A Very Sad Day

(I have no idea how my Birthday Blog got hung up. It was supposed to be published on Feb 20)

I received a phone call last night. One I knew would come, but prayed it would be longer in coming. I was notified that Dear Mother Mary had begun her new journey, her new life in heaven with all those who have gone before her.
The sadness I feel is overwhelming. Not that we had a chance to speak to her every day. She was a bit deaf and phone calls were difficult. But I know she knew, she was always in my thoughts and prayers. Not a day went by that I did not think of that lady and wonder if she knew how deeply she touched my life.
She was the Mother I wished I had had. Don't get me wrong, she wasn't perfect, she had her fair share of issues and she had her moments...but she had a wonderful heart. There are people who have expressed those feelings for my mother (of course they didn't know her for the length of time I did, nor did they spend 24/7 with her at any given time) So maybe we all see the beauty in another person and dismiss their short comings, more easily then we can our own family.
All I know is Mother Mary was a comfort and a blessing in my life. She rarely judged others and even when she did, in the most harsh manner...I know in my heart she prayed for forgiveness. She never wanted to see the bad in anyone. She was a person who was easily played by many people with their own agenda, but again, she was a deeply religious person and I knew in my heart of hearts that God would protect her. AS long as she was happy, that's all that ever mattered to me.
She was a GRAND lady, always had her hair done, nails done, make up on. She wore the prettiest of clothes and always looked and acted like the lady she was. She got so much joy out of her friends and family. I could sit and talk for hours about the parties and all the laughter that was shared around her pool. She was a blessing and a treasure to me and my family and she will be deeply and sadly missed. It gives me solace to know that her end was peaceful and her journey to heaven swift and without question.

My Birthday Month

I have to be THE luckiest person I know. I sincerely mean that. My life is not without issues, pain, or heartache...I am , after all jogging in the same human race as everyone else.
But I am surrounded by so much love, so many kind hearts that most woes seem very insignificant in the BIG PICTURE.
For days before my BD I began getting cards, e-cards and little gifts. By the day OF my BD, friends on FB lite up cyberspace with Happy BD wishes, my e-mail box was full of e-cards and notes filled with love. Little gifts began arriving from people in some of my groups. Gifts that brought a smile to my face and a tear to my eye. All Rich kept doing was shaking his head and smiling. I'm sure he wondered about my excitement over some of the silly things I received a tiny bird made from felt, a little tree also made from felt, a doll made from twigs, an angel needle holder and the list goes on and on...silly little things perhaps..but each and every thing I received was made with love and given from the heart..It is not so much the gift I treasure, but the person behind the gift. Some people made gorgeous cards, some people added their own touch to already made cards...It didn't matter...they remembered me.I even got a singing Telegram, which turned out to be the actual friend (never knew she could sing) I was delighted, that she would think so highly of me ,to go out of her way to come up with that surprise. Thank you Kittie
There is a person by the name of Mary, she is a member of a WW group that I dearly love but never seem to get the time to post on . Every year, Mary sends me a FQ, always purple, with a card for my BD. I have never met Mary in person, but I have promised myself to find the time to let her know how deeply I am touched by her continued friendship...She does , after all, find time for me.
Yes I am truly blessed. I have a husband that doesn't just express his love in everything he does, but he adores me and never misses an opportunity to remind me of that. I've got a loving family that, even though it is hard to arrange days off around school days off...they always manage to find the time to share my special day...and then there are the "friends", some that I have never met in person, that still find time to take a moment out of their day to say Happy BD.
Little gifts and cards continue to arrive each day and each day I become more and more over whelmed by people who seem to care far more then I imagined.
I want each and every one of you to know, there is no possible way I can ever explain the gratitude and appreciation I feel. It has nothing to do with the card or the gift, although they are greatly appreciated..It is YOU I treasure...each one of you has a very special place in my heart.
I want you all to know that and to thank you for making me the person I am.
I am indeed, the Luckiest person I know.....