Dad had a hard day too.

Fell asleep sitting at the counter watching the digital picture frame Kim set up for mom, with hundreds of family pictures.

Don't forget to read the other posts from tonight. Mom wanted to share some of her feelings with us tonight before she went to bed.

Tonight mom wanted us to wheel her into the living room so we could sit together as a family.  We read her the sweet comments that have been posted to the blog and then asked her what she would like to say to all of you.  At first, she didn’t know what to say but then, in her words, she said:

“I love you all.

I have always loved you.

I have always had these feelings and they are in my heart.

And I think that Rowland and I couldn’t express things to each other so we held things in because we couldn’t help each other to bring it out so we just expressed it to each other because we couldn’t get it out any other way.

I still don’t know the words to say or do.

And now I can’t say anything because the words don’t come out.

I LOVE YOU!

I LOVE YOU!

I LOVE YOU!”

And after getting a much needed burp out, mom sang in perfect pitch, “Oh what a relief it is!”

She has not lost her sense of humor

She keeps talking about a church tree (we believe she is referring to a family tree) and all we needed was just to be there. She said, “We were much stronger when we were together like the tree.  I need each one that was there. Just seeing their face and knowing they are there for me as I was for them.  Each face and each memory reminded me and gave me the strength to go and carry on.” 

And then she said, “And now I just might sit here in this chair and fall asleep!”

After some more chatting, Kim said he was texting Stacey and mom said, “Stacey has been as much like a daughter to me as my own girls.”

Last night Mom told us, “If I go it will be because I want to - and I will be happy!”

She is so prepared for her journey home. She feels it and we feel it.  The Hospice nurse even said (with tears in her eyes) that in her many years of hospice care, she has never seen someone more prepared and at peace.”

Wanted to post a few pictures of mom with some of her visiting family.
-1st Dad's Brothers Gene and Grady.

-2nd Dad's Brother Barry (wife Donna) and Sister Margaret (husband Richard)

-3rd The Sisters, Mom, Dottie, Fay

Mom has gotten a lot of flowers. These came from Capri's family in AZ.

Uncle Gene (Dad's Brother) and his Daughter Karen came to visit with Aunt Linda (Dad's sister).

 

From Chris Thompson: It's a cool, rainy Sunday and Mom is maybe a little more tired than previous days.

It's been a little quiet today and Mom is getting some much needed rest. She seems to need a little more each day.

Mom's brother, Uncle Harold & Aunt Pat made the trip from Raleigh and arrived at the same time as Adam (Capri's Son). Thanks to them for the food that was prepared for us and of course the great company.

Mom had been asking if the trees (dozens of dogwoods on the property) were white yet. Adam opened the blinds for her and she was able to sit up and look out to see the first blossoms of spring from her bedroom window in the beautiful yard that she and Dad have painstakingly maintained over the years. She seemed happy to welcome them.

Uncle Gene and Aunt Linda (Dad's siblings) are on the way and we are expecting the church to send the young men over to offer her the sacrament this evening.

All of us would like to take this opportunity to say Happy 103rd Birthday to our Mother's Mother - Ms. Mattie Hargett. She has a little cold today, but has also had many well wishers come by and visit at Aunt Faye's home. We are so fortunate to have such AMAZING women in our family to lead by the example they set. We love them Very! Much!

Will update again soon!

From Capri this morning: It has been a very difficult couple weeks as we have watched mom's health quickly decline and knowing we only have a few more days with her. We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support we have received from so many of you. We hope everyone will understand that caring for our mom and dad is our number one priority. In order to give them time to rest, visiting hours in the Hamilton ...home will be from 10 am to noon and 3 to 6 pm and visits will be limited to 15 minutes so that everyone who would like to see her has the opportunity to do so. We need EVERYONE to call before coming as we know there will be times she just can't have visitors. We also understand that many of our loved ones have come long distances and want opportunities to visit with each other, but this is a hospice situation and we ask that you please gather elsewhere. Also, we need all guests to park in the north driveway.