behind....

I am so behind on my postings.  I have to catch up and get Jay to get more pictures posted. 

Last week, January 13th, Jay took me to chemo.  I am glad he got the chance to see the day hospital and see the process of a chemo treatment.  It was nice to have him there.  I appreciate him taking the morning off and taking me.  He then brought me home and my mom was there and he went to work. 

Thursday the 13th was my mom's birthday.  I was thinking about her birthday last year and how special it was.  My mom is always doing things for everyone else and many times focusing on my grandparent's anniversary rather than her birthday (my mom was born on her parent's 3rd anniversary).  I wanted to do something special for her and have a day that she could spend with her friends.  So, Audrey and I arranged a surprise, tea at the Drake Hotel downtown.  To make it more special, I invited her two close friends Sue and Joan.  My friend Jen was also in town, so she joined us too.  It was really nice to surprise her and we spent a wonderful afternoon enjoying laughter and friendship.  Here is a picture...

If I would have known what was about to occur and how much I was going to be leaning on her, I would have taken her on a European adventure!  I am very grateful for my mom and all that she has done for me, not just this year, but always,  No matter what it is, I know that she will be there for me.  As I live my life, and grow each year, I become more and more grateful for my parents and what they have done for me. When I started teaching and listening to the 4th graders practice music, I thanked them for putting up with that awful sound of practicing every day!  More seriously, as a parent, I understand the sacrifices they made, the times they put me and my brother first, the things they gave up so we could have, doing the things that we right, but hard.  They gave us knowledge, wisdom, life skills, confidence in ourselves, ability to make our own decisions, the chance to stand on our own two feet, create our own life, yet we always knew we could fall back and rely on them.  We knew they would be there for us, no matter what.  I get that more and more each day.  I am so grateful that I have the ability to thank my mother, and my father, for that gift. 

This journey has taught me that you need to say the things you feel, acknowledge the ones that you cherish, and live in each moment.  Please, learn this from my journey for yourself and apply it to your life.  I think this world would be a better place.