Pictures from Thanksgiving 2009

Levi, Mom on the phone, and Shelley (her sitter/companion)

Phil and Mom

Mom talking to Mary and Anita on Thanksgiving

Phil, Tom Turkey, and Momma May

Momma May on Thanksgiving 2009

Even DC ("darn" cat) had a place in the dining room on Thanksgiving.

Gobble Gobble

Maribeth's Report

What a great Thanksgiving Day we had here in Texas. Levi was home from college and Fran was able to come to our home for the big feast.

The feast was served about 2:00 p.m. on a beautiful, elegant table that even Martha Stewart would envy. (I’m only repeating what my Mother-in-law said!)

Shelley, Fran’s sitter/companion, is now officially a member of the May Family. She was with Fran in the morning and then drove her to our home. Mark, one of Fran’s favorite CNA’s, was working so she felt secure about the transfer from her wheelchair to the car. When she arrived here, Levi was able (under the direction of Philip) to help lift her to the wheelchair. Once in our home she was able to relax.

While waiting for me to put the final touches on the meal she enjoyed looking through the Donovan Memorial Church Cookbook. She stated that she has tasted most of the recipes in the book because most of them are her friends' creations. I commented that there were no recipes of mine in the book. Fran then said, “That's because you're a Catholic and this is a Methodist Cookbook...No Catholics allowed!” We all laughed and enjoyed seeing Fran’s great sense of humor coming through once again.

Dinner was served and we all enjoyed the moist turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, yams, corn and cranberry sauce. We needed to take a break following dinner before we finished it off with chocolate and pecan pie topped with ice cream.

Fun was had by all!!! Before heading back to the nursing home Fran was able to call Anita and Mary and wish them a happy day.

Just keeping you all up to date,
Maribeth May

Thanksgiving at the May’s in Texas

Phil's Version

So there we were, standing at our front door when Momma May and Shelley drove up to the door in Shelley’s town car. Smiles beamed everywhere. We all had empty stomachs in anticipation of a royal feast. I guess we were experiencing the joy of anticipation.

Got mom outta the car and in her wheelchair. Levi was here too. He rolled Mom into the house and parked her in the kitchen where she entertained us with her humor while Maribeth continued to prepare the last details of the fixin’s.

We all ate till Mom said her usual thing about satiation: “I’m about to pop!” We laughed and realized that her simple statement was so true. We were all at that satiation point. Turkey, mashed taters, yams, dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, chardonnay, merlot, pecan pie, chocolate pie, carrot cake and ice cream were all on the menu that day.

2009 & 2001 Thanksgiving

Fran wanted us to pass on her Thanksgiving thoughts and prayers to all of her family and friends.

She is doing very well these days. Her mind is good, her sense of humor is great and her spirits are up. She still struggles with the fact that she can’t walk. She and her sitter Shelley attend the center's bingo, skippo games and music performances almost daily. Fran looks forward to getting her hair done every other Tuesday and her nails painted.

Levi is home for the Thanksgiving holiday and surprised Fran with beautiful flowers on his first visit. He was amazed at the improvement in his grandmother’s health since he last saw her in August before leaving for JMU. We will be having her over today for Thanksgiving Dinner along with Shelley. We are looking forward to their visit.

Please continue to keep Fran in your thoughts and prayers. She always has all of you in her heart.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Maribeth (Fran’s Favorite Daughter-in-law)

This was 2001, the year that Mary and Ed moved to Virginia. We were thankful that Mary Margaret and Hunter Holler invited us for Thanksgiving dinner.

Pizza Party at Pleasant Manor

Maribeth suggested that I (Mary) put together a slide show of our trip, which I did. We went to Pleasant Manor on Saturday afternoon and commandeered the lobby for the show. Maribeth and Phil got the screen and projector set up.

They brought Mother down in her wheelchair and she seemed to take it all in. She had been many of the places when she and cousin Mabel Miller toured the west some years ago. She especially liked the Redwoods. (You can go to our website at http://angeliladventures.blogspot.com/ if you care to see more.)

That's Mary in the lower right-hand corner.

Mother's companion, Shelley, and Maribeth's friend, Lynn both joined us. We had a break to eat some yummy pizza that Lynn had picked up for Maribeth on her way over. Ed and Phil went home to watch some football. Maribeth and I stayed until Mother was tucked into bed.

Mother is Amazing

Mother has been here in Texas in a nursing home near my brother for almost a year. Phil and Maribeth have been so faithful about visiting her every day.

She's really had some ups and downs along the way. It appears that she might not be able to walk again but she does receive therapy to keep her limber. Phil has worked closely with the doctor and it seems they have tweaked her meds to a nice mellow balance.

She is amazingly clearheaded and knew me immediately. They just had her to the doctor to have her ears cleaned and she seems to be hearing better than she has in a long time.

She is getting good care at Pleasant Manor and this is, no doubt, affected by Phil and Maribeth's daily visits. I really appreciate and admire their dedication. Also, Mother's Southern manners come through and she always thanks people who do something for her.

Mother is like the energizer bunny who takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'. We hope she will continue to be peaceful in her surroundings.