, and you all obviously had a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteWe had very heartwarming moments indeed. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect that my Mom would be a centenarian.
DeleteOne Hundred Years! yow... that's like a time that covers pretty much all of what passes for modern times! To think of the changes in the world and, more difficult to comprehend or appreciate, the differences in life... they invented movies in the time of her life.
ReplyDeleteGood looking ocean there... I would alway live near at least one of the oceans, just to be able to go and stare.
I've looked at articles and lists referring to events, inventions, etc. that cover the lifetime of a person. So much history and so many changes. Staring at the ocean! I get that, and the sounds of the waves hitting the shore.
DeleteHow wonderful to celebrate 100 years! A belated Happy Birthday to your beautiful mother. My grandma had Alzheimer's, too. It was a very sad experience that led to some truly beautiful moments. The day that my grandpa died was the day that I learned just how much my grandma loved me. She called me "Mama". Everyone trusts "Mama" to take care of them, to love them, to protect them from the hurts. Though it upset me greatly at the time it happened because I felt like Grandma didn't recognize me anymore, I realized later that it meant she felt safe with me and that I would help her through the hurt. Now, it is a beautiful memory for me. Other folks were being mean to her, treating her like she was nothing, and she knew she was safe with me, that I still valued her.
ReplyDeleteI think those living with Alzheimer's are aware of far more than they are often given credit for.
I like your thought about enjoying things again and again. I have memory issues myself and many things are new again for me. At least there's no such thing as reruns when we don't remember that we've already seen or done something. :)
I am glad that your celebrating and travels went safely and that you were able to get where you needed to go in spite of the weather. If you get tired of the snow, we'd welcome it down here on the Texas Gulf Coast. :)
Have a blessed day!
My Mom often asks me if I still live with my Mom. I'm not sure who she is thinking I am in those moments. I've learned to live in her "moment." It is easier that way.
DeleteUp the road aways, they got a big dumping of snow last night. We got snow again last night too, but not anywhere near the amount the cities north of us got. This has been the strangest weather.