Deja Vu

Two years ago in May we opened our little gift shop here in Eugene.
During the time of getting ready I 'acquired' two herniated discs in my neck, unknown to me till I was in such great pain I could not function for two months.

My folks usually come up in the summer and they park their motor home at the store property.
So was the case that summer. I just have to tell you, my Mom


was a life saver. We had one 10x12 room that was filled to the ceiling (no exaggeration), with Christmas 'stuff'. Supplies to craft with, and finished products from a closeout that was too good to pass up.
That all had to be moved to another room so we could put displays in the new room.
My Mom moved it all. I stood and supervised. Dad helped where he could.

Well here it is two years later, and now we are opening another new room and doing some changes at the shop in order to serve Tea & Treats. And guess whose neck and back are acting up again.
Yep, mine. I'm not in the excruciating pain I was in then, but none the less, not able to do all I can usually do myself. ( footnote: Two years ago, after two months of pain, it subsided the week we went in to see the surgeon!) PTL


So my back and neck are hurting again. Is my Mom helping me again?
No.
Even though they moved up here last October, and only lives 15 minutes away, she has not done a thing to help me!
Am I complaining?
NO! Not one little bit!!
The reason she isn't helping is because now she is taking care of this guy, my Dad.

He has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. That is why they moved here last Fall, so we could all help Mom care for him.

So this post, is a tribute and thanks to my Mom, for being there the many times we needed her.
A lot of them behind the scenes and unnoticed, to ourselves and others.
Now it is our turn to be there for her.

Thank you Mom, for all the support, help, love and prayers over the years.
And thank you now, for taking such good care of Dad.

And to all you Mom's out there, Happy Mother's Day.
May you all be blessed 10 million fold for all you have done and who you are.

And to all you children out there, remember:

Every day should be Mom's day.

Blessings

Barbara Jean

Blessings,

Barbara Jean

Sweet Serenity

Nothing..

Like nature...

To calm the spirit.

Blessings and His Peace to you this day.

barbara jean

Stress Management

I'm sharing this (on both my blogs!) because it is so good.
It is from my sweet friend at Tootsie Time. (thanks girl!!)
(Be sure to go visit. She has a really sweet blog with a lot of gardening tips and ideas and beautiful pictures.)

This is a brief, but I thought very helpful article on stress.

Stress…

When this came to my attention, it really hit home. I am sharing today as I know it will touch some of you as well.

Stress
A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience,
Raised a glass of water and asked;
'How heavy is this glass of water?'
Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.
The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter.
It depends on how long you try to hold it.
If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.
If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.
If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.
In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'
He continued,
'And that's the way it is with stress management.
If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later,
As the burden becomes increasingly heavy,
We won't be able to carry on. '
'As with the glass of water,
You have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.
When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.'
'So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow.
Whatever burdens you're carrying now,
Let them down for a moment if you can.'
So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.
Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:
* Accept that some days you're the pigeon,
And some days you're the statue.
* Always keep your words soft and sweet,
Just in case you have to eat them.
* Always wear stuff that will make you look good
If you die in the middle of it.
* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be
"recalled" by their maker.
* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again,
It was probably worth it.
* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.
* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time,
Because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
* Nobody cares if you can't dance well.
Just get up and dance.
* When everything's coming your way,
You're in the wrong lane.
* Birthdays are good for you.
The more you have, the longer you live.
* You may be only one person in the world,
But you may also be the world to one person.
* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
* We could learn a lot from crayons...Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.
*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Have an awesome day and know that someone has thought about you today..

hope this is helpful. love and blessings

barbara jean

Thank You Lord

Thank you Lord, for all the beauty you surround us with...

and for family

My Dad and his great granddaughter Rowan.
He was thrilled she would sit on his lap.
My Dad has Alzheimer's, so family has become even more
important to him, and to us all.
We are learning to appreciate each day, whatever it brings.
All the girls in the family.
My Mom, Daughter, and granddaughters.
Four generations.
Easter Sunday.
The girls have on skirts our Isabel (almost 10) made,
(out of a valance off a curtain!!!)
Her other Grammy guided her through it.




Blessings to you all s you enjoy all God has given you.

barbara jean