I miss Mom and Dad.
Treasuring now the good memories.
Treasuring now the good memories.
Mom passed 
on from this life
on August 9, 2023.
on from this life on August 9, 2023.
[View Mom's Obituary]
My Meditation on losing Mom,
"God Gifts Us With A Tomorrow"
"God Gifts Us With A Tomorrow"
____________________
____________________
eight months after Mom,
in time to rejoin her for their
62nd wedding anniversary on Apr. 22.
__________
Below are archived entries.
Recent Family Visits
My aunts joined me on my weekly Wednesday visit with Mom and Dad.
Mom was so happy to see sisters (left to right) Sharon, Angie, Rose, and Sandy join me...
...and
May 31, her brother, my Uncle Albin, accompanied me on my weekly visit.
Dad loves when I bring plenty of coffee!!
May 10
Celebrating
Mothers' Day 2023
Two-time cancer survivor (1999 & 2011) Mom has won a courageous battle against a terrible infection that had turned sepsis. This was discovered immediately after she had gone into Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple following a fall at the nursing home on January 20. After 5 days in ICU Mom was moved to her own room at S&W for another 5 days.
“unlikely she’ll be able to return to full mobility”
“I’m not seeing a lot of response which concerns me there may have been a small stroke related to the fall..."
Mom has fared well through the whole ordeal there with only a persistent cough along with the expected loss of taste. I have nothing but praise for Dennis the Administrator at WinnieL Nursing and all the staff who have been diligent and admirable in their stressful duties in this "Hot Unit."
I thanked Dad for all the hard work he and Mom put into the place in their 60+ years here. He replied very matter-of-factly, "Well, you know, it gave us something to do."
Bittersweet 2021:
Mom & Dad's 60 Years at Home
Come to a Close
We celebrated Dad's 85th in February,
and Mom's 80th in March.
Mom and Dad's 60th Wedding Anniversary in April.
We celebrated in their garage with a gathering of family and their closest friends and neighbors.
[LEFT: The happy couple poses with their cake.
BELOW: The guests gather for a group shot!]
We gathered with the large extended family in May at the Family's 140 y.o. Cemetery to mourn the loss of my mother's youngest brother, my Uncle Eugene.
[A beautiful Internment of Ashes ceremony was conducted by Pastor James Hejl out at our Machu Family Cemetery in May.]
After a brief stay in St. David's Hospital, he was placed at Windsor Rehabilitation Center in Austin.
[LEFT: Dad makes it no secret what his two favorite things are at the Nursing Home - the donuts and all the pretty nurses.]
My aunts Angie and Sharon were angels in stepping into the home at this time, caring so expertly for Mom. My brother Kelly and I are forever indebted to them for their selfless commitment.
I spent Thanksgiving and Christmas with Mom - just the two of us. Our annual tradition of putting up the tree was a little different this year.
For Christmas I gave her a new sweatshirt that has all the names of her loved ones on it. She loves looking down and pointing to them and saying their names.
I miss them a lot here at the place.
Mothers' Day 2023
On my weekly visit this week we had a special time together celebrating Mothers' Day.
I brought my laptop and Mom enjoyed looking at old pics of family and friends.
She also enjoyed wearing her "Greatest Mom in History" button.
 |
| Mom pointed at the pic of her and granddaughter Lauren and said, "My angel!" |
 |
| Mom knew her two life-long friends, high school chums Doris & Tracy! |
Mom roller-skating? Yep!
 |
| Activity Day in May Mom was spinning around in Figure 8s! |
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Our Special Valentine:
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| Kelly getting Mom to say a few words while visiting with her in the ICU |
Two-time cancer survivor (1999 & 2011) Mom has won a courageous battle against a terrible infection that had turned sepsis. This was discovered immediately after she had gone into Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple following a fall at the nursing home on January 20. After 5 days in ICU Mom was moved to her own room at S&W for another 5 days.
February 3, Mom was returned to her nursing care residence in Cameron and placed under hospice care. The professionals at the hospital had consistently painted a somewhat bleak prognosis –
“unlikely she’ll be able to return to full mobility”
“I’m not seeing a lot of response which concerns me there may have been a small stroke related to the fall..."
In a matter of days
 |
| Mom - nothing like a fresh manicure! Feb., 2023. |
Mom surprised us all!
A day after her return there she was up in a wheelchair dining at the table, two more days she was laughing and talking. Though still on puree food, when I went to see her this Wednesday before Valentines’ she didn’t hesitate to go for the chocolates I’d brought! God, I love this lady! What a wonderful Valentines’ gift she gave us.
Dad remained a trooper at the nursing home during the weeks of Mom’s absence. And that notorious ferocious appetite of his endures, the cafeteria can't keep up!
Dad remained a trooper at the nursing home during the weeks of Mom’s absence. And that notorious ferocious appetite of his endures, the cafeteria can't keep up!
Thank you, friends and family, for your prayers. And a special thank you to Aunt Sharon!
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- | HOME and FAMILY
- MATERNAL FAMILY
- PATERNAL FAMILY
- Mom & Dad
- Terry's 60th
- 2023 Spring Patio Pics
- 2023 Ice Storm
- Home Remodel Projects
- Favorite Recipes
- Pets
- 2022 Holidays
- 2022 Family Reunions
- 2022 Estate Sale & Tornado!
- | NEWS and UPDATES
- | TRAVEL and DAYTRIPS
- | READING and WRITING
- | FAITH and SPIRITUALITY
- | LISTENING and VIEWING
- | EDUCATION and CAREER
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POSTED: September 7, 2022
A big thank you to all who have emailed, texted, and phoned to check on Mom and Dad.
After Dad was taken to Baylor Scott & White E.R. in Temple Aug. 30 he was diagnosed with pneumonia.
In the days that followed, their entire unit at the nursing facility they now reside at tested positive for Covid.
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| Mom & Dad in their yard, 2002. |
Dad continues to improve. I got to see him eat a full tray of solid food today - his first solid food since his transfer - including a large hamburger! That's a good sign. As was this: "So hey, let me ask you something. Am I ever gonna get out of this damn bed?" Yep, he's improving!
 |
| Parent's home when purchased in 1961. Not a single tree! |
I got him talking about his passion for gardening, all the pecan and peach trees he's planted on the place, and told him about this old pic (right) I'd found of their home place bought in 1961. No trees or vegetation around the home set in a field; no driveway, no west end addition.
If any of you know our place today you will appreciate the transformation. Wow.
If any of you know our place today you will appreciate the transformation. Wow.
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| Our Family Home today |
Continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers. And be grateful every day!
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| 2002, Mom loves her roses, but especially her Dolly Parton rose! |
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| Dad in his garden, 2012. |
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| Dad and I, 1968, showing off first great harvest of peaches in orchard Dad began planting upon purchase of place in 1961. |
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Previous Journal Entries
Mom & Dad's 60 Years at Home
Come to a Close
[Click on pics to enlarge]
January 2021 I drove with my friend Chad to Corsicana to pick up the new addition to my home
- my 6 wk. old long-haired dachshund that I named Arne!
Arne is the most affectionate dog I've ever owned. I love him so much!
We celebrated Dad's 85th in February,
and Mom's 80th in March.
[RIGHT: Mom, Aunt Angie and I raise a toast to 85 y.o. Dad with glasses of Sparkling Apple Cider.
BELOW: Mom prepares to blow out her candles on her 80th.]
BELOW: Mom prepares to blow out her candles on her 80th.]
Mom and Dad's 60th Wedding Anniversary in April.
We celebrated in their garage with a gathering of family and their closest friends and neighbors.
[LEFT: The happy couple poses with their cake.
BELOW: The guests gather for a group shot!]
We gathered with the large extended family in May at the Family's 140 y.o. Cemetery to mourn the loss of my mother's youngest brother, my Uncle Eugene.[A beautiful Internment of Ashes ceremony was conducted by Pastor James Hejl out at our Machu Family Cemetery in May.]
In June Dad suffered a serious collapse in the front yard and we also discovered he had lost his vision.
After a brief stay in St. David's Hospital, he was placed at Windsor Rehabilitation Center in Austin.
[LEFT: Dad makes it no secret what his two favorite things are at the Nursing Home - the donuts and all the pretty nurses.]
At RIGHT: I invited my wonderful Aunts over on July 4 to watch the night's fireworks from my Gatehouse patio and enjoy Ice Cream made with my new Whynter 2.1 Qt Ice Cream Maker that I'd recently purchased from Amazon - highly recommend!
[LEFT: Last year's tree Mom and I put up was quite beautiful in the living room.]
But this year the power went out Thanksgiving morn and never returned until 9 that evening. Well, I couldn't keep Mom from trying to turn the lights on in her dark home! So I took her outside on the front porch where I could keep her busy and occupied and we decorated here instead.
[RIGHT: I love our 2021 Patio Tree!]
It soon became evident that Mom's Alzheimer's symptoms were progressing and care for her needs becoming increasingly difficult. When it became known the week of Christmas that a nursing home in our area had two spots available in their wing for patients with dementia we felt the time had presented itself, wanting as we did for Mom and Dad to be together in the same location.
I miss them a lot here at the place.
An odd thing occurred on Christmas Day after returning from my visit to see them in Cameron. I came home to find one of my succulents had bloomed. Beautiful little yellow flowers with red stripes on this odd-looking shoot. Yellow - Dad's favorite color. Red - Mom's favorite color.
Happy 60th Anniversary Mom and Dad!
Enjoy looking through my Library:
____________
- | HOME and FAMILY
- MATERNAL FAMILY
- PATERNAL FAMILY
- Mom & Dad
- Terry's 60th
- 2023 Spring Patio Pics
- 2023 Ice Storm
- Home Remodel Projects
- Favorite Recipes
- Pets
- 2022 Holidays
- 2022 Family Reunions
- 2022 Estate Sale & Tornado!
- | Recent NEWS and UPDATES
- | TRAVEL and DAYTRIPS
- | READING and WRITING
- | FAITH and SPIRITUALITY
- | LISTENING and VIEWING
- | EDUCATION and CAREER
______________________________
Terry’s “Good Living” Guide:
Body:
Avoid the 3 PsBsSs
Processed Foods, Phthalates, Plastics;
Beef, Butter, Breads;
Avoid the 3 PsBsSs
Processed Foods, Phthalates, Plastics;
Beef, Butter, Breads;
Sedentary activities, Sugars, Salt.
Trust me,
you’ll be feeling better in no time!
you’ll be feeling better in no time!
Mind & Spirit:
Avoid the 3 F’s
Avoid the 3 F’s
Manufactured in these mediums are
misinformation, fear, anger and hate!
misinformation, fear, anger and hate!
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