Granny here,
Last night was a night to remember to say the least, it was the Birthday Bash given for my 95 year old mother Effie (Ellie) Irene Ratliff given by her church family Zion Assembly Church of God here in Cleveland Tn.
It was a total surprise to her and she was taken off guard but being the bashful person that she is no emotions were shown on her part. She took it all in stride as she does anything that comes before her. She is strong that way and never gives in.
A mini "this is your life" was given by the pastor Todd McDonald with information provided by one of the daughters being myself. Her nephew Wade (Hughie) Phillips gave a personal summery of knowing her through the years.
Then she blessed everyone with a song which was four verses long and she didn't miss a word. Granddaughter Sherri Bush filmed it all and placed the singing portion on You Tube for all the world to see, I hope she goes viral. LOL
Good food, good friends and some family made the evening one to remember because at this stage we do not know how much longer God will allow us to be together, so far our family has been blessed beyond any of our expectations.
The family is going through several emergencies at this time in Ohio. Ellie's son Montie age 77 is waiting for bypass surgery on March 30, daughter Lisha's husband came down with a bad case of TMJ and they were unable to make the trip. Another son Rick's wife Pat is entering the hospital on Tues. for back surgery and if that isn't enough Pat's father had a stroke Sat. night and her niece was rushed into emergency surgery for her appendix. So needless to say none of these were able to attend the party and that was certainly a disappointment to all.
The family members that did attend were daughters Lelanni Anne and husband Jim, Debbie and husband John, and oldest daughter Billie. Two grand daughters Sherri Bush and Tina Anderson, one great-great grand daughter Araya Sutter and one nephew Wade H. Phillips who is the Presiding Bishop of Zion Assembly Church of God and his wife Dale.
Thanks to all who took time out of their own life to add some joy to someone else's, thanks for all the birthday cards, gift cards and money, it is greatly appreciated. She will have lots of conversation material when her only living sibling a sister who lives in Spain calls her which she does everyday.
It was fun reminiscing and talking to old friends about her life, the food was good and we had plenty of it thanks to all the good cooks that attend that local church.
Thanks again, it's moments like this that make you appreciate the people who will take time to add a moment of unforgettable memories to a 95 year old's life.
Thank You So Much
Granny here, just saying!
Monday, March 24, 2014
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Wrinkled Inspiration
Granny here,
I'm writing my Mother's Day message a little early but the meaning will be the same. I will be paying tribute to my own mother who is turning 95 on March 26. If I could give her another name it would be Inspiration, because that is what she has become to me and maybe lots of others too.
I have been mom's companion for most of my adult life since she never learned to drive and daddy hated cars so rarely did he own one. We have been the best of friends doing almost everything together. In her younger days my husband Scott and I rarely went anywhere without her, we have always lived close to each other. I ate dinner at her house every Sunday as long as she was able to cook Sunday dinner. For the last 17 years she has lived next door to me here in Cleveland Tn. I have become her caretaker so to speak although she is pretty good at taking care of her personal self I do all the incidentals that happen to come up. There was a two year interval where she decided to go back to Ohio and live around my three siblings up there but that didn't last the attachment was too strong and she returned.
We have recently sold our old places and moved in together for the convenience especially for me since I am a widow now and have the sole responsibility for myself and mom since she chooses to stay close to me although I do get assistance when needed from two other sisters that live close enough to pitch in.
Mom is old, blind in one eye, confined to a walker if she moves about, has vertigo at least one day a week, arthritis, congestive heart failure, one artificial hip and a titanium rod in the other, 5 stents in her heart and I'm sure some hidden issues that we are not aware of. She has had her gall bladder removed, her female organs removed, a broken hip, a broken arm, 4 angioplasties, a heart catheterization, 2 hip surgeries, 6 children, and high blood pressure for over 70 years. Is this super woman or what?
But mom is like the Duracell Bunny she just keeps on going, she is not slowing down for anything or anyone. She jumps in any car that stops to pick her up, if I wake her up she can be ready to hit the road within a short amount of time considering it takes some young folks at least two hours to get ready to go somewhere. I make plans with the grand daughter at least a day in advance, she does nothing on the spur of the moment but mom, that's another story just say the word go and she's off and running, well, you know what I mean, you don't "run" in a walker. LOL
Mom and I just recently complete 40 hand made quilts which was her idea and she began making them first and then I pitched in to help because there is so much that she can't do like threading needles, keeping her machine in running order, heavy lifting and the finished quilt is too heavy for her to maneuver so I did the hemming etc, but the initial idea was hers. Some of them we gave to an organization that helps needy families and some of them will be sold by our local church for World Missions.
Mom inspires me everyday when I watch her in her daily routine, she gives me the strength to know that if she can do it so can I. So when I get the notion that I should pity myself I think again and look at her who lets nothing stop her but faces every day with a gusto that only she can. It's not easy, don't ever think that, life for her is hard, she struggles, she's in pain constantly but she is in determination mode most of the time and that keeps her going. At 95 she is determined to take life by the throat and squeeze everything that she can from it. May I be half the woman she is and may that determination be left to me as a legacy of the life that she lived.
But for now I will glean the inspiration that she radiates and use it as a motivator in my own life. I've had some challenges in life but by watching her I know that overcoming is the name of the game. I've learned that if you don't take control of life it will take control of you and in respect to my own life I want to be a control freak.
Yes, inspiration is a good name for mom, and boy does she do it well. Love ye Mom! Love Ye!
Happy Mother's Day
Granny here, Just saying!
I'm writing my Mother's Day message a little early but the meaning will be the same. I will be paying tribute to my own mother who is turning 95 on March 26. If I could give her another name it would be Inspiration, because that is what she has become to me and maybe lots of others too.
I have been mom's companion for most of my adult life since she never learned to drive and daddy hated cars so rarely did he own one. We have been the best of friends doing almost everything together. In her younger days my husband Scott and I rarely went anywhere without her, we have always lived close to each other. I ate dinner at her house every Sunday as long as she was able to cook Sunday dinner. For the last 17 years she has lived next door to me here in Cleveland Tn. I have become her caretaker so to speak although she is pretty good at taking care of her personal self I do all the incidentals that happen to come up. There was a two year interval where she decided to go back to Ohio and live around my three siblings up there but that didn't last the attachment was too strong and she returned.
We have recently sold our old places and moved in together for the convenience especially for me since I am a widow now and have the sole responsibility for myself and mom since she chooses to stay close to me although I do get assistance when needed from two other sisters that live close enough to pitch in.
Mom is old, blind in one eye, confined to a walker if she moves about, has vertigo at least one day a week, arthritis, congestive heart failure, one artificial hip and a titanium rod in the other, 5 stents in her heart and I'm sure some hidden issues that we are not aware of. She has had her gall bladder removed, her female organs removed, a broken hip, a broken arm, 4 angioplasties, a heart catheterization, 2 hip surgeries, 6 children, and high blood pressure for over 70 years. Is this super woman or what?
But mom is like the Duracell Bunny she just keeps on going, she is not slowing down for anything or anyone. She jumps in any car that stops to pick her up, if I wake her up she can be ready to hit the road within a short amount of time considering it takes some young folks at least two hours to get ready to go somewhere. I make plans with the grand daughter at least a day in advance, she does nothing on the spur of the moment but mom, that's another story just say the word go and she's off and running, well, you know what I mean, you don't "run" in a walker. LOL
Mom and I just recently complete 40 hand made quilts which was her idea and she began making them first and then I pitched in to help because there is so much that she can't do like threading needles, keeping her machine in running order, heavy lifting and the finished quilt is too heavy for her to maneuver so I did the hemming etc, but the initial idea was hers. Some of them we gave to an organization that helps needy families and some of them will be sold by our local church for World Missions.
Mom inspires me everyday when I watch her in her daily routine, she gives me the strength to know that if she can do it so can I. So when I get the notion that I should pity myself I think again and look at her who lets nothing stop her but faces every day with a gusto that only she can. It's not easy, don't ever think that, life for her is hard, she struggles, she's in pain constantly but she is in determination mode most of the time and that keeps her going. At 95 she is determined to take life by the throat and squeeze everything that she can from it. May I be half the woman she is and may that determination be left to me as a legacy of the life that she lived.
But for now I will glean the inspiration that she radiates and use it as a motivator in my own life. I've had some challenges in life but by watching her I know that overcoming is the name of the game. I've learned that if you don't take control of life it will take control of you and in respect to my own life I want to be a control freak.
Yes, inspiration is a good name for mom, and boy does she do it well. Love ye Mom! Love Ye!
Happy Mother's Day
Granny here, Just saying!
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