My mother is amazing! She took a turn for the worse a couple of weeks ago but is determined to still live her life with a smile. She is so determined that she wants to get up and do things. In fact, she is actually doing much better right now. This past weekend, she went to check out the neighborhood garage sales. She loves garage sales. My stepdad says she was wide awake at about 5:30 am Saturday morning ready to go! Thursday, hospice arranged to get her a ride into town. Mom really wanted to go to Walmart. Here are a few recent photos of my amazing mom.
My mom loves to laugh. She got a kick out of this silly mask my stepdad got for her.
My mom loves garage sales. This was taken on July 19, 2014.
My stepdad and the friend they are staying with, Bill, each bought my mom a stuffed animal, which my mom named Mandy and Casper.
If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know I got my love for dogs from my mom. When I was a girl, my mom was the town’s unofficial dog rescuer. Wendy, in the photo below, was initially a stray. My mom got her exactly one year before I was born.
There was a Collie my mom had before I was born. I think his name was Ranger. When he was was given up by his owners he was covered in mats. I have a photo of Ranger, but the scan didn’t come out well. In the photo, he has a luxurious coat, all thanks to my mom’s loving care. Squash was a Mastiff mixed abandoned by our neighbors. He was tied on a short thick chain in the back yard and left there. Squash became a loving family member who later returned the kindness by protecting my baby sister from a pack or a pair ( I can’t remember) of aggressive dogs.
Cassie was a Sheltie given up by her family. My mom took her in, but Cassie attached herself to me and became my dog.
Rocky is the dog that recently passed away just before my mom was diagnosed with brain cancer. He was posted on Craigslist as a dog “free to a good home”. Luckily, he found a great home with my mom.
My mom recently lost her dog Rocky. This is him standing on the top of her chair. Rocky was a very lovable dog but he loved my mom more than anyone.
Solo was also a “free to good home” on rollanet in Rolla, MO. She came from a terrible dog breeding situation that got way out of hand. Before my mom saved her, Solo lived in a small cage full of dog crap with two other dogs. Solo came with a ton of issues including extreme shyness, fear aggression, and just plain aggression. Today, she is by my mom’s bedside and living the high life. Her shyness and aggression is mostly gone, although she still dislikes other dogs. She is a much different dog than she was when my mom first got her. Love can do that.
My mom survived lung cancer a few years ago. This is her after recovery and with her dog Solo.
There were so many other dogs that my mom rescued. I remember Max, Lady, Lips, an Afghan Hound, and so many more that I don’t recall the names of. With her generous love, my mom has changed the lives of so many animals. And it is obvious animals have had a positive influence on her. She doesn’t let her illness get her down and the smallest things make her happy. She is truly amazing and I am so proud to have her as my mom.
This is me and my mom.
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