A century of a life!

Today would be my mom's 100th birthday. She used to say that she didn't want to live to 100. In fact, after she turned 90, things started to go awry with her health - and she said maybe she should have stopped at 90!

She lived a good long life. She was happy. She was able to live in her own home. Her children visited. So did her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She did a little traveling. She took a long-dreamed of trip across the Canadian Rockies. 

But it got harder. And her health did take a turn - the Big C reared it's ugly head. She said she didn't want treatment. And so she was home - and asking Donna, "When will I get better?" And Donna said, "You aren't going to get better, Mother. Remember we said we didn't want treatment." 

And from that point on, she ate less and less. She seemed to be shutting down. It did not go on long. She was kept comfortable. 6 of her 12 children were with her when she died. She was able to die at home, in her room, although we'd gotten a hospital bed.

And so today we celebrate the good, long life of Mary Clayton. And we are so grateful we got to be her children! And we are grateful too that she lived past 90!

A little holiday in GH

It was a school holiday for us today - we take two Mondays in February instead of a Friday/Monday for President's Day -  so I went out to visit my mom.  Ostensibly I was going to sew dolly dresses again, but we got to talking.  And the talking was more compelling!

I started out telling her about our adventure Saturday with our "stair walk," and in the process mentioned driving by the Angelus Temple, where Aimee Semple McPherson "reigned" for many years.  And she told me about a time in 1937 when she and her friends went to the Angelus Temple to see Aimee Semple McPherson!  

She described these clotheslines they had stretched from the stage to the rows of seats - it's a pretty large building, in case you've never seen it.  There were clothespins on the lines, and you were supposed to pin money to the line.  Apparently Ms. McPherson was an incredible fundraiser.

When I got home, Harry googled her name, and we took turns reading out loud to each other about her rather tumultuous life.  I may need to check out a bio on her!!

Later in the conversation, she mentioned that my dad had always wanted to be an optometrist - a fact I did not know.  She said, "You never heard him talk about it?  Well, maybe he only talked to me about it."

The things you don't know!

Happy Day to the Birthday Queen

Happy Birthday Mom (here she is pregnant with ME!). One thing about Babs is her gift for remembering people, especially on their birthdays!

We love you.

A Public Notification

After some discussion, Bonny and I decided that even after we are done bearing children, Mom will be required to come and visit for a week every 2-3 years. We figured out that one of our favorite parts of having babies is having her come and stay! She can sew and crochet to her heart's content and she is welcome to make dinners for the freezer. However, she will not be required to clean the bathrooms before she leaves. Although, if she really wants to we will not object.
Thank you Mom!