Restful Vacation

Our family was so blessed to be able to escape to Lake Blackshear for the weekend for a little "quiet" time. I laugh as I type that because our family would NEVER be described as quiet. Add in the spunkiest 6 year old ever, and we are one mass of volume.

Our getaway was all Mom's idea, and she had grand plans waiting for us there. She talked for days about staying up all night playing card games, baking cookies at midnight, watching movies, and having our hilarious family competitions of hoola hoops and chicken dance. Apparently her meds were really working well Thursday and Friday! Saturday's hour long drive took its toll, and Mom was quickly sound asleep. Eight hours later, we had a new family joke..."Let's go the lake, she said...it'll be fun, she said." After sleeping the day away, Saturday night was seemingly endless for her. Therefore, Sunday morning was another groggy, sleepy day. Around 3pm, the three of us girls each took turns primping Mom for photos: applying makeup, styling hair, and tying on her apron. She was able to last through about 30 minutes of photos with several breaks in between, and then endured the hour drive back home. Whew...what a vacation! Somehow, even through her sleepiness, Mom was still able to make us laugh (as you can see in a few of the photos.)

We are using the photos for our family cookbook that is currently in the works. Many of you have so kindly requested copies of the book, and we are awed and flattered by your requests. We originally planned the cookbook for our immediate family, and as we consider it our Mom's legacy, we haven't been too concerned about the cost. In reality, this book will likely cost each of us in excess of $100, and it will be worth it. It will be filled with photos of our mom, our children, our spouses, and ourselves along with the amazing recipes we've grown up enjoying over the years. Mom has also included tips for many of the recipes, and her humor shines through each one. We realize this cost is far more than most of you would have anticipated, and we have toyed with the idea of using the text files to create a much less expensive, text-only version. We will be sure to keep you all posted on the process.

Please continue to keep Mom in your prayers. It really hurts us deeply to see her hurting. She is truly the toughest, least complaining person we know. This is an awful disease that can bring this hero to her knees. Thank you for your endless comments, texts, calls, visits, food, flowers, and especially your prayers. We love you all!

Sherri