It was a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Our tradition is to spend Mother's Day at Jean and Jimmie's ranch! Our whole gang was there, except for my son-in-law, Robert, who had that stomach bug that's been going around our house, and Ahou, Clint's girlfriend, who appropriately stayed in Dallas to be with her Mom!

Mom and Dad arrived with big happy smiles because we all love to celebrate Mother's Day together! Jean and Jimmie provide us with such a great place to spend time together. The vast majority of the day was spent visiting on their porch. The weather was cool and inviting to be outdoors, so we took full advantage of it! Jean, Jennifer, Nicole, and Randy and Bradley all have new puppies ranging in age from 8 months to 8 weeks old, so the dogs were romping around, all the little kids were romping around and all the big kids, well...we weren't!!! We were pretty lazy!!! Jennifer's little dog was occupying a chair when Mom came outside. Dad took the puppy and put it in his lap so Mom could sit down. The pup was asleep and stayed asleep during the transition! It was so sweet to see that puppy asleep on Dad's lap! Sweet and funny at the same time because, in the past, Dad wouldn't have put the dog on his lap, he'd have pushed it onto the floor!!! Of course, everyone noticed that!!!

Mom and Dad are very excited because we're planning on taking a trip to Colorado the end of June!!! Yes, they're going on a little vacation!!! Our cousins Fran and Jimmy Callahan have a "cabin" outside Steamboat Springs CO. Jimmy has organized a golf game up there and he and Fran want Mom and Dad to come! They also invited Danny and Ollie to play gold with the guys! So Lisa and I will take Mom shopping in Steamboat and spend a LOT of time relaxing on the big front deck on the mountainside!!! It's a tough job but someone's got to do it!!! I think the change of scenery will be great for them! Danny and Ollie are great with assisting Dad, so Mom gets a break! Lisa and I will make sure Mom takes it easy! It's a win-win!!! God willing, we leave June 24th and return on June 27th! I can't wait to tell y'all all about it!!!

"The love of family is life's greatest blessing!" I would also like to add the love of friends into that! Amen.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MILDRED!!!

Not only is today Mildred's 84th birthday, it was her first time EVER to don a sombrero!!! OLE'! Danny, Lisa, Ollie, Dad and I took Mom to Papasitas in Austin for lunch! After chips and salsa, tortilla soup, beef fajitas and grilled shrimp, the flan was muy perfecto!!! Mom didn't hesitate to put on the sombrero when the wait staff brought it out and she clapped her hands and laughed out loud while they sang their rockin' version of "Happy Birthday!"

"My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her." George Washington (and seconded by the Smith kids!!!)

Dad got so tickled at Mom having so much fun with the sombrero and all! I missed taking a picture (pooh) but Dad kept making goo-goo eyes at Mom during lunch and then they'd grin at each other like they knew a secret than none of the rest of us knew!!! The rascals!!! I can tell you that Dad can clearly tell Mom he loves her, and he doesn't need words! It's heartwarming!!!

It's that secret that attributes to the longevity of their marriage! More happiness this week as Mom and Dad celebrate their 64th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, May 5th!!! It's so awesome to be the product such a beautiful couple and to see how they created our wonderful family based on their love! What an inspiration!!!

Glenda and Mollie were out at Mom and Dad's house on Saturday and Jean is spending part of the day tomorrow out there. It's tough getting us all together at once these days, but we all will make a special effort this Sunday!

All the Harvey and Mildred Smith gang will party a lot more on Sunday, when we all gather for Mother's Day at Jean and Jimmie's ranch! We'll celebrate not only Mother's birthday and Mom and Dad's anniversary, but Bradley Koenig's 13th birthday (can't believe that he's a teenager!), Kelly Koenig's First Communion (the Koenig kids are some of Jean and Jimmie's grandkids), Mia Johnson's 3rd birthday (she's Danny and Lisa's granddaughter), Clint and Mollie Flanagan's college graduation (Glenda's kids), and Clint's girlfriend, Ahou's birthday! WOW! We sure do need a WHOLE DAY to celebrate all that!!! Can''t wait!

God bless all of you, especially all our Mothers in Heaven and on Earth!!!

Loving God,
we thank you for the love of the mothers you have given us,
whose love is so precious that it can never be measured,
whose patience seems to have no end.
May we see your loving hand behind them and guiding them.
We pray for those mothers who fear they will run out of love
or time, or patience.
We ask you to bless them with your own special love.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Thursday with Mom and Dad...

Hello loved ones! I was able to go spend a good part of the day with Mom and Dad last Thursday. The stress of care-taking is showing on Mom. She has been a little down in her lower back, probably from helping Dad out of his chair or the bed. She insists on helping him rather than letting him do it himself. However, sometimes he seems too tired to do it on his own, so she really does have to help him. It's a frustrating situation because they insist on living independently without full-time assistance.

They both were a bit down-in-the dumps, and my opinion is that they are very tired. For instance, Mom told me today that Dad slept until 10:40 Sunday morning! He usually does sleep until between 9 and 10:00. I reassured her that healing does require a lot of rest. I wish she would get more rest than she does, but you all know what a worker she is!

Shortly after Dad had his stroke we had an acupuncturist treating him. The results were amazing! The first time Dad attempted to speak was after his treatment and the first time he was able to move his right leg was during treatment! Dad's face was somewhat droopy on one side. The acupuncture helped that a lot too. It was phenomenal! However, Dad stopped wanting acupuncture, so we cancelled it. Mom and Glenda have been talking to Dad about getting more acupuncture and he has finally agreed. There is a practitioner in Marble Falls that was recommended to them. When I spoke to Mom today she intended on making Dad an appointment. I suggested she schedule for treatment on her back and she thought that was a great idea! I pray the acupuncture will help both of them.

This is Wednesday will be Dad's last day of home-care therapy. From that point on Mom will have to drive Dad to therapy. Off-site therapy is better for Dad because they have equipment to aid him and them. It's not necessarily better for Mom because she has to get both of them ready and take him. They still have a man, Jerry, who comes as much as Mom requests to help them or stay with Dad if Mom goes out. I have pleaded with Mom to have Jerry come more often and to schedule one day a week for Jerry to stay with Dad so she can do whatever she pleases. She liked that idea and agrees that she really needs to do that. I won't nag her, but I will remind her to do that for herself!

Jean and I are arranging a day with Mom to go to her home town, Rockne. She has a baby cradle that is over 100 years old and wants to donate it to the Rockne Museum. We think that is a great place for it! My Mom's uncle used it when he was a baby, as did many of the babies in the family! Going to Rockne will be a fun outing for us girls! Dad will probably stay at my house with Danny and Ollie! He'll like that better than having to run around with us girls!!!

Aunt Carolyn had been in Llano visiting her Mother Sunday and called Mom to see if she could run by. Of course Mom and Dad were eager for her to do so! She stayed about 45 minutes or so! They were so thrilled to see her!

If you call Mom, please call after 9:00 in the morning. She's usually up by then. Dad goes to bed between 9 and 10:00 and Mom is unpredictable. I think she is usually in bed by 10:30.

FYI...Mom's 84th birthday is May 3rd and their 64th wedding anniversary is May5th. Their address is 6850 CR 120, Marble Falls, TX 78654-7914, in case you want to send cards!

Talk to y'all soon! Love, Sandi

La, la, Monday, Monday!

Mom called me last night to check in. Dad is still not feeling 100% with his stomach. She intends on calling the doctor today if he's not better. She said they went to bed by 10:30 Saturday night and Dad slept until 10:30 Sunday morning! I told her that we all need more rest when we're healing and she agreed. Dad's brain is still healing besides the fact that he was sick last Wednesday night.

Friends Dorothy and Conway Taylor visited Sunday afternoon! I'm sure Mom and Dad were pleasantly entertained!!! Bill Cosby says, "Through humor, you can soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. And once you find laughter, no matter how painful your situation might be, you can survive it."

So...here's a little humor to start your Monday off right... A Mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Billy, 5, Mikey 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their Mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. "If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait." Billy turned to his younger brother and said, Mikey, you be Jesus!" :-) Love y'all!!!

Happy Friday!

Danny spent a few hours with Mom and Dad yesterday. Dad had been sick Wednesday night with vomitting. When Danny arrived Dad was hungry and Mom wanted to get him some soup. They figured out that Dad wanted hot and sour soup from the Chinese restaurant in Marble Falls. Mom left right away to go pick it up and Danny stayed with Dad. They got out in the golf cart and went to check on the cows. Danny said they sat out watching the cows and visiting about them until Mom got back from town with lunch. Danny said he could tell that Dad still wasn't feeling very well so he didn't stay late. They visited until about 2:30 and then Danny headed home. He and Lisa live in Lexinton, which is a couple hours' drive away.

I need to corret some information I gave you. Dad is still getting physical terapy at home, but not longer occupational or speech therapy. Mom said they have a female physical therapist coming right now and she really likes her. This therapist really makes Dad work hard and Mom likes that, so do all his kids! He's still making good physical progress!

Ollie and I are on our way to spend the weekend with Neely, Carl and the twins, Livi and Madi! I'll post more next week! Love to all of you! Sandi

Happy Spring!

Jean spent Thursday with Mom and Dad. Jean says that, when visiting, it's good to arrive after 11:00 because Mom and Dad are up and dressed and have had breakfast by then! They have gotten into the habit of sleeping until about 9:00, so don't call or arrive earlier than that or you'll get them out of bed!!!

Mom got out of the house a little bit and ran some errands while Jean visited with Dad. It's good for Mom to have some time to herself! Lunchtime averages around 3:00 around the Smith house these days, so Jean had lunch heated up when Mom got home.

Jean said they had a great visit! She's been going at least every other week. Glenda and Mollie have been going every other Saturday and the rest of us fill in the gaps as best we can!

The bluebonnets and other wildflowers are lush! Please take a scenic drive and go visit the folks!!!

May all your weeds be wildflowers!

I'm finally back!!!

Dear family! I am so sorry that there has been such a lapse in my postings! I am back and will try to keep you better informed!!!

Most of this part of the Smith family was together at Glenda's house for Easter! Missing were Neely and Carl and the twins (Ollie's daughter and family), who spent Easter with Carl's family.

Mom and Dad were the last to arrive at Glenda's. Dad made a grand entrance by WALKING in with the use of his walker!!! I wish you all could have seen how happy he was to show off! He had a great big grin on his face! Many of us couldn't help but cry tears of joy! Our family had a wonderful day together, enjoying the beautiful weather and each other! We are so very blessed!

Dad is much more independent these days. He gets out of bed, dresses on his own, can go to the kitchen for a drink or a snack, etc!! The therapists can no longer come to the house, according to Medicare's guidelines, so Mom is planning on taking Dad to a facility in Burnet several times a week for therapy. Glenda was so kind and bought them a very light-weight wheel chair. It's wonderful! That will make the transport much easier for Mom!

Mom and Dad have been getting out more and more. They have gotten back into the habit of frequenting the local restaurants, which is a big relief for Mom! That way they can eat the left-overs in the evening or she can cook when she feels like it. Little by little they are getting back into their old routines, which is good for their morale!

Our special friend, Leslie, moved Dad's cows and calves back to their place so Dad can enjoy them! Actually, I think Mom enjoys them as much as Dad! It's very therapeutic for Dad to sit out on the back porch and watch the cattle. Mom ad Dad also enjoy getting out in the golf cart and checking on the calves. Thank you, Leslie, for everything you do for Mom and Dad!

I plan to go see Mom and Dad tomorrow. Ollie and I are back from our big antiques show in Warrenton and I am excited about getting back on track with my visits! So, I will write more after my visit! Love to all of you!