IT'S THE SMALL THINGS

In my previous post I forgot to mention something that I have noticed, it is how the small things mean more than we take the time to realize.

I have noticed that even the small and simple things now seem HUGE and amazing to me. I mean to most people a trip to Dairy Queen wouldn't mean a whole lot, but this past week after Suzannah and I took Mom to one of her doctor's appointments, we took her through the Dairy Queen drive thru for ice cream. Just that simple thing made her day, she rode in the car and ate soft serve vanilla ice cream and drove down Beach Drive for a change of scenery and to get a little fresh air with the windows down. I know that had to be wonderful to be out of the house, out of the bed and out of the wheelchair even though she was exhausted.

When I went to the store for a few things the other night, I passed by the flowers and thought to myself, WOW those yellow ones are gorgeous, Mom would love them. So a whopping $10.00 later (LOL) I took them home and she loved them. I put them so she could see them all the time. She received alot of beautiful flowers during her stay in the hospital too and she enjoyed them.

Just a visit from TJ (her grandson) and my Suzannah (her granddaughter) makes her smile. I love to see her smile, it makes me know that there are times when she is happy and that her thoughts are not on having a stroke.

You just wouldn't even think about this, but Penny made the cutest bag and had "Gram" and a flower monogrammed on it. The bag is for her catheter bag to go in when she goes to the doctor so that it is covered and everyone doesn't see a catheter bag attached to her wheelchair, it looks like the cutest tote bag. Penny is so talented, once again it's the small things that make the BIG difference.

This past Monday she was concerned because she needed a card for her dear friend's birthday and she didn't have one. I went to the store and picked out a card that I knew she would like. The next morning she signed the card and wrote out the address on the envelope. It almost made me cry, something so simple now seemed so BIG!! She wanted to do it for herself, it was from her and it was personal. Her hand writing now is a little different, but it was her making that effort that was so touching.

I have to say that's how my Mom has always lived her life, thinking about other people even in the midst of what she is going through. She always says to me when I am lifting her, "Pam, be careful, don't hurt your back" She has never once said "don't drop me" even though I know sometimes she is scared.

I always take the time when I stand her up to hug her, it's the best feeling in the world just to hold her and hug her so she knows how much I love her.

I am so thankful for the small things because if you really look at these things, you can't help but realize that they are the BIG things, it just depends on your perspective. I know that my Mom is not the only one that has been changed by her stroke, it has affected our entire family. Life is different now and it's okay because we can appreciate the small and important things in life. I think when life is so busy and crazy we miss out on the small things.

Make sure you tell someone you love them today and that you appreciate them, I know I will.