Double shot of my aunts and uncles and a mom beyond compare!

Mom called today to say that my Aunt Joan and my Uncle Don were out from Mass. and that my Aunt Bea and Uncle Don (the bird lovers-see blog entitled, What? A bird?) were with them, too and that they wanted to stop over for a visit. My mom always calls ahead just to make sure that I am up to company and being a mom, especially mine, always makes sure that any visitors are healthy before giving them the signal that they can visit. Knowing my mom, I am sure she went through a mental checklist and inspection-coughing, sneezing, unwashed hands- a definite no go. My mom would make a fantastic nurse because she is always looking out for me. I tell her all the time that I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for her.

My mom came to my home for the first year pretty much daily. She made my lunch, encouraged me to eat, cleaned, did the laundry, took me to PT, fixed my inhaler when I couldn't, wiped my tears when I was so sick from throwing up to telling me funny stories about her and my childhoods. My mom has her "nursing degree" from taking care of my dad, who passed away when I was in third grade from complications of diabetes, my much loved stepdad, Tiff, who succumbed to cancer and my gram, who recently passed away to me. My mom is incredibly strong, never complaining, always giving and taking care of her family. She is truly the mother of my heart.

Well, my aunts and uncles arrived after they had passed inspection. We laughed throughout the visit from my uncles bowling with grocery produce, while picking it up for a bowling party-they were practicing getting strikes as the produce rolled or was thrown into the shopping basket to my aunt spotting a bear in her neighbor's back yard and running out the door to the neighbors yelling,"Look out for that bear." My uncle said I told her why didn't you just call them since the bear was on the loose. We chuckled over a turkey, who had chased my Aunt Bea around her car yelling, "Help me. I have to go to the bathroom." Meanwhile, everyone was laughing over her circling the car as fast as she could to outrun her feathered nemesis, that no one could help her. Kinda of makes you wonder about her loving birds!! Did she make it to the bathroom or not? I'll never tell.

May you have a mom who loves you as much as mine does. She's always been my absolute best friend, too. May you reminisce and recall funny family stories that bring a smile to your face and laughter in your heart.