Most everyone who sees this will already know...Terry died December 20, 2015.  My heart is heavy as I write this.  Even though we had 10 years to prepare, I have learned you can never be prepared to lose part of yourself.

I have neglected writing on here, since I've posted often and shared so many pictures in our private Facebook group.  So...

Thought I'd share some of the highlights from 2015...

The year started off pretty calm..but in February Terry had his first stay, of the year, in the hospital...11 days with Pneumonia.

In April we had a visit from my sister Theresa and her husband Jeff.  While Theresa and I spent hours talking and catching up, Jeff completed odd jobs around the house for me.  I already have the next "honey do" list ready for their next visit!

                                 Jeff took Terry for a walk around the block

Also, another highlight in April...we went to see The Sound Of Music in the theatre!  Nothing like the big screen! 
 

                                  Enjoying a warm day in April

On May 3,  Terry, Jennie, Emily and I participated in Walk 4 Water to raise money to fund the drilling of clean water wells in Africa.

                                   Taking a little nap while Emily walks

And then Mothers' Day!  William came from Colorado to be with us...it was the first time to have Shannon, William and Emily all together on Mother's Day in way too many years!  We started the day off by going to worship service, then in the afternoon Emily and William cooked dinner for all of us.

                   The last picture will all of us together, except Taylor.
 
Also, May 24 my youngest sister, Pam, died in her sleep. It was such a shock and such great sadness to lose her so unexpectedly.  Emily cared for Terry while Jennie and I flew to SC to be with family.

My dear friend Gudrun and her husband Bill moved to San Antonio in May!  Now, I have no coffee buddy!

Our youngest grandson, David, graduated from high school the first week of June.  We are so very proud of him!

Also in June, Terry spent another 6 days in the hospital.

                      But not before he was able to enjoy Flag Day

After that visit things seem to return to normal for him.  We enjoyed the rest of June and July.

August 2 we left for SC to see my brother Donald.  He had been battling colon cancer for almost 2 years and it had metastisized to his liver. Although, he assured me he was going to get better, I just knew I had to see him.  We were able to spend part of every day with him, except one, when he didn't want anyone to visit.  He left this life on August 16, 2015 with his sweet wife, Melissa, his sons, Daniel and Travis, our brother Kevin and sister-in-law, Angie by his side.  I'm am so thankful we were able to spend time with him and while we were there we were honored to watch Donald and his son, Travis, be baptized into Christ in the Edisto River, where Donald spent countless hours fishing.

                                              Terry and Donald

September 1st Terry and I left for Florida with my sister Juanita and her husband Steve on a previously planned vacation.  We had a wonderful time in Daytona Beach.  As always, Terry loved seeing the ocean again!  I'm so thankful we took that trip!  We also went over to Orlando and while there our friend Doris came for a visit. We mostly spent that few days resting and eating, of course. On the way back to Summerville we stopped one more night on the ocean.  Sweet memories...

Having visited with our families in SC we then took off to NC and enjoyed a week there with Terry's Mom, brothers and sisters and families.  More wonderful memories!

On the way home we stopped to visit with my sister, Theresa and her husband Jeff.  Terry started getting sick a day or so after we arrived there, so we stayed until he was better and then headed home.

All total we were gone 55 days!

We all celebrated Terry's birthday together on October 5 and rejoiced on October 9 that he'd made it 10 years since the cancer was found on his brain.

                                      Looking at birthday cards

 October 9 was 10 years since the cancer was found on his brain. A day to celebrate!

On October 10 Terry and I left for Branson, MO where we planned to stay until the 17th, our 45th anniversary.  However, on Wednesday, the 14th I decided we'd go home, instead and went to see Emily in Mrs. California!

Of course, there was Thanksgiving together with family, and many other dinners...just because.  Family time is always the best!

December 12-16 Terry was in ICU, again with pneumonia.  He was only home from Wednesday afternoon until Sunday before we were back in the hospital...for the last time..

We took Terry back to Charlotte, his home town, for his funeral service.  After having been away for so many years, it was indeed heart warming to see so many people there to help us honor him.

In the next few months we'll be going to Arlington National Cemetery where Terry will be buried with full military honors.

To all of you that have read his blog...thank you.

It has truly been a Good Life With Terry.

The last few weeks Terry has been very quiet.  He's had trouble speaking and gets frustrated with trying.  Almost every night I tell him, when he's trying to talk, it's ok and he'll probably be able to talk tomorrow.

Well, this morning he started talking again!  One of the first things he did was lift both arms up in the air. (He was lying on his back in bed)  I thought he was going to join his hands together and was having trouble doing so.  I asked him what he was doing and he said, "I lost it." When I asked what he said, "my watch"!  I assured him he hadn't lost it and showed him where it was. 

In a couple of minutes he said, "I'm getting better."  

He talked all morning!   ...and then this afternoon he couldn't...

Well, that's ok, because tomorrow he just might start again.

Still taking it one day at a time...

Wish you all could see Terry day to day as I do.  He's such a joy to be with!  Sometimes it's hard to remember the strong man that he used to be...

I've come to appreciate the simplicity of our lives and the sweet innocence that I see in him.  Every word he speaks, every expression he makes, his every movement brings us joy.  You'd hear a lot of "awww's" around here. 

Well, to recap, a lot has happened in the last year. (can't believe it's been so long since I posted!)

But not to go back through the entire time, I'll just start with the summer.  We took a weekend trip to Georgia for the Shelton family reunion.  It was great to see cousins, aunts and uncles again!  And I so wish more of them had been there. 

While we were there Terry's Aunt Ann was placed in Hospice.  We hadn't planned to go to the Carolina's but we were so close I felt we had to go see her.  And I'm so glad we did.  I was able to spend just about 10 minutes with her...just enough time to tell her how much Terry and I loved her and appreciated her, and give her a kiss.  She was so important to me as a young woman, such a wonderful example of a Christian wife and mother.  Our family refers to her as "a gracious southern Lady"...because she was.

Well, we stayed in the Carolina's for about 2 months before returning home to 2 months of construction on our house!

We finally had the bathroom remodeled for Terry, as well as a door here and there, easier entrances, a wider driveway, etc.  Terry and I shared space with the Christmas tree!  (We moved our bedroom into the living room.) I liked being near the fireplace! Hmmm maybe the next construction will be a fireplace in our room.

We've had enough snow and ice; and cold rain.  We're looking forward to Spring!  Flowers, warm weather, warm breezes, gentle rains, lots of sunshine!  In fact, I believe we'll enjoy the whole week of spring before the Texas heat hits us!!!

My sister, Theresa, started a blog this week. Check it out!  Rediscovering Me!

Always hopeful...

Terry is reading his daily "affirmation". 

It's About Time!

Well, we've come out of hibernation!  At least it seems that way.  The flu was such a threat here in Texas that I decided to keep Terry in for most of the winter.  Guess it worked, neither of us were sick.

It's been so nice to watch Spring.  Our yard is filled with flowers and every day something new has bloomed!  Juanita spent 2 months with us last fall and she spent hours in the yard...it's her favorite thing to do!  She told me we had about 50 rose bushes, but I thought she probably counted some a couple of times...but I recently walked the yard and counted 47!!  She was right!  And I may have missed some.  There are so many flowers that I've never seen before.  It's really pretty.

Terry enjoys just looking outside.  I think his favorite view is outback where he can see flowers, squirrels, hummingbirds, redbirds, the occasional bluejay and even the dog running! Oh, and the pool.

Most mornings he has breakfast in the dining room.  It has a big window that looks out front and across the street at another house.  Guess he's getting tired of that view.  Today I brought him into the dining area of the kitchen where I just have a work table full of plants (thank you, Juanita) and an inversion table.  But he can see out 5 windows and down the street.
He was sitting there looking out and said, "I can see the whole world."!!  Guess where he'll be having breakfast from now on!

Catching up!

Today is Terry’s 60^th birthday!  It’s been 7 years!  Joy beyond measure! 

So much has happened in the last six months!  Because it’s been so long since I was on here, thought I’d just share the highlights, if that’s possible once I get started! Ha!

Well, Terry was pretty quiet through the winter and spring…with a few words here and there.  In April we started house hunting (again!) and one day we were following our realtor around a curve, heading to the next house.  There was a house in the curve that had front and side yards full of flowers in full bloom!  Terry saw it and said, “Look at that!”!!!  The realtor stopped in front of that house!!  When I got out of the car I told her we’re buying this house!  Terry Shaw just spoke!!!  As it turned out it was the best house for us and we did actually buy it!

We moved in the first week of June, were there about 3 weeks and left for the Carolina’s. 

Terry’s Grandfather, Paw Paw, was having his 95^th birthday on July 14!  William (also born July 14!) had told me earlier he was spending his birthday with Paw Paw, so I started making plans to be there, also.  Paw Paw had been fighting pneumonia for a couple of months and wasn’t doing very well.  We were able to spend some time with him before his birthday and I’m so thankful for that.  I'm especially thankful that Shannon, Bryan, Isaac, David, William, Anna and Emily were all there to spend time with him, as well.

Paw Paw did very well at his party…so many people were able to see him again that probably wouldn’t have visited him otherwise.  Sadly, he passed away about 2 weeks later.  Terry was an honorary pall bearer.  Terry told me last night he was worried about Paw Paw, so I don't believe he remembers all that happened.

We took Terry to Myrtle Beach; he does love the ocean!  We spent quite a bit of time with his Mom and he even talked for her!  We also went to South Carolina to see my side of the family; as always, too short a visit!  Terry and I both caught a bug and were puny for the last couple of weeks.

After 5 weeks we made it home to face the boxes!!  No longer can I unpack and get my house in order in a few weeks!  We still have lots of unpacking to do.  One thing I’ve learned…it never walks off!  It’ll be there when I get to it!

I need to add in here, my oldest sister Jennie is part of our family now, and I couldn't make the trip without her!  She is so much help with taking things into the hotel when we stop, and sitting in the van with Terry while I run in places for food, etc.  We never stop to eat in a restaurant while we travel, it would just add too much chair time for Terry, but fast food gets old!  So, she waits with him and they listen to music while I go order food!  We have a system all worked out!  Jennie loves it, because she really doesn't help much with him otherwise.  I feel it's just too much responsibility for her.  

This week has been another “awakening” for Terry!  Monday he started talking again!  At first I was writing down what he was saying, but I couldn’t keep up!  I just don’t want to leave his side because he keeps talking!  He’s napping right now, but I had to tell him to close his eyes and rest because we’re going out to dinner for his birthday.  He had just asked me if I wanted to go walk….around the mall!!

Earlier today he told me he didn’t need to sleep!  I guess not! Since he’s slept for the last 7 years!

Well, as you can see I’m so excited!  It’s hard not to get my hopes up, and yet that’s exactly what I’m doing.  Already I’m thinking “physical therapy” again.  Who knows what the next few months will bring…

There is a fellow in our house modifying the first bathroom!  So….by next weekend Terry should have his first shower in a very long time!  Our bathroom will be modified after Christmas, along with lots of other things.  (So, if I just leave all this dust I could pretend it’s snow!)

Terry had his first "real" haircut in years this week!  I'm sure he hasn't been to a barber since we left OK.  Thought he might enjoy going.  Who cares if it only takes a minute to catch all of those hairs! I was willing to pay that "finders fee"!  Really, I was hoping he might interact with the barber, but he didn't....