Mom’s Thoughts for January 29, 2012

WAITING

It seems like a lot of my days are spent waiting. I wait a lot for the bus since I sold my car. It runs on a schedule and for sure it’s not always mine. Here at Crestwood the highlight of the day seems to be waiting for the mail. One event no one wants to miss, though it is usually JUNK! Even watched our senior folks trying to get mail on Martin Luther King’s Day. Again that holiday only brought having to wait for the next day’s mail. Waiting seems to be part of life for all of us.

Pam waited over a year for her new job & new home, some of us have spent our share of waiting for a call of good news with lots of worrying in between, we too have had frustrating times of unknown events to change for the better, and many unanswered prayers wondering if anyone is listening. God knows I am one always wanting patience’s, which I am short on as I wait, and wait. Sooner or later I have found God comes through with his time, his grace and once again answers with blessings.

As a mother of 5, years ago I had the times of waiting following the announcements that I was pregnant. Nine months of waiting faced me each time, the excitement brought waiting for the baby to move, waiting in the doctors office, waiting to hear the heart beats and know the baby was strong, waiting as the pounds came on me only to wonder if I would ever be thin again, waiting with restrictions to my life style, waiting to go into labor only to wait for them to be serious enough to deliver if I went to the hospital. Believe I got sent home a few times and more waiting.

Then the time finally comes and God brings forth a miracle child, all perfectly formed with his love and creation. No wonder we cry of awesome feelings from our hearts.

Our family tree has grown one more time with the birth of Harper Lee Russo, 7 lbs, 15 ozs. yesterday to Bobbie and Tiffany Russo. Bobbie is Alberta’s grandson by daughter Linda. This is Alberta’s 12th great grandchild. It has been a long wait for this wee babe; Tiffany has been confined mostly to bed rest during the pregnancy. This being the case a load was place on the whole family, Bobbie, and the other daughters Hailey and Hannah. I am sure Linda is smiling down from heaven to see her Italian grandchild healthy, with beautiful blonde hair. Congrats to the Russo family your waiting was worth it all. You are so blessed to have that wonderful baby to raise. Keep the pictures coming as she grows we are family proud! Always, Mom

Tip from Jan: Big Nanny said we love getting babies anyway we can get them. She sure did her share of diaper changing. Smile Mother you have another one to hold one day.

Mom’s Thoughts for January 15, 2012

SISTERS' LOVE

With the recent move my daughter Pam is now 10 minutes away from her sister Dianna. They now share lunch dates, activities with their grandchildren almost weekly. A sisters love is one that is so special, don’t know if it is because they were both attach to their Mother prior to birth. Special warming and love! Seems as sisters mature the relationship becomes stronger than with other siblings. They become best friends sharing memories from the past years good and bad. Great to see views from others eyes.

I so cherish the times I was allowed to spend with my sisters, Alberta and Geraldine. Our true bonding came later in our lives as we all shared the grieving of hubby’s passing and widowhood. It eased the grieving we all 3 had to face with comfort. My sister Alberta called me recently cause she had relived dream of the time we shared our motel with a mouse on the trip to Georgia. Sure it wasn’t the same mouse HAHA! Our trips of Sisters on the Go and visiting cousins sure brought back memories of the days with Mom and Dad. I miss those trips; both of us don’t drive on Interstates and get family to chauffer us now. Albert and I share visits on the cell phones and if lucky we see each other a couple times a year. All are quality times and precious to us both.

Alberta had a relationship with Mother that Geraldine and I didn’t have. Mother being only 14 at the time she married and Alberta was born shortly after, they developed the bond of being like sisters. Mother depended so much on Alberta in those early years to care for the rest of us as we came along. They shared the chores as Mother worked the fields and Alberta’s tasked increased. They loved, laughed, cried, and became best friends with all the family looking to them with problems and solutions. I am truly blessed to have a Big sister like her, even if she is littler than me. HAHA!

I am fortunate to have close relationship with my daughters. It pleases me to see them making time to be together. It is not easy in this fast moving scheduled life we all have. The importance is they are taking advantage of it. Always, MOM

Tip from Jan:  If you don’t have a birth sister, find you a best friend, and make a sister of her, it is a relationship you don’t want to miss.

Mom’s Thoughts for January 5, 2012

PAY IT FORWARD

Hope everyone had a happy beginning to our New Year 2012. As I thought back to the happenings of 2011, I remember one special one at Christmas time and would like to share with you all.

Our Crestwood South staff went out to Logan’s Restaurant together. We do every year but this one became very special. The Corporation normal pays for our dinners which is nice, but we got a surprise this time. While waiting at our table, we met a kind lady who just returned from her deployment overseas. She served our country for 3 years and never spent a dime while she was there. She shared that she had just assisted her mother in her choice to move to a senior living community, and she wanted to pay for the entire staff’s dinner as a Christmas gift. All she asked was that, in some way, we pay the kindness forward.

As I reflected on what happened, I realized that every person can pay kindness forward. We may not be able to pay for a party’s lunch, or do the things you used to be able to do at one point as deliver meals to the community or bake a meal for our loved ones. However, the simplest forms of kindness can often mean the most. Share with your family how much you appreciate their help, tell a neighbor or friend how pretty they are, or you like their outfit, or simply smile at others to say “Hi”. It really helps us to take the importance off us and place it on others. The happiness come back to you as you watch others appreciation. Three little words can make a difference, Pay it Forward!         Always, MOM

Jan’s Tip: Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give. - Eleanor Roosevelt-

Mom’s Thoughts Dec. 25, 2011

TWIX AND BETWEEN

I find myself following a wonderful Christmas Eve with my family, four generations beginning when I married Russ. We have gone from the two of us, 55 years later to now having 19 in the Scott Family. Gathering together with our newest 5 under 6 years is so much fun. We hold in our hearts our loved ones who have passed on but still remain so vivid in our lives with the memories. Most families share this loss but continue on thru the bright promise of hope we have for the future. With Jesus’ birth at Christmas came the awesome gift for all of HOPE. The celebration we have of exchanging gifts, decorating, celebrating has brought wonderful memories to end this year with. Our blessings have been overflowing all year.

Now I find myself Twix and Between, very soon we will begin a new year, one with a clean slate, unmarked and open to fill in. With heartfelt hope for adventures to be shared with our family for more memories. As I turn the new calendar month by month, I will see birthdays and anniversaries to celebrate, all fun time events with the family. We will look forward to new additions by marriage or by births to increase by number the Scott Family. As Nana and the oldest member I couldn’t be prouder than I am of my children and grandchildren. All have grown thru love, caring for their off-springs of families. The great grandchildren are high lights of my days with the sheer cuteness of innocence they project. Guess they just keep me getting up each day. Them and the friends and neighbors here at Crestwood South. All are like children to love also!  Seniors Living Life to the Fullest.

Happy New Year Everyone! May it be all you wish for and packed full with love and hope. I love you all! Till next time, Always, MOM

P.S. Marcey, my cousin in Georgia, I promised this Mom’s Thoughts for you! She asked for her mailbox to have one and for me to start writing again. This is a beginning after one year off. I love you and Fentress, God be with you!