We were up early this morning.
So early that when I went out to the front room to turn my coffee on, I could see the sun rise.
I don't see many of these. The light was pushing the darkness away.
I listened to the birds as they were tweeting, chirping and welcoming the day.
Louis Dean and I had coffee together and were preparing to leave for Fort Worth when my sister, Nita, called me with the news that Mother had passed away this morning....she left at 7:20.
We have known Mother was going to be leaving.
She had no quality of life and was ready to go.
At the end she was in pain and suffering.
The booklets I read when Reaoma was ready to go explained that dying was hard work.
Just as hard work as being born.
Summer had been with her Granny on Thursday evening and when Mother saw her, Nita says she lit up like a Christmas tree!
Mother was a very good Granny and every single one of her grandchildren and great grandchildren were special to her. I am so grateful that Summer was with her last night.
We didn't go to Fort Worth.
I didn't cry or fall apart.
I haven't cried even yet - but I will. I know I will.
I felt numb. I still feel numb.
I found myself watching the sky all day.
I decided to go in to Mart and pick up a few things and maybe shake off this stupor.
The sky was so beautiful.
I didn't really need to go to town but I just wanted to get out and be alone a little while.
I stopped at the Dollar store and bought a candle.
I have three burning right now....one here at the table by the laptop.....one by the kitchen sink and one in the bathroom. All different scents but they blend nicely and together they smell wonderful.
Then I went to Leon's Junction - a really cool funky little shop right on Texas Avenue in Mart.
I found a treasure - a rusty rustic Texas garland - for just $5.
I stopped in at Virginia's Vintage - she has a flea market style thrift shop.
Then I went in to Read's Grocery Store to buy hamburger makings....meat, lettuce, tomatoes.
Louis Dean is going to grill some tomorrow.
Still watching the sky on my way back to the ranch.
I stood on the front porch this evening and watched the clouds as the sun set behind me.
This was where I watched the sun rise this morning as Mother was going to Heaven.
Sunrise and sunset.
Birth and death.
Our mother is gone now.
You know what one of her greatest gifts to us was?
You will think this is strange.....
Mother suffered a massive stroke on September 25th, 2005.
We were told she would never be able to feed herself, walk, dress, or talk again.
While she never recovered her speech, she was able to do everything else.
The gift she gave us was the last 13 years.
If she had died in 2005, we would not be the family we are today.
We worked together to take care of Mother and by doing this, we all became very close.
We weren't close before this. At least I wasn't close to Nita, Deanie and Lonnie.
We weren't estranged or anything. We all had our own lives and dramas and such and we would get together from time to time - but we weren't close like we are now.
Taking care of Mother taught us about each other.
I'm very grateful for that.
I set up the art table this afternoon because when I paint, when I do art, I don't think.
My mind is on the brush and the paint and I relax.
So that's what I did today.
I finished up the two Santa paintings and thought about what to paint next.
Jutta suggested I paint something to remember this day.......
I decided to paint this morning's sky.
I spent a few minutes basing it in and will continue to work on it.
I used a lot of paint and it needs to dry a bit.
I want to thank you all for your prayers and condolences.
For your kind words and thoughts for us.
Mother leaves behind six children.....
Linda
Deanie
Lanita
Lonnie
Luann
Shari
Today has been hard for all of us but you have helped so much.
