Billie is preparing for Taylor's Graduation!

Billie and Lonnie are surely busy this week! Their baby girl will receive her High School Diploma in just a little over a week from now.
I am sure the family is very busy making preparations for the upcoming ceremony.
Wishing I could be there to help with all the preparations as well as the ceremony. I'll send you my love and be there in spirit!!!
Congratulations to all of the family! We love you!!!!

I Got a Call Last Night!!

Last night, my family had just returned from a Chorus Concert my son Tyger had performed in and my phone began to ring. To my wonderful surprise it was MY SISTER!!!!
Billie said she had read my postings and wanted to call me to let me know she is doing well. We had a good little talk. She was enjoying the weather and fiddling with her plants while sitting out on the deck. She and Lonnie have gourds sprouting up along with some other seedlings they planted recently. Billie is keeping busy with her daily therapies and household chores. She is enjoying her visit with Terry and let me know that Taylor's High School Graduation is going to take place June 5, 2009. They have a lot to do to prepare for this and she is working on all of her "motherly duties" for it. The hardest part of the conversation was when she asked me when I would be arriving for the graduation weekend. It was difficult to find the words but I had to tell her I would not be able to take the time off of work and that funds were not so good to pay for the trip right now. I really hope she understands.... she said "That will be fine." Well, I'm not "fine" with it but I have to deal with it. I don't regret using the time/money for the past two trips up there to be with Billie but I wish I could have managed both. Would love to be there to see Taylor accept her diploma! I hope that someone takes a lot of photos.... maybe Taylor could dig out her "old" digital camcorder/camera for this event. (Remember, the one your mom and dad got you for your Sweet 16?)
I love you Billie! Keep up the great work!
Lonnie, you are top notch in my book man! Your love and dedication to your family has been a great blessing and there is absolutely no way to express it enough. I am honored to call you my brother and I love you more than words can say!!!
I hope the family gets to enjoy a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!!!!!

No News is Good(?) News

Well, it's been a couple of weeks now and the last conversation I had with Billie was Mother's Day. I sure miss my sifter! We used to speak on a daily basis before the stroke... I'm having serious withdrawals from my sifter and don't know how to deal with it. I look at photos of her and try to tell her how much I love and miss her and wind up running for tissues to dry my eyes.
I never knew just how difficult it could be to be without someone I love so much. I am trying to be strong but it is not easy. I feel like my soul has been drained, the sunshine has faded and I spend a lot of my days reaching for the phone so I can call her and see how her day is.
This is not intended to be a pity party... just my sincere thoughts.
I miss you so much Billie Jo! I pray you know just how much I really do.

That said, to all of you that visit this site regularly.... don't give up. Keep sending her those well wishes and notes of encouragement. I apologize for not being able to provide more information than what you see, but we do what we can. I know the family is busy keeping up with all the day-to-day activities and responsibilities. Having time for phone calls is not priority, I can understand. I can only assume that things are going well at that big blue house on Jordan Street. No news must be good news!

Billie is doing well

Well, the updates are slow coming to me right now. Joan (mama) has returned to Monroe for a few weeks while Lonnie's Aunt Terrie is visiting from Florida. Billie has had a good few weeks. She and Lonnie were able to get out to the market and get some new flowers and plants. Billie told me she had a nice white trumpet vine on her deck now and the trumpet shaped hummingbird feeder looks great with it. She is enjoying these little visitors greatly. Mama said Billie has been much more in control and stronger with getting up and down from her wheelchair and transitioning to the sofa, tub, toilet etc. Billie is doing great with the hemiwalker and she has received her new brace.
Joan took Billie to get her hair cut and styled last week and I hope to have some photos to post on here once mama gets them to me. I have seen photos of Billie on Taylor's Facebook where she apparently went to Taylor's Senior Prom. The family looked beautiful together. I'll see what I can do about putting those pics up here as well.
Keep up the great work Billie! I hope to talk to you soon! Miss ya!!!