Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Wedding revisited and just stuff....

If you remember on this post, I so badly wanted to show my 83 year old MIL dancing at the wedding.

Well, I opened my email the other day and to my delight there were more pictures!  Thanks Susie!

I thought I would tell you a little about my MIL because she's truly an incredible lady.  She lived part of her childhood at what is now called Moody's Pasture at Redhead, FL....back then it was way up the country.  Her father was a turpentiner and from what I've heard, they had a little town on their land, complete with a commissary where workers could buy necessities.

This is the scale that was in that little store.  It now resides in our kitchen and we have weighed everything from meat to the dogs!  Which reminds me I need to weigh them.


She lived several other places and went to college at Florida State College for Women, currently known as FSU.  After she married Russell's dad, they lived in Gainesville, where he graduated from the University of Florida.  Go Gators.....I have to put that or I'll be in the dog house.

She and Russell's dad had a fun filled (with a smattering of tragedies thrown in)  life, living to the fullest and she still is going strong!  We tease that she has to have foot surgery before we will go on a trip with her.....several years ago she had foot surgery and about 6 weeks later we went to Branson and she outwalked all of us!

During the time my FIL had lung cancer, my MIL had breast cancer.  She had surgery and radiation and never missed a beat in taking care of my FIL.

She plays bridge at least twice a week, takes supper to anyone who is sick, goes on lots of day trips with her friends and visits the shut ins of her church every week.

She always loved to dance and hasn't in some years......but this night she danced.   Dancing with her nephew at a family wedding like she had been dancing every night.

I think this may be the swing.....I'm not a dancer so that is strictly a guess.  




I'm pretty sure she danced for 45 minutes.  On the way home the next day she did mention that her knee hurt!

*********************

In other family news, we moved mama from her two bedroom apartment to a one bedroom at the retirement center where she lives.

We started moving several days before the movers came and slowly downsized and that will just be our little secret.


My brother and sister

We finally got smart and got a cart from the dining room

My two sisters
Getting things into the new apartment...You just cannot believe how many books and pictures mama has.


A little of the downsizing was done in her closets.  She had so many clothes, many she hasn't worn in years, so now someone else is enjoying them......if they show up at mama's in one of her outfits we're in big trouble!

These boxes mainly contain pictures
 We utilized every space and I do mean every space.

A little family conference outside of her old apartment

Another brother hugging mama.

Supervising

Progress!





Unfortunately, this move has confused her and she just can't seem to fit things together even though she just moved down the hall.

*********************
And finally,

The big moon.....my camera takes really good pictures but not at night!



The moon is just peeking over the pines.  It was so gorgeous.

The next time the moon is this close to the earth......I'll be old.


10 comments:

Cathy said...

I hope I can dance like MC when I get to be her age.....I know, I will have to start praticing very soon!!
I pray Mama's confusion will be gone soon and she will be used to her new place and know that she just went down the hall.

Just Be Real said...

Awwwww, thank you for sharing. Blessings.

Needled Mom said...

Your MIL sounds like an amazing woman. Gotta love all that dancing!

Those little moves can really confuse the elderly. I hope that she adjusts quickly and loves her new place. Thankfully, the same people will still be around to help her adjust.

LOVE that scale!!!

debi said...

Nancy...that's a lot of work...I packed up my Mom and unpacked her into a retirement home. She still has so much STUFF and we got rid of a ton!
I looks great,she is lucky to have you all..... kudos daughter!

Hugs

Dawn said...

Good job, all of you siblings! Hopefully she won't remember her clothes that are missing!

Everything looks really nice - it looks a lot like my MIL's place, except it looks bigger in the living area. It's so hard to go through these things.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

I didn't get to see that moon because of bad weather. What a great woman your MIL is. Love the pictures of her dancing. How awesome that they both went to college. Your moms new place looks so charming. I hope she is happy with it. Enjoy your weekend.

Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend said...

Loved that you shared this...great pictures an what a MIL....Happy Saturday

Katie and Beau said...

I'm so behind on the blog! Y'all did a great job moving your mama. Everything looks so neat and organized.

Mimi said...

HI NANCY!
I apologize for being MIA for so long.
YOUR MIL is so cute dancing away!!
that is precious!
it is always sad to move them somewhere different. I hope she adjusts quickly.
Her place is so nice. I love it and it is quite large really.
Have a Blessed week
hugs,
jamie

Gigi said...

Your Mom's new digs look beautiful...you all did a fabulous job! Hopefully, she'll soon feel settled and the cloudiness will clear. I'll keep her in my prayers.

I had to laugh at your comment:

"The next time the moon is this close to the earth......I'll be old."

I took pictures of the "supermoon" too and I thought the very same thing!!