A Surgery Shower

Have you ever heard of a surgery shower?  Well, now you have!  We had one for my Mom yesterday.  I thought she should have something fun to look forward to before having her operation on Wednesday.  And a gathering of all of her ladies, and neighbors, along with the ladies of the family, made for a perfect day.  I sent the invitations, and wrote, Please come shower my Mom with love and good wishes.  It was a beautiful, summer like day.  Gennifer and I arrived early to help get things set up, but my Mom had it all ready to go.  We  held it at her home, so that all of her neighbors could be there.  ( My daughter Erika was working out of town over the weekend, and had to miss it.  We missed her.)

Before the guests arrived, we were up in my Mom's room and got a little silly.  She has a big beautiful bathtub, and I walked in to find my niece laying in it, fully clothed.  I thought that was so funny.

The next thing I knew, my daughter and my Mom were in there with her!

When my sister in law Glenda arrived, I thought that she and Gennifer looked so pretty in their almost matching maxi dresses and jewelry.  I had to get a picture.  And let me just tell you, getting a photo of our Glenda is NOT easy!!!!

Gennifer and I.

I want to reach into that photo and pull my sweater up over my shoulder!!  Tsk, tsk.
My Mom and Gennifer.

The guests began to arrive.  My cousin Kelly flew in from Portland so she can be here for her surgery.  Her sister Keri will be here tomorrow, so she missed the shower.  We missed their little sister, my cousin Katie, who couldn't make the trip.  That is Kelly on the far right.  The girls are enjoying their Sangria, and iced tea.

Some of the first were my Mom's group of gals that she has been close with for years!  They go to dinner every Tuesday night, and they do all kinds of  fun things together.  These ladies are close!!!  And they are fun!!  As a gift, they brought a car load full of new flowers to plant for her, so she can see them every day.  Daisies were a must.  They call themselves The Daisies.  Because Kay's husband Ray, used to drive them all around to wherever they were going, dinner, the casino, the movies.  He used to say he was "Driving Miss Daisies"  Ray passed away a year ago, and now all of them are widowed.  They are wonderful support for each other, and wonderful friends!
Here are the beautiful flowers they brought.

They stacked them nice and pretty by her door.  And today they went back to her house, and planted them in her planter outside her dining room window.  She will be able to enjoy them every day.
Mom also love Gardenias, and there were several of those too.  I thought that was such a perfect gift!!!  Here is Mom, with all of her "Daisies."

Before we had lunch, I introduced my sisters in law, and myself, to the neighbors that did not know us, as they would be seeing a lot of us coming and going in the next few weeks.  While I was talking, Gennifer took some photos.  I loved this one of my Mom reaching up to hold my hand.

I don't know why, but when my Dad became ill, 10 years ago, when my Mom and I would be talking privately, I started to call her Mommy, like I did when I was a little girl.  We would email each other, every morning, and every night, and I always began the letters the same.  Dear Mommy......
Since that time, I find that whenever there is a rough patch, when I address her, it is Mommy.  I am almost 54 years old, and I will always need my Mommy.  How lucky am I?
So we raised our glass to my Mom.  We laughed, talked, and shared stories.  We all had a wonderful afternoon.  And most importantly, so did Mom!

She got lots of thoughtful gifts.  Several bouquets of beautiful flowers, and just as I had asked on each of the invitations, she was showered with love and good wishes.  It was a perfect party!
Here is a cute photo of my niece Deanna with her.

After the party, the rest of the family arrived.  We continued to eat, and visit, and then at dusk, took the most delightful boat ride on the lake.  It was a very hot day.  Like summer.  So this was the perfect ending to an already great day.  Unfortunately, I had left my camera in the house.
Thanks again, to all of you who are thinking of my Mom, as we navigate our way through the unknown, and approach her surgery date this Wednesday morning.  Your emails, texts, cards, phone calls and visits have all meant so much.  We are blessed beyond words.  In these past few weeks, since learning of Mom's diagnosis, we have spent a lot of time together, and the other day she stopped over, and I took this photo of she and Noah.  It warms my heart.

XO  Kris