Friday, May 7, 2010

Mother's Day Tea

Yesterday, I had the best afternoon I've had in a while.  The Assisted Living Home, where my Grandma Martha lives, hosted a Mother's Day Tea.

My aunt, my sister and I went to the tea.  That is my aunt in the pictures with Grandma.  The staff had decked out all the ladies in their nicer clothes and red hats!  They all looked so cute! 

The staff had also booked a Sweet Adeline's Group who performed several songs for all of us.  The music was beautiful and added such a nice touch to the event.

Grandma was having a very good day.  She talked a little with us, smiled, laughed, and seemed to really enjoy herself.  There were moments when it took a little coaxing to get a response from her, but it was worth every minute.  Grandma was definitely looking healthier, and talking more, than the last time I went to see her!  It was wonderful! 



One sad note... the lady that sat to my right is one I've seen often.  She is usually seated at the same dining table as Grandma.  My sis nudged me today and pointed out that she was crying.  This was toward the end, when the staff was clearing the tables.  I reached over and took hold of her arm.  "Are you ok?" I asked.  She started talking and I couldn't understand what she was saying, except for the last sentence... "They didn't come.  They didn't come."  It broke my heart that in a rare lucid moment, she knew that no family had come to sit with her.  I talked with her a bit... told her how pretty she looked in her red hat.  She soon calmed down and smiled.   I thought of all the mothers and grandmothers in these centers who have nobody who comes.  Maybe their family lives far away, maybe they are the last of their family.  It makes me so grateful that my Grandma has people who take time to visit her... family, friends, and Pastors.

My Grandma raised my sister and I.  She always calls us her girls... cause we were the little girls she raised late in life.  My aunt is her only daughter, and she's always been so proud of her.  We were often told stories about our aunt as we were growing up.  I doubt if my aunt knows how much her mom bragged about her to us, and to others.  There's something special in the way a mother loves her children.  It's like no other love in her life.  So special, so unique, and so beautiful!

As we approach Mother's Day, I wish each of you a day of wonderful memories... whether you're making them with your children or remembering the ones you made with your mothers and your grandmothers!  Enjoy each moment you have with them!

7 comments:

Donna said...

Ahhh NitaJo, this was Beautifully written! Your Grandmother is Indeed blessed to have you two...
I'm SO sorry for the little old woman who had no one to come visit...breaks your heart!
Happy Mothers Day sweetie!
hughugs

Sally said...

Awwwww, look at your grandma; how sweet!! I know you & your sister have been blessed to have her in your lives, and she is blessed by your love. I LOVE her hat!! :)

Happy Mother's Day to you, and thanks for your message; I just read it and appreciate it! Take care, and God bless. ((hugs))

Donna said...

How wonderful to see her smile and have a good time! Hold tight to the sweet memories. God bless her for raising two young'uns so late in life. She raised you right and taught you how to love!

Auntie Cake said...

It breaks my heart that the sweet woman didn't get a visitor! I am so glad you were there to comfort her!

Just stopping by to wish you a Happy Mother's Day, hope it was a great weekend!
Kate

Auntie Cake said...

Hi Again,
I had to laugh as I went through all my followers to wish them a Happy Mother's Day, then checked out my own blog and found you had visited me! Too funny, it's amazing how small our world is, isn't it? I tend to get trapped into a routine, so it's good to "get out" once in a while!
Kate

Linda M. said...

Nita Jo,

I enjoyed reading about your visit with your grandmother. It tugged my heart strings. My mother passed away a year ago and I miss her very much. I hope everyone who still has their mother or grandmother took the time to honor them on mother's day. I hope they take the time to talk, hug, and kiss them everyday they have.

Nita Jo said...

Oh, all your comments made me smile! Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.

So many of us have lost mom's. I had that unique situation of being raised by Grandma and having a Mom who loved us enough to let us live with our Grandparents. She fought and beat cancer as a young mom. Then it came again to take her from us just when she'd reached retirement age.

Nobody said life wouldn't be hard, but faith and love get us through it all. We must honor the memories of those who are gone, and be there for the moms and grandmas who are still here.

Love to all!
Nita Jo