Easing back in........

  My Father and his Father during WWII.

I am trying to ease back into time on this blog of mine.  It has not been easy to find the time I need to be here.  I have been so busy sorting my parents things with my sister Claudia when I have not been working, there has been little time for anything else.  Thank God for my sister, she has been a blessing for me in every sense of the word.  She stayed five extra days because, well to be honest I was losing it.  She needed to be here for me, but also for herself.  We needed to be together as we sorted through years and years of papers, photos, cards and items that meant so much to my parents.  The thing is you can't keep everything that meant something to them, you have to throw things out, or send them onto a new home.

My dinning room table has been overloaded day after day with new items to go through.  Now the essential paperwork has dwindled down to this pile.  We have mailed off packages of photos to my brother's children of when they were little, and many of their Dad as a baby or little boy.  Paintings that my Dad did in later years to a cousin and those same nieces and nephews.  We even shipped a painting and photos to my sister, who doesn't deserve a thing, but her children do.  Claudia and I are trying to rise above all that she has done, or rather did not do to help my parents.  Her children deserve something their Grandfather made even if one of them has never met him and my sister has not even seen her parents in 14 years.

There were plants on my parents screened in porch that have been neglected for years.  They are finding a new home at my house with new pots and soil.  

We found things I had made for my Mother still in the boxes I used to wrap them.  I think I will be gathering this shawl and the one I made my MIL, with other scarves, and donating them to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation where they are in desperate need of any item to keep warm.  It would be a nice tribute to two very important women in my life.

This sleepy little boy was watching me replant plants early this morning.  He is missing his Aunt Claudie who left late yesterday.  Who else is going to  be there at his beck and call to play?

Someone else is missing her too (besides me that is)!  Isn't this the most pathetic face you have ever seen?  Maxie was at the bottom of the stairs waiting for her to come down this morning.  

There is still much to do to pack up my parents place, so my visits here and to see all of you will be limited for a while longer.  I hate that, but it is the reality of my life as I try to add all these other tasks to my already overloaded schedule.  Thank God for Claudia's help or I would never be as far along as I am, she was amazing.

  
I wanted to thank you all for your kindness, your prayers, your loving comments, your cards and your emails.  Every single thought, prayer and word has meant so much to me.  I can't reply back, I just can't because I kind of get a little overwhelmed and start to tear up.  Please know I am so, so grateful for all of you.  For taking the time to write those kind words and for thinking of me and my whole family during this tough time.  You are the best.  I hope to be back in full force soon.

Take care.