Easter Flowers

Oh, that second one is adorable!  You should use that as a thank you note to your friend. []

Actually, I did!  It wasn't a physical thank you card since she's across the ocean but in my thank you email.

How sweet!  Nice pics!

Beautiful flowers, and of course, Lana is a cutie as usual. [] I love the 2nd one, too.

I'm getting teary eyed by the thought of your mom's friend & the last picture of Lana.  How sweet.

Awwwwww!!

Lana is such a pretty dog and she looks so cute in that second pic!!!

Thanks everyone!  I'm sure Lana's head will grow bigger with all the compliments she's getting.
 
WARNING:  PLS. DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR A SAD STORY!
 
Annie T: Thanks.  My Mom was diagnosed with colon cancer in Dec 2000.  She did the whole chemo & radiation thing and went into remission until Dec 2002 when she was told it came back and spread so quickly that it was now terminal.  She was told chemo and radiation wouldn't cure her. It was basically an option for maintenance and despite her absoluted hatered of having to go through it again, she did for us kids.  We were very close and I made her my life until she passed away on Aug 2004.  Spent those two years taking care of her and watching her "die" right before my very eyes.  I was so painful to see her deteriorate but CHERISHED that time I had with her.  We were so close before her illness and the whole ordeal just made us so much closer.  I've never really met my mom's friend (well, I did once when I was younger but I don't remember) but I wanted to make sure I informed everyone who was part of my mom's life of my mom's progress and she was part of my mom's email list.  Oookay...I think that's enough drama.  Especially since you didn't even ask!  Sorry about that...didn't mean to share so much but sometimes it still helps to talk about it despite it being a little over a yr and a half already. 

Kate I am so sorry about  you mother, a year and a half is not enough, for some reason I've found that it takes three years, I went through the same thing w/ my mother she was my best friend, she died 6 mos after her diagnosis of lung cancer, but I too stayed w/ her 24/7 and said all that needed to be said and did all that needed to be done, and that is what gives me great peace and joy today. I know you will find it too.

Deb, 6 months seems like such a short time and we were partially thankful we had longer than that.  I say partially because that experience was such a mixed blessing.  We all hated watching her suffer but loved that we were able to get closure and say what we needed to say and our goodbyes.  I think people at the hospital thought we were completely nuts 'cuz when she finally passed away (I actually watched her take her last breath and I will tell ya, I will cherish that forever) we were all so happy and saying "Thank God!"  It was just time.  She deserved the peace and rest she lacked for years.  I find it funny how I THOUGHT all the "firsts" would be the most painful but in all honesty, I found all the seconds really hard and I'm having a harder time now than I did when she first passed away.  I guess it finally sunk in.
 
She hated the fact that I shifted my priorities and made her #1.  She felt it was unfair for me (I was around 23-24 yrs old) to give up so much.  She said at my age I wasn't suppose to carry such a heavy burden of taking care of her and taking on the "Mom" role for my younger brother and the "wife" role for my dad.  She felt I needed to be doing what all 23-24 yrs olds were doing, which was enjoying life, hanging out w/ friends, etc.  I told her I was 100%, absolutely and completely happy with the decision I made and I would do it a million times over without even taking a second to think about it. 
 
Anyway, thanks for listening...    

gorgeous pictures would make lovely cards to send.