MY TriP HoMe To SeE My MoM...;)

Good Morning everyone!! I am back home again..And glad to be back..it was a stressful, hot, long week..This was my bus ride to the airport on June 26th..it was a beautiful clear day and you could see Mt. Rainer..its usually hidden in clouds..so I had to get some photos..

I love this one over the bridge...

I made this board for my moms photos..the day of the viewing..I went to Michaels and got all the supplies and made this on my MIL's kitchen table..I had to make do with tools as I wasn't in my own craft room..for example I had to use a corncob holder to make start holes and then use a screwdriver to make the holes bigger to add the brads on each X then hot glue them in..it took 3 hours to do this..my mom had a pink/mauve casket and flowers to match it..so I had to do the same with this..it was actually fun to make..we inserted photos of her on this for all to see..I was even able to take some of those photos home to have that I had never seen before..it looked really good but I didn't take my camera to get any of them with it all done up..it stood on a big easel..The Funeral was wonderful!!! my mom looked so peaceful and beautiful..we all did good with our talks..although the minute I got up to do mine..I got cotton mouth..I had to really talk slow or no one would have understood me..but I learned something from all of the talks that day and they were all wonderful...we released balloons at the gravesite and it was soooo windy that they were gone in an instant..I was also able to be a pallbearer along with my 2 nieces, nephew and brothers and inlaws..My mom also donated her eyes..we don't know if its to science or for anyone to be able to see..but she had had 2 kidney transplants..so it was a fitting gesture to give back..

This is my childhood home..and before I left I had to take photos of it as these will be my only memories as we are fixing it up to sell..I am sad to see it being sold as I will never be able to visit it again, only from the outside..the window by the front door on the left (the tree is kind of hiding it) was mine and my little sisters room till I was 15..

I had my good friend Jill take a photo of me on the front porch..I have one of me as a little girl here..

this is the back of the house..the window on the right became my room from 15 to 21..off to the right by the wall there used to be a big nectarine tree..we always put up nectarines..I hated it cause it was alway hot outside and the kitchen was the same with all the boiling water etc..and the juice would run down my arm and I would be a sticky mess from peeling all of them..

we also had a plum tree..the big bush is a white snowball bush..last month it was in full bloom..should have taken a photo then..off to the left is the big lilac bush that was in bloom too..I remember cutting some to put on the kitchen table..the house smelled so good..I love lilacs..they remind me of home..

this is a big "cigar" tree in the back (you can see the lilac tree and the clothes line) we used to climb this as kids, have picnics under it..I am not sure if that is the correct name of it..thats what we called it as it gets long cigar looking bean shaped things that grow from it..make mowing a bugger too..

I had Jill take one last photo for me.;)

on Wednesday all of us kids headed to mom's house to go through her things..I was able to bring back some of her clothes that I hope to be able to get into in the near future..she was a sharp dresser and a clothes horse..just like me..The photo above is of me at age 19 or 20 I was heading into beauty collage then..the other photo is of my big brother at age 19..right before his mission..He is the one that took great care of my mom through the years and he has taken care of me..by helping me out with my plane tickets each time..I love my big brother..:)

I got this red avon plate..will use it for the holidays..;)

I will use these for little desserts..(when I actually make them)...lol..

I love the old pyrex...

love this fireking piece..and Lucy helping me..:) she is asleep on my lap as we speak..I missed my babies..and hubby of course..

this photo is dark..there is a purple hat for winter and 2 flour sack towels I will use in my baking..and a little pink hankie..I put that on a shelf in my bedroom..looks right at home there too..

I remember doing dishes with these wash clothes..so I just had to take a few..the other thing is like a bib/apron to wear while you are cooking so you don't make a mess of yourself..love the colors..

she had alot of these napkins that are a linen cotton..I need to do some stitching on them..they are wonderful..will have to use these during the fall.:)

I put the rolling pin on my rake above my stove...

her red potato masher is also on the stove..it will be nice to cook and see her things..

I also grabbed her hand written recipes..I will have to go through them carefully and make some of these..

she had this jesus picture in her bedroom for as long as I could remember..so I have it in my bedroom now..

she had purchased some food storage from my party in January..but never opened any of it..so I was able to bring it home with me...I miss my mom and will miss our weekly chats..I have regrets of not calling her more or visiting more..I had only seen her 4 times in the last 10 years and wish I had gone home more..but we all have regrets and need to move on and focus on the good aspects..I am thankful that I was able to go home in May to see her and be with her and see her doing well..she was able to get out of the hospital after I left back to rehab..my brother took her out a week before she passed to her childhood home, her home and they did some sight seeing..I think she was just ready/tired and wanted to go home to her father in heaven..she was a fighter and she was hanging on for us..
This is hard to write as tears are falling..I miss her..but know I will get to see her again someday...she is happy, healthy, and whole again and raising her son..and we don't have to worry about her anymore..we know she is in great hands now..

Take care, sorry for the long post..I am so grateful for you all and for your thoughts and prayers...it meant/means so much to me to have you all as my friends.. I received some cards from you gals here in blogland..and they meant the world to me..thank you...I love you all.;)