For those of you who may have missed Sanford's Memorial web site and/or Our Celebration of Life Weekend click or copy/paste these links: http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/ourhero/Homepage.aspx
http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=6749cvu.mb9ln9y&x=0&y=xhc0w5&localeid=en_US
Your messages meant more to me than you know. I'm blessed.. doing better than I would ever have imagined, IF, I had thought that my beloved Sanford would predecease me. I realize now that subconsciously I thought that he was invincible... His Mom lived to be 104 years old [he had so many of her genes], he had survived and bounced back after 5 cancers, plus 2 that returned, which I'm sure is basically the reason that I expected him to bounce back again after his last illness too. But it was not meant to be.
Monday, I embarked on my New Beginning.. I confirmed a 4 day Caribbean cruise, traveling alone. I have always needed alone time and I have not been alone for 24 hours since Sanford left us on November 16. When I acknowledged that I do need time alone I took action. My family is proud of me and they all agree that it should be good for me. Having taken so many cruises in the past and liking cruising the way I do.. there should be no problem... I'm not shy nor easily intimidated. Alone.. no one will be concerned about when or why I do or don't do whatever... I can be sociable when and/or if I wish. I'll have my MP3 player and some good books. Later this summer we plan, God willing, to take another family cruise... Our first and last one was in 2005.
I do hope the weather hasn't been treating you as badly as I've seen on TV.
You know why it was so cold on Inauguration day, right? Because the white people said it would be a cold day in hell before a black becomes president!
The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything.. they just make the best of everything they have.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Happy New Year!!! My wish for you is that 2009 is one of the the best years of your life!
I expect it definitely will be one of the most challenging years of my life. But with the grace of God, I will face the future as I know Sanford would want me to.
There was so much I felt I needed to say and now that I'm here, the words won't come. Honestly, there are no words to truly express how thankful I am to all of you for your loving support and the kindness you showed me during the sadest days of my life.
I am aware of just how blessed I am to have such a loving family and caring friends. Toni, Risse, Jese and Kari came from Atlanta to spend Christmas with Colette, Noelle and me. God bless them...during the holidays, they really helped to fill the vacum left by Sanford.
When Donald passed away in 2007, I was so impressed and proud of how strong Pam was and how well she handled becoming a widow. I told her then, "You are so strong. I want to be like you when I grow up". As she was leaving to return home to Atlanta in December, she said to me "Mommy, you are grown up now and you ARE strong!!". We have a rare role reversal here... My Daughter is my role model.... She has reinforced my belief that I can and will make it alone.
When Donald passed away in 2007, I was so impressed and proud of how strong Pam was and how well she handled becoming a widow. I told her then, "You are so strong. I want to be like you when I grow up". As she was leaving to return home to Atlanta in December, she said to me "Mommy, you are grown up now and you ARE strong!!". We have a rare role reversal here... My Daughter is my role model.... She has reinforced my belief that I can and will make it alone.
I've lost the love of my life, but I still have my family and friends, for which I shall be forever grateful.
As was Said "Better tohave loved and lost , thannever to have loved at all"
Love y'all!!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Weekend of Sanford's Celebration of Life
CLICK HERE: http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=6749cvu.mb9ln9y&x=0&y=xhc0w5&localeid=en_US
Here we have a slide show of the weekend of Sanford's Celebration Of Life. The first part is Saturday at the Celebration and afterwards at home.
Sunday is at the Hard Rock Cafe with the visiting family members where we had dinner and they checked out the casino...
And the last part is Monday, when we had a lunch celebration of what would have been Sanford's 84th birthday.
The first picture in the slide show is of me and my only sibling, Fred.
Here we have a slide show of the weekend of Sanford's Celebration Of Life. The first part is Saturday at the Celebration and afterwards at home.
Sunday is at the Hard Rock Cafe with the visiting family members where we had dinner and they checked out the casino...
And the last part is Monday, when we had a lunch celebration of what would have been Sanford's 84th birthday.
The first picture in the slide show is of me and my only sibling, Fred.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Sanford - Daddy - PopPop - San
As some of you already know, Sanford, my dearly beloved husband of 60 happy years was called home by our Dear Lord.
Losing him is very difficult for me and for our family but we take comfort in knowing that he no longer has to deal with earthly troubles and pains, that he is in a better place, that in spirit, he is still with us and that we will be with him again.
I told our girls that if Sanford had a headstone, it would certainly include the phrase that almost everyone has said to us: "He was a very nice man."The second day that he was in hospice, one of his nurses told us: "He is such a nice man.. if all patients were as nice as he is...everyone would want to be a nurse...but, I'm sure that you already know how nice he is." To hear those words from so many people has helped to soften the loss that we're feeling.
Sanford was blessed to have enjoyed a wonderful life here on earth and now he has the Wings and the Halo that everyone knows that he earned.
Relatives, friends and neighbors joined us in a Celebration of Life in his honor Saturday afternoon November 29. A camera malfunction makes it impossible for me to to share with you pictures of the joyous occasion. Later that evening after the celebration, family and friends who had come home with us, wrote messages to Sanford on the helium filled balloons that we'd brought home from the celebration. We then went outside and released them. We watched in awe as they floated up into the atmosphere, all together in a group.
If you have a computer or are able to access one, you are invited to visit the loving Memorial website created by our 3 daughters and we’d be so pleased if you would sign the Memory Book. [We plan to have it printed] http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/ourhero/Homepage.aspx
We wish to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all of our friends and neighbors for your kindness, sympathy and loving support at a time when it was needed and deeply appreciated.
Best wishes for a Healthy, Happy, Prosperous New Year.
Losing him is very difficult for me and for our family but we take comfort in knowing that he no longer has to deal with earthly troubles and pains, that he is in a better place, that in spirit, he is still with us and that we will be with him again.
I told our girls that if Sanford had a headstone, it would certainly include the phrase that almost everyone has said to us: "He was a very nice man."The second day that he was in hospice, one of his nurses told us: "He is such a nice man.. if all patients were as nice as he is...everyone would want to be a nurse...but, I'm sure that you already know how nice he is." To hear those words from so many people has helped to soften the loss that we're feeling.
Sanford was blessed to have enjoyed a wonderful life here on earth and now he has the Wings and the Halo that everyone knows that he earned.
Relatives, friends and neighbors joined us in a Celebration of Life in his honor Saturday afternoon November 29. A camera malfunction makes it impossible for me to to share with you pictures of the joyous occasion. Later that evening after the celebration, family and friends who had come home with us, wrote messages to Sanford on the helium filled balloons that we'd brought home from the celebration. We then went outside and released them. We watched in awe as they floated up into the atmosphere, all together in a group.
If you have a computer or are able to access one, you are invited to visit the loving Memorial website created by our 3 daughters and we’d be so pleased if you would sign the Memory Book. [We plan to have it printed] http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/ourhero/Homepage.aspx
We wish to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all of our friends and neighbors for your kindness, sympathy and loving support at a time when it was needed and deeply appreciated.
Best wishes for a Healthy, Happy, Prosperous New Year.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
On The Road Of LIfe
Last night at the hospital, Sanford and the rest of us decided it would be best if he were in a hospice center rather than going back and forth between hospital and rehabs, as has happened, too frequently, the past 5 weeks. It is within a hospital. He is very near and easy for me to get there.
I was satisfied and assured that we had made the right decision when I saw how compassionate, kind and caring the caregivers are and the overall cleanliness.
Your prayrers would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you so very much.
I was satisfied and assured that we had made the right decision when I saw how compassionate, kind and caring the caregivers are and the overall cleanliness.
Your prayrers would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you so very much.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Good News
Today for a number of reasons, when I smile it is not just to present a strong front and give the impression that that I am capable of playing the hand that has been dealt us, but the main reason is because Julia is here with me. Julia is our baby daughter, Colette's Godmother.
Our other dear daughters Pam, Toni and and grand daughter Dorienne returned to Atlanta Sunday evening and Julia came Saturday night. Julia came in and took over everything . In our conversations and emails , she knew that I needed her and decided to come, even though she was in NYC with her own daughter who had surgery a few weeks a go.. Julia is like the sister that I never had. With her medical background, she knew exactly how to get everything and service that our insurance entitles us to and how to get it. Sanford does not have to return to a rehab facility [an option we did not know we have],she made sure that we got the needed home equipment and will continue to have some assistance/care, etc. I thank the Lord for sending Julia. She has made it possible for me to see beyond the next minute...hour. I no longer feel helpless and vulnerable. If San continues to get better he will, God willing, be coming home very soon.
Shortly after our girls left for the airport, San became sick and couldn't stop throwing up, we called 911 and they were here in 5 minutes and took him to the ER less than 10 min away. He had pancreatitis and was admitted. He looks good and feels good now..
Thanks for your prayers and please don't stop praying for us, because they are being heard and answered. We love you!!!
The 2nd reason for my smile is Obama is our new president.
"The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have".
Our other dear daughters Pam, Toni and and grand daughter Dorienne returned to Atlanta Sunday evening and Julia came Saturday night. Julia came in and took over everything . In our conversations and emails , she knew that I needed her and decided to come, even though she was in NYC with her own daughter who had surgery a few weeks a go.. Julia is like the sister that I never had. With her medical background, she knew exactly how to get everything and service that our insurance entitles us to and how to get it. Sanford does not have to return to a rehab facility [an option we did not know we have],she made sure that we got the needed home equipment and will continue to have some assistance/care, etc. I thank the Lord for sending Julia. She has made it possible for me to see beyond the next minute...hour. I no longer feel helpless and vulnerable. If San continues to get better he will, God willing, be coming home very soon.
Shortly after our girls left for the airport, San became sick and couldn't stop throwing up, we called 911 and they were here in 5 minutes and took him to the ER less than 10 min away. He had pancreatitis and was admitted. He looks good and feels good now..
Thanks for your prayers and please don't stop praying for us, because they are being heard and answered. We love you!!!
The 2nd reason for my smile is Obama is our new president.
"The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have".
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
THE RIDE CONTINUES
After a good weekend, yesterday, Sanford had stomach pain and was unable to keep food down, so rehab decided to send him back to the hospital. After a barrage of tests in the ER, they still don't know why it happened. He was treated and the decision was made to admit him.
We arrived at the hospital by ambulance at 5 PM and I got home at exactly 1 AM.
His group of doctors consulted together and then with us about him coming home soon rather than going back to rehab (with help for me in the the mornings to care for him), Visiting nurse, Physical Therapist and transportation for treatments. So we await their decision. To be continued....
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.You never know who's heart you will touch when you share a piece of your own.
We arrived at the hospital by ambulance at 5 PM and I got home at exactly 1 AM.
His group of doctors consulted together and then with us about him coming home soon rather than going back to rehab (with help for me in the the mornings to care for him), Visiting nurse, Physical Therapist and transportation for treatments. So we await their decision. To be continued....
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.You never know who's heart you will touch when you share a piece of your own.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
