The Blessings of a Mother

With Mother's Day just around the corner, many of us will be celebrating with those we love,

or thinking of our mother's or mother like figures that are no longer with us.

I am so thankful that my mom, who is 88, is still with us.

What I've never shared here is that she has dementia.

It is such a cruel and often times slow progressing disease, and one that I know many others are dealing with, too.

We first began to notice changes in our mom at least 10 years ago. The sad thing is that nearly all of her 8 siblings have it, or have died in the late stages of it, including her twin sister, who passed away quite a few years ago.

Mom has been living full time with my sister and brother in law, for about the last year.

It has been a challenging time for us, but especially for them.

My mom drifts in and out of reality, so I am oh so thankful that she still knows me.

I know that it's inevitable that she eventually won't know me.

That makes me sad to think about, and I honestly don't know how I will deal with it when it does happen.

She has mistaken my sister for her own sister, who died several years ago. And according to my mom, my dad is still alive, and my oldest brother just returned from Vietnam.

We usually don't bother to correct her any more.

Thankfully, we've not lost "all" of her yet.

There are still things we can enjoy together, even though much has changed.

I always take my latest issues of Romantic Homes magazine, and Romantic Country over.

We enjoy looking at them together and talking about things like decorating and crafting.

I won't sugar coat things here.  While it is difficult for me to share personal things in my posts 

(you know me, I would much rather talk about the fun stuff like glitter, paint, and thrift shopping!)

sometimes I do feel the need.

Like close personal relationships can sometimes be, that of my mom and I has often been complicated, difficult, frustrating, and even "she drives me crazy, I can't take it any more"!

Often the dementia would bring out the worst of her personality.

While we know she can't help that, it doesn't make it any easier!

But, thru it all, we've had a never ending love, a bond that is so unique between a mother and her daughter.

She, along with my dad, passed along so many things to me that I will be forever grateful for.

As a child of the depression, my mom perfected the art of "making do", or making something out of nothing.

I guess that's where I first learned to "make the most of what I've got".

She also instilled in me a love to create.  No, make that a need to create!

Both she and my dad passed along to me a love of nature, wild life, animals, and just enjoying the simple things in life:

Walks to the woods behind our house in the spring to admire all of the pretty wildflowers. There were phlox, trillium, violets, dog tooth violets, and many more that I don't have names for.

The wonder of watching a newborn fawn in the fields on our farm.

Taking a batch of my favorite chocolate chip cookies out of the oven.

And of course my mom passed along to me her love of baking, cooking, gardening, and making a house a home.

Thru both of my parents, I also learned about God and faith, and how that can help you get thru even the most difficult of times.

Over the years, mom and I enjoyed many outings and trips together.  Later, she would travel with hubby and I, even going with us to Norway almost 11 years ago.

So while the time now is bittersweet, I know that nothing can take away the happy memories.

And I am thankful for each day at hand.

I just love this photo of mom and me, when I was a newborn.  At 10lbs, 8 oz, I never really looked like a newborn!  Mom always liked to joke that I was born just in time for lunch, as I have always loved to eat!

So, weather you are a mother, have a mother, or there is someone special who is as dear as a mother,

wishing you a wonderful day!