Mama's Memories for M: Full Hearts Looking Backward and Forward

Hi M!

Started off mid-summer with a celebration of your 15th(!) Family Day this July. Crazy how fast time has flown with you. Reminiscing about our lives together, it's incredible how far you've come and how much you've matured.

You initially agreed to test your comfort zone and try zip-lining. Once all harnessed in and at the top of the first line, panic overtook you so I took you down to the ground and we went out for ice cream while Daddy and Lao Lao finished the experience. I'm so proud of you for attempting to try something new and potentially scary, but also equally proud of you for knowing your current limits. Both are important.

We also had an additional adventure of driving to Mansfield to get Leaning Tower of Pizza subs. A generous nod from you to Daddy. You even drove us all the way there. The longest continuous drive you've made thus far.

that first meeting in 2009

gathering for your Family Day...a completely unposed
but hilariously in sync photo

before the panic attack

zip lining!

driving to Mansfield, so far so good

score!

your aunt Audrey turned 50 just before your
Family Day so we had a gathering for her, too
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AUDREY AYI!

you've also been spending more time with grandparents
lately, too...you all are loving it

and you were especially excited to see Lao Lao's
new hybrid (a Maverick) truck!

Since Suzy passed, we've started and been continuing to take Charlie on our walks this summer, too...and I've even roped Daddy into it. Charlie is so happy to be included.

Grizz has also continued with her shenanigans.

mandatory stop outside Lao Lao's house and refusing to leave,
even when it's obvious that Lao Lao is already in bed

and then...she also got sprayed by a skunk at 5:30am
and we were forced to give her a baking soda bath.
none of us were too thrilled by this

We also had a psychic party at our house this summer. So many of us have felt the urge to reach out to our loved ones on the other side. 2 legged and 4 legged. Audrey and Stacy both recently lost their dads, and the rest of us had other contact or answers that we were seeking.

Jennifer (the psychic / 4th from left) is amazing and so kind

even Grizz wanted to be a part of the readings and
surprisingly enough, Suzy was the first one to come through

here GG is laying on the couch just like Suzy used to do

my morning coffee time with all 3 cats

my norm is as a human mattress for cats

Mr Prim and Proper

I've been a little obsessed with fresh corn salad this summer, too

I also was a little obsessed with this thrift store rooster
who is now a permanent fixture in our kitchen #lovehim

The following several pictures are just capturing life around here...since you don't let me take many pics of you anymore, I'll just include me and Dad's adventures 😉

Kelly's birthday trolley pub (Christmas in July)

it all got a little nuts

Then Dad and I went to Covington KY for a weekend to visit Tom and Bonnie and explore.

our airbnb

w even went to Jeptha Creed (a woman-owned distillery)

in a cute Asian inspired coffee shop right across from our airbnb

While in town, we presented Tom and Bonnie with a personalized windchime and garden stone for their loss of Savannah (and Bonnie's pup, Cleo). They loved them and as you can see below, Tom had an unusual but heart-warming experience after placing each in their homes. He said that he had hung the chime but hadn't heard it ring from any wind yet, but just after he placed the stone in the garden and washed it off, a gust of wind came and rang the chime for its inaugural sounds. He's not much of a spiritual guy but I can tell that his reaction to this experience created some room in his heart for "what if". I'm so glad it brought him a little comfort.

Come August, it was time to begin school again. This year is your first in the nursing program at the career center. You hate taking these pics but look how incredible you look in scrubs!

Along with spending more time with your grandparents, you've also been spending so much more time with Daddy. Which is awesome for all of us. I love to see this 💗

We gave Daddy an early birthday gift of a professional carving set for his new hobby of whittling. He's been practicing under Papaw's wisdom and tutelage.

he also sometimes looks like he lives in a hamster cage

Unfortunately, he started using these sharp carving tools to help him fix a board in the retaining wall on the patio and ended up needing 4 stitches, just barely missing the tendons in his hand. The wound was an inch deep. Fortunately, our family's future nurse was there and you were able to step up and handle stopping the bleeding then driving him to the ER like a pro. You even watched the doctor stitch him up and after hearing you want to be a nurse, he explained every step of it to you and gave you all the leftover tools he brought to the room for the job. How cool is that? I also had to laugh because, evidently, there is a special way to put on gloves once you're all sanitized and when the doctor did that, you said, "Hey, I've seen that technique on Tik Tok. You did that really well! Nice job!" Ha ha! If you continue down this path, you're going to make an unbelievable nurse.

Aside from the gory side of wood carving, Grizz approves of Daddy's finished products. Lol

We also had an exciting development for you, as a result of your 23 and Me test. You were contacted by a fourth cousin! Her name is Mesa, she's 21, and, believe it or not, she grew up right here in Westerville. Wild, huh? She's so sweet and we were able to get you together with her to hang out and talk for an afternoon. You talked for weeks on-line before meeting in person and have continued to chat ever since your meeting. I'm so tickled you have a biological family member in your life now.

As for me, I celebrated my 49th birthday. I did my recently established birthday tradition of taking myself out for breakfast at Jack and Benny's Diner (their pancakes are delicious), and then out for an autumn walk through Victorian Village. I came home to my beautiful birthday bouquet of flowers (with one red rose) from Lao Lao. And then the girls surprised me with a cake and decorations at our typical Thursday bingo and beer night.