I've been going through a lot of my old posts on my old blog, and through tons of old photos, lately. I love this time of year and generally spend a lot more time outside so it's harder to willingly force myself to sit at my computer and blog. Bear with me this Summer. You will see a lot of posts that I caption with "This was originally posted on my old blog, blah blah blah."
I am pulling my favorite posts and old photographs and combining them into new content for this page. It helps to generate posts faster so I can continue soaking up the Summertime from out of doors. Once it gets colder, there will be a lot more new content, and lots of adventures from Summertime!
During this hunt, I stumbled onto these photos and had to share them.
I am pulling my favorite posts and old photographs and combining them into new content for this page. It helps to generate posts faster so I can continue soaking up the Summertime from out of doors. Once it gets colder, there will be a lot more new content, and lots of adventures from Summertime!
During this hunt, I stumbled onto these photos and had to share them.
They came from a time in life where we were filled with anxiety, concern, and a knowledge that soon our lives would be forever altered. It was our last Christmas with our mother. The doctors had given her a few months to live and none of us knew what to expect. She was only 58, it felt too soon, but with her deterioration we knew it was coming and knew that it had to happen.
In December of 2013, a bunch of us siblings were together with my parents in Las Vegas. (A post of our hijinks is still to come, but this one is simpler.) My husband and I were driving my little brothers to dinner with the whole family. We all had to be in tons of cars since there were 24 of us -- siblings, nieces, nephew, grandparents, and parents. My little brothers were just shy of 18, seniors in high school, with the whole world ahead of them, and the heavy emotions of our final Christmas with Mom on the table.
In December of 2013, a bunch of us siblings were together with my parents in Las Vegas. (A post of our hijinks is still to come, but this one is simpler.) My husband and I were driving my little brothers to dinner with the whole family. We all had to be in tons of cars since there were 24 of us -- siblings, nieces, nephew, grandparents, and parents. My little brothers were just shy of 18, seniors in high school, with the whole world ahead of them, and the heavy emotions of our final Christmas with Mom on the table.
It didn't matter though, we rented a mansion, and enjoyed the warm desert winter weekend cooped up with our entire family in Las Vegas. These photos are of that beautiful weekend, when our family was still unchanged, as whole as it ever would be. None of us had any knowledge of life without her, and all the changes her death would bring. For that special afternoon, it was as perfect as it ever was, and we felt peace.
I think the highlight of that weekend was when Mom (who hadn't been able to tolerate most foods for the whole year due to intensive radiation, two brain surgeries, and chemo) decided she wanted a chili dog with the rest of the kids, and declared that her chili dog was the best she'd ever had, and wanted seconds.
I don't think I'll ever forget the beautiful moments of life, when despite all the pain that you know is coming, you are able to smile, breathe deeply, and thank God for chili dogs.
I think the highlight of that weekend was when Mom (who hadn't been able to tolerate most foods for the whole year due to intensive radiation, two brain surgeries, and chemo) decided she wanted a chili dog with the rest of the kids, and declared that her chili dog was the best she'd ever had, and wanted seconds.
I don't think I'll ever forget the beautiful moments of life, when despite all the pain that you know is coming, you are able to smile, breathe deeply, and thank God for chili dogs.
Join the conversation!
Thanks for stopping by The Joy Blog! I hope you like what you have seen so far. Feel free to share your thoughts or questions in the comments. I try to respond to almost every single comment.