tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942892890615806086.post2044365373589690258..comments2024-02-16T06:59:59.062-06:00Comments on Quarry Garden Stained Glass: What's Next? Part 14 Things Can Get ComplicatedKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18368318730124533690noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942892890615806086.post-21140082993220469022017-03-15T22:56:04.990-05:002017-03-15T22:56:04.990-05:00Peter, thank you so very much for your kind commen...Peter, thank you so very much for your kind comment; it brought tears of comfort. I'm sure you miss your own dear mother very much, she must have been an extraordinary woman to have raised such a caring son. I am so humbled by the outpouring of affection from my dear blog friends. :-)<br />Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18368318730124533690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942892890615806086.post-50657806218517406702017-03-15T22:52:24.308-05:002017-03-15T22:52:24.308-05:00africanaussie, thank you so much!
africanaussie, thank you so much!<br />Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18368318730124533690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942892890615806086.post-13284454887576619812017-03-15T09:34:08.452-05:002017-03-15T09:34:08.452-05:00Oops, sorry to have forgotten David for a second t...Oops, sorry to have forgotten David for a second there in my last comment.outlawgardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08273973572989510382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942892890615806086.post-70400739810282389542017-03-15T09:31:22.794-05:002017-03-15T09:31:22.794-05:00I treasure every moment I got to spend with my mot...I treasure every moment I got to spend with my mother during the last year of her life, the simple joys and last lessons of those hours remain in my heart as some of the most wonderful of our relationship. Your feelings are your feelings, no need to justify them. Your decisions are the right ones for you. Wishing you continued strength at this time. You're a true gardener, dear Karen. In the harsh and sometimes hopeless-seeming days of your childhood, you've sown seeds of love, hope, and beauty all around you, have created a garden masterpiece in a harsh climate, created sparkling wonders in glass, built a strong relationship with Carl, and created Joel who's made adorable Audrey, a sweet new branch on your family tree. (Was thinking of something about self-seeding but thought that might be in poor taste:) Your compelling stories are an inspiration. As you walk this path, may you be surrounded by love and grace. P.S. You're entitled to be emotionally fragile when your life turns upside-down!outlawgardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08273973572989510382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942892890615806086.post-30696659059344597332017-03-14T22:11:02.579-05:002017-03-14T22:11:02.579-05:00blessings to you dear Karen. thank you for sharin...blessings to you dear Karen. thank you for sharing your thoughts, fears and ups and downs. africanaussiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16660727599623626163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942892890615806086.post-15303946511408420422017-03-14T14:51:23.163-05:002017-03-14T14:51:23.163-05:00Peonies&Magnolias, thank you so much. I can u...Peonies&Magnolias, thank you so much. I can use all the prayers we can get. The loss of her vision was the cruelest blow, but she's doing her best to rally. :-)Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18368318730124533690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942892890615806086.post-71719231051726538252017-03-14T08:59:25.450-05:002017-03-14T08:59:25.450-05:00Oh Karen what a journey you, your Mom and family a...Oh Karen what a journey you, your Mom and family are on. You're in our thoughts and prayers as it continues. Make time for yourself and your health as you care for your Mom, sounds like you are doing a tremendous job caring for her. I applaude you for that and my heart breaks reading of all your ups and downs. Hang in there!!!Peonies & Magnoliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13362575319386223280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942892890615806086.post-47152359358200074622017-03-13T23:37:15.177-05:002017-03-13T23:37:15.177-05:00Dear Beth @ PlantPostings, thank you! I'm try...Dear Beth @ PlantPostings, thank you! I'm trying to work more exercise into my day, even if it means just walking in my living room during the Price is Right, ha. I loved your posts about the butterflies, it was exquisite and helped me forget my worries. Thank you again! :-)Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18368318730124533690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942892890615806086.post-69743555138508636642017-03-13T23:30:04.912-05:002017-03-13T23:30:04.912-05:00Dear Beth, hugs from me on your situation, too. H...Dear Beth, hugs from me on your situation, too. Having your mom in a nursing home is not any easier, I'm sure. She is blessed to have a caring daughter to look out for her and be her advocate. Part of my respite is writing this blog and having kind people (like you!) let me know I'm not a failure. Please take care of yourself, too, and give your mom a hug from me. :-)Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18368318730124533690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942892890615806086.post-11735888700327285152017-03-13T23:26:49.542-05:002017-03-13T23:26:49.542-05:00Dear Charade, thank you! I have had some second t...Dear Charade, thank you! I have had some second thoughts about publishing my pity-parties, but writing it all down is such a relief. This is a road others have traveled and to know I'm not alone with my not-so-wonderful emotions at times is also a great relief. Even though I'm in the midst of caregiving, I don't have a good answer as to what would be of the utmost to help to a caregiver, either, since we're all different, but one of my top three is having people I can talk to about my emotions, the good and the bad. Thank you for being one of those people for me. :-)Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18368318730124533690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942892890615806086.post-40398596356195811082017-03-13T23:18:57.452-05:002017-03-13T23:18:57.452-05:00Dear Rainey, thank you so very much, I've been...Dear Rainey, thank you so very much, I've been wiping tears away reading your sweet comment. I'm so glad your dear husband was able to leave you with precious memories to cherish until you are once again reunited. Seeing Mom lose ground is the hardest thing I've ever had to face, but yet she manages to be grateful for what she has left. I will definitely keep these times locked in my heart. :-)<br /><br />Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18368318730124533690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942892890615806086.post-50844573012294969002017-03-13T19:58:12.412-05:002017-03-13T19:58:12.412-05:00Oh, that is so sweet. You say you're being imp...Oh, that is so sweet. You say you're being impatient and difficult, but I'm sure your mom appreciates each and every thing you do for her and each and every moment you spend with her. Make sure you take care of yourself, too. I know that's easier said than done, but it will help you to cope and make you a better care-giver for her. Bless you. What a gift you are giving to your mum!Beth at PlantPostingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10473637655960119672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942892890615806086.post-21778019173855914842017-03-13T16:29:50.185-05:002017-03-13T16:29:50.185-05:00Karen, you are a wonderful daughter and you're...Karen, you are a wonderful daughter and you're doing a great job. Just be sure to get some respite if you can, so that you protect your own health.<br />I am a caregiver for my mom too, although not in the same way. She is in a nursing home now. She has dementia and is quite frail and needs a great deal of help. It's been a difficult journey.<br />Blessings, BethBethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09792341123595520130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942892890615806086.post-42078881591098051372017-03-13T15:44:13.929-05:002017-03-13T15:44:13.929-05:00I'm so taken by your story and your willingnes...I'm so taken by your story and your willingness to share it. It brings back some painful memories of care giving in the waning years of my dad's life, but it also brings up some sweet memories, too. If there were some way to lessen the emotional burden for a care giver, wouldn't things be ideal? I don't know what that would be.<br /><br />I do hope you can accept that you are doing the very best you can (that even includes pity parties, etc.) and that you continue to do all of it your way, regardless of any outside opinion. When your ordeal is over, never second guess yourself or what-if or if-only yourself. You're doing just fine. Love and peace to all of you. Charadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16461603001722068211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942892890615806086.post-32489588015561189492017-03-13T13:59:57.355-05:002017-03-13T13:59:57.355-05:00Oh dear Karen ~ This has me crying. You are doing ...Oh dear Karen ~ This has me crying. You are doing the best that you can and you will be blessed. Try to not let people's words get you down.<br /><br />Care giving is such a hard thing, I know from caring for my dear husband those 4 months he was ill before leaving this planet to be with God. Watching him slowly go downhill was so hard. He never lost his mental capabilities and for that I am thankful. We talked about so many things, he told me over and over that he loved me and that I was a good wife. I would write down in my journal when I thought of it, the different things he said, and then wrote them together so that I can read them when I need a bolster of love. <br /><br />Keep these dear sweet times with your mother locked in your heart. I loved how she was getting into the story of what you were reading to her and that she was picturing it all in her mind. Bless her heart!<br /><br />You, Carl, your sons and friends are having to deal with losing this dear one from your lives and it is not easy. You are all dealing with it the best way you can. Just take each day as it comes. It is human to have melt-downs and pity-parties. Admitting how you feel lets out tension, and you and Carl's love for each other is growing stronger through this trying situation.<br /><br />These last moments with your Mom aren't easy but they are precious. I pray you will feel God's love, peace and strength as you go through each day caring for the woman who gave you life, who has loved you through all these years. Like I said before, she is a trooper and she's who you got all of your wonderful positive traits from. <br /><br />Life can be hard at times, we aren't promised a bed of roses, but we are promised strength from God to get through all of the rough patches. He has been my strength, He has given me peace and yes even joy again in these 4 years 3 months and 4 days of being a widow. I miss my dear husband every day, and my love for him still keeps growing. We will be reunited again one day.<br /><br />It has been obvious from many years of reading your blog just how much you and your Mom love each other and how you and Carl have taken care of her. Be kind to yourself, take deep breaths, call on God for strength. He loves you and cares for you and what you are going through right now.<br /><br />(((((((Karen)))))))<br /><br />Love, hugs & continued prayers ~ FlowerLadyFlowerLady Lorrainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17678852154334714784noreply@blogger.com