The Peace Lily: A Story About Angels

Sixteen years ago, my mother's mother (my grandma) passed away from melanoma.  She was 56 years old.  At her funeral, a good friend of my mom's had given her this Peace Lily.  When it was first given to her, it had several blooms on it.  That was in 1995. 

My mother has never had the greenest thumb, in fact, she has killed all her other house plants through the years.  This was a tough little plant though, and it managed to survive.  However, it didn't bloom regularly.  The next time it bloomed was in 2003.  My mom counted 6 blooms.  One for each member of the family, my mom, my step-dad, myself, my little brother, step-brother and my sister Emily.  The next day, she looked at it in disappointment as she noticed there were 7 blooms, not 6 like she thought.  She assumed that she had simply miscounted the previous day.  A few days later, in some what of a panic, she discovered she was pregnant with my sister, Harley.  Emily, not even two, was planned and Harley was not.  At her age, she didn't plan on having any more kids but Harley was on her way.  A wonderful and unexpected addition to the family.

The plant didn't flower again for many years.  Not until 2006.  In fact, it bloomed, just one singular flower, on March 22, 2006.  The day I went into labor with my daughter, my mother's first grandchild. 

Yesterday tragedy hit my family.  The family dog, Hannah, who had been with us for 10 years, had to be put down.  She had a tumor on her hip and it had broken open leaving a large open wound.  There was nothing they could do for her.  My step-father was out of town so my mother undertook not only the overwhelming task of taking care of Hannah by herself but having to console her two little girls. 

Harley was especially shaken up.  Hannah was her best friend.  From the time Harley could move, her and that dog were basically attached.  First, it was Harley following Hannah and as Harley grew, Hannah began to follow her everywhere.  She protected her.  She protected the whole family, barking like crazy when cars drove by my mother's rural home, chasing away the neighbor dogs and whatever wild animals wandered onto the property. 

It was a sad day for everyone.  Goose and I went to spent time with my mom and sisters, to help comfort them.  We talked about Hannah (who happened to be my dog, Molly's mother) and how she wouldn't hurt anymore and that her and Molly would be in Heaven together.  We all went to the craft store and bought supplies to make a memorial stone for Hannah's grave.  Then we went back home and sadness lingered in the air all around us.

Then I saw it. 

 The Peace Lily and a single, solitary bloom. 

Back when my mother first discovered she was pregnant with Harley, I mused that the blooms were a sign from my grandma that she was still with us and watching over her.  My mom, who is not religious and less spiritual than I, shrugged it off.  But when the bloom appeared on the day I went into labor, despite all her skepticism, she thought there might be something special about that plant.  And if there was any doubt in her mind, it was all erased when we say the bloom yesterday.

As soon as I saw it, I burst into tears.  I ran to my mother's side and we embraced, crying.  It seems to me, that in every moment when a woman might need her mother's comfort, an unexpected pregnancy, the birth of the first grandchild, a sad passing of a dear friend... my grandma was there.  My mother's guardian angel. 

I'm sure there is a logical, scientific explanation for why it blooms so sporadically. Lack of sunlight. Improper watering. My mom's brown thumb.  But in my heart, deep in my soul, I know that it's my grandma giving my mom a sign that she is still there. 

I believe that we all have angels looking over us.  Sometimes they give us tangible signs of their presence, you just need to know where to look.  And hopefully, you're mind is open enough to see it. 

Rest In Peace

Hannah

2001-2011

Molly, I miss you!

Molly
December 29, 2001 to December 16, 2009

My beloved furbaby passed away yesterday at about 2 in the morning. She was my first baby. I've had her ever since I moved out after I graduated. Her mother is my mom's dog and I remember picking her out of the litter as my own the first time I ever saw her.

She was sleek black and the only one with white markings on her chest and toes.

Molly loved to chase balls. Not just balls, but anything round, or throw-able. Sticks, soda bottles, rope... bubbles, (God, the bubbles. I hope there are bubbles in doggie heaven). Balloons and "the light" made her batty. Before Goose was born, she was SO spoiled. She loved to get dressed up and wear her pretties (scarves/handkerchiefs).

This dog wanted nothing more than to play. She would run and run until she was panting and her legs would shake. Molly loved water and going to the beach to chase sticks. She loved going for walks with Goose and I, although she never did great on a leash.

When she was younger, we let her sleep in bed with us. She would sleep right at my feet, curled in a ball. And when I was sick, she would lay with me as if she knew. She loved to wrestle around the bed, covered in blankets, trying to "give kisses" to me or Hubs or Goose.

Molly was so good with Goose. Never bit her, not once, though it would have been deserved the way Goose would torment her so. She put up with a lot and still loved her. The day she died, her tail wagged so hard when we came home and she just laid there as Goose smothered her with hugs and kisses.

She wasn't alone when she went. Hubs was right by her side as her breathing slowed and she peacefully passed on.

I had her and loved her for 8 years. In the past year or so, she had begun to had hip problems (common for labs) and I recently noticed cataracts growing in her eyes. I hope she wasn't in too much pain before she went and I know where she is now, she feels no pain at all.

Molly, you were my best friend.
You got me through a lot of tough times and I will miss you SO MUCH.

Love you Mo-Dizz!
Love, Mama

Halloween!!

I actually have more than two pics to post BUT my memory card is seriously failing me right now and won't let me upload anything, so, I'm gonna have to add those pics later. I thought I would at least share these two right now, since I know you are all dying to know what exactly an Angel Pig looks like.

Trick or Treat!


Emmmy-monster (biker chic), Harley-beast (pirate), and Goose, my little Angel Pig .




Rockin' GooGoo style!


Ever wonder where I get it? Now you know?? My pops loves Halloween!


Just Meezy - bored while Hub played beer pong...


ENJOY! I'll be back to post more later tonight.
ETA- I hope you all had great Halloween's!!!

A Crafty Post! OMG!!!

My Goose informed me a month or so ago that she wanted to be an angel pig for Halloween. An angel pig? Where on earth did she get that idea? An angel pig? Now... I KNOW you can't buy that costume in the store. I'd prefer to make it anyway, thats just how I roll. So, we picked up some pink sweats and a set of pink wings at Target, got some supplies to make her halo and ears at Michaels (all in all spending about $25)

Here is what I have done so far. I still need to make her nose and sew her curly-cue tail onto her pants.  

What do you think?

I'm quite proud of it and she looks adorable in it. (But no touchy-touchy 'till the big day!) 

On a side note, the other day, I was telling my mom what Goose wants to be for Halloween.

Me: Yeah, she wants to be an angel pig. Not real sure where she got that from.
Her: Oh, how funny. An angel pig? (Noticing my confused look) You don't remember, do you?
Me: Remember what?
Her: Pigs with wings were your Grandma's favorite thing.
Me: What? I remember she like pigs, but not the wings.

I think we both had tears in our eyes at that moment. My Grandmother passed away when I was 12, maybe 13. She had cancer and she was one hell of a woman and fought hard to the last moment. 

I don't know what you believe, and honestly, I don't know what I believe, but I do KNOW that my Grandma is watching out for us. I know because of the small signs she gives us... but only if we pay attention. Maybe its a smell, maybe its blooming flowers on a bush that hasn't bloomed in years... but I know she's there, watching, protecting... loving. 

So, this was supposed to be a happy/crafty post. I didn't intend to get all deep. But I guess its still happy. 

How lucky am I that my grandmother, who has passed, still lets me know she's watching. That her love has transcended all and my daughter, while she will never KNOW her, will feel her presence and love. Not everyone is open-minded enough to feel these things. And I am thankful that I am. And that Goose can (and that she's listening!).