Yes Im still around, but......

I just wanted to pop in and say hello. It has been a while since I posted on the blog and I don't want you all thinking I am gone. I have been taking a short break as life has been fairly hard in the last year.

As you would know from previous posts, my husbands father passed away a year ago, then in January I lost a very very precious friend, Brad then my amazing wonderful mum a week later. I felt as though my world had fallen apart but also knew with mum it was the best thing as her Alzheimer's had reached the stage she was no longer able to get out of bed or stay awake.

Brad, well I will continue to struggle with that as he was too young by far and it was so sudden. He had always been my other sounding board along with mum. Always ready to listen and just be there. We enjoyed the same movies, books, food, dancing  and ogling the same guys (mind you I was just looking and commenting). He found my sense of humour entertaining if a little rude at times and I often stayed with him in town just to have a break from family life.

Four months after mum passed away on the 17th May (my birthday) dad decided to leave us as well. Though health wise he was doing ok, when mum died and we weren't sure how much he truly understood because of his dementia, he just seemed to give up on life. He disappeared into himself very quickly and at least he didn't end up going like mum. In my trying to understand all this loss when my brothers said how sorry they were dad had passed away on my birthday, I turned it round and told them it must have been because I was his favourite child and wanted me to know that...... really at 61 I don't think it matters so much as a birthday is really just another occasion to eat cake and celebrate.

Just a month after loosing dad, we found out that Johns mum had a very aggressive cancer and there was nothing to be done. They said probably three months. Two weeks after finding out she had cancer Fern passed away peacefully in her sleep. 

I cant believe that in one year we have lost 5 so important to us members of our family. I still colour and go on Instagram constantly looking at all the beautiful creations there but I have been unable to create lately.  I started on 'Thank you' cards to send to people who sent cards or flowers and haven't even been able to complete these.

To those who sent a card or cards or flowers to our family I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will get to sending cards, just not sure when. I miss everyone and all your wonderful comments that always make me feel so good about my hobby. I miss The Flower Blog card challenge too and see the girls are continuing to turn out amazing cards.

I have a wonderful husband, children and grandchildren who are all very patient with me and my lost moments, my crying and my wanting to be around them all the time.

My grandchildren are fantastic little humans who always seem to know when Nanny needs an extra cuddle and kiss and I thank god for blessing me with them.

This last years joy, was of course, the birth of Koby who I now babysit twice a week and my soon to be born next grandchild (number 7) and I look to them and hope I can fill them with lots of memories for their future.

I hope you are all well out there.

Hugs Aileen

Johns mum with Koby at Easter

Mothers Day with Mason(4) Koby (6months) and Sophie (6).

Just had to add this one as its so sweet.