I'm not gonna lie. The last week or so has been incredibly challenging for yours truly on a personal level.
There have been my usual daily worries about mom, not for any particular reason but because I'm just the worrying type. There have been paperwork issues related to an offline matter that I've been trying to sort out, and I'm not having much luck with the "customer service" hotline.
I was also stressed about the Thanksgiving prep work, and have also been stressing about a fridge delivery we have scheduled for Friday that I've got to get our current one cleaned out for, complete with getting a big cooler so I can put the things in it that we hope to keep until the new one is cool enough to use.
SEE ALSO: Caregiver's Diary Part 6: Count Your Blessings
There are other things, too, that I won't get into too much detail on, but suffice it to say that I went into Wednesday (Thanksgiving prep day) with a jittery stomach and anxiety about how the next couple of days would turn out.
Whenever mom and I go somewhere together, I have concerns about whether she'll be able to get around okay due to her mobility challenges. Even when we are visiting family, who do everything they can to make things comfortable for mom, I'm always a little nervous because it's different surroundings for her.
Here at home, everything is situated according to her needs. We have a system in place that works for her and for me and gives us both peace of mind. But that's obviously not always the case when you go somewhere else, whether it be a doctor's office, or at a family member or friend's house.
Thanksgiving prep, fortunately, went okay. We were a little too heavy on the mustard for the deviled eggs, but there were no complaints at my sister's house when we sat down to eat, so that relieved both mom and me (not that any family member would ever dare complain about her famous deviled eggs, of course).
I woke up Thursday morning a little later than I wanted to, because I didn't sleep well. So I was behind on the things I needed/wanted to do first thing, like take out trash, enjoy some quiet time at breakfast before the day got going good, showering, getting ready and helping mom get ready, loading the car, etc.
Somewhere in the midst of the tornado I was whipping up around the house (we needed to be out the door by 10:30 a.m.), I tweaked my shoulder, which really bothered me as I dried my hair and then later when I was putting everything into the car.
I kept telling myself that I really needed this day of all days to start on a good note, and though it was FirstWorldProblems I was dealing with, they nevertheless were problems.
Things immediately got better once I got to my sister's house, though. My other sister and brother-in-law immediately came out and helped get everything in the house, and also helped ensure that Mom was able to get in safely. Not that I was expecting anything different, but it just gave me the warm fuzzies after the not-so-great start to the morning.
We stayed for several hours, and it was honestly one of the best Thanksgivings we've ever had. My brothers-in-law were both very chatty (usually, they leave us to the "girl talk" while they do the "guy talk" thing outside or in another part of the house), and at one point, there was a long, amusing story told between us about apple pies at holiday gatherings that will now be a new running joke a future family events.
My sisters refused to let me do anything to help with final preparations (and clean up), which I was truly thankful for. Not that I didn't want to help, but between my shoulder issue and how the last week has gone for me (immensely stressful), it was honestly nice to just sit in the living room and relax while conversing on and off with my BILs and mom, who I could tell was enjoying taking it all in and who, I should note, got around just fine during the course of the day's events.
All of us laughed more together than we have in a long time, the type of laughter that makes your belly hurt, and it reminded me all over again how laughter - and genuine love and affection - are so good for the soul. When it came time to say the blessing before the holiday feast, I volunteered to do the honors, as my heart was filled with so much thankfulness and pride.
Once mom and I got back home, put on our comfy clothes, got things put away, and settled in, I took a moment to reflect on the day. It had started off rocky, but fortunately didn't stay that way. The time with family over a delicious meal and heartfelt conversations won the day, and it had me saying "thank you" to God for the blessing of a family that loves and cares so much for one another, that's there for each other through thick and thin.
Though it was missing two ingredients (my dad and my sweet Muffiecat), I knew they were watching from above with approving smiles.
But that wasn't the only thing I was thankful for on this day.
Three hours after getting home, I logged on for a short working day at the place that took a chance on a rusty, old-school blogger back in January 2019, and again had to pinch myself that I get to do what I love to do for a living - write - alongside some pretty amazing colleagues, and that there is an audience out there (you!) that appreciates my (our) work and who tune in to read what we have to say.
I will never not be thankful for this opportunity, and for the connections made with my fellow readers and writers alike over the years. Thank you, thank you, thank you, y'all, for helping me make one of my dreams come true.
Most of all, thank you, Jesus, for reasons I explained in this piece, and so much more.
RELATED: To check out my previous Caregiver's Diary entries, please click here. Thank you!
