Hello dear friends. First things first I want to thank you for all your kind comments on my last post back in July regarding my husband's passing and the birth of my granddaughter. I'm sorry I didn't respond to your comments as I usually do or make it by to visit, it's been a tough time for me. Thank you to all who have checked back in on me since then too. It means so much to me to know you have been thinking of me in my absence.
I am hanging in there. I have continued to immerse myself in work and have dealt with and am still dealing with the seemingly endless paperwork and phone calls that come with the death of a spouse along with changing and rearranging everything to keep my own affairs in order. It's been quite a nightmare.
Speaking of nightmares, hurricane Ian showed up back in September. It came ashore about forty miles south of where I live. Ian was one of the scariest and worst hurricanes I've ever been through, that's saying a lot after living in Florida my entire life. There was quite a bit of damage to my home, but in comparison to so many others I consider myself one of the lucky ones. I still had a roof over my head and my home was still safe to live in. Of course it has added more paperwork, more phone calls, and more money out the window. I guess I have to be thankful I still have a window to throw the money out of, so many lost their homes in that devastating storm. I sure hope any of you who were in the path of Ian made it through safely and hopefully with minimal damage.
The holidays were difficult for us this year but we managed. My son, his wife, and the baby were all directly exposed to someone who came down Covid the week before Christmas - I hadn't even thought about Covid in so long. We played it safe and had a throwback socially distanced outdoor get together. It just figures, for the first time in many years we had a cold Christmas day, it was in the 30s, overcast, and windy. It was not ideal for an outdoor get together. It was a fairly quick celebration but at least we were together for a little while. It was probably for the best for this year anyway, no time to dwell on things. Thankfully none of those who were exposed came down with Covid. It has been long enough that they should be in the safe zone now.
This year has obviously sucked overall for me, but my sweet little grandbaby has been the one constant bright spot. I have been taking care of her a few days a week since back in August. She hit eight months old on the 28th. She is all over the place, into everything, and as fast as as can be already. She sure can wear me out but has brought me an amazing amount of joy. My baby girl was certainly named appropriately - Luna means moon and she has definitely been the light in the darkness for me. I can't wait to share more about her with you.
I guess I'll wrap things up for now. I just wanted to pop in to let you know how things are going. I still have no idea when I might be able to get back to blogging but please let me know how you've been and what you've been up to. I miss all of you so much.
I hope your holidays were wonderful. Here's to a Happy New Year!
Peace, love and hugs,
Martha
Here's to a Happier New Year for you! Thanks for taking the time to catch up with us and let us know how you are doing. It will get better as time goes along.How wonderful you get to see your granddaughter often. Grandchildren definitely brighten our lives up. I have a lot of them but only about 5 that I get to see regularly. It makes it very hard when they live far away. Right now I'm in your state of sunny Florida and enjoying the warmth and sunshine! Ohio had a terrible winter storm that left me freezing so this trip is really appreciated. Take care and keep in touch when you can. Love, ma
ReplyDeleteHello Martha,
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to hear from you! I am so happy you have your granddaughter Luna to help brighten your day. My grandsons are a joy, we love them and spending time with them. Sending wishes of comfort, joy and happiness for the New Year. Take care, have a great New Year weekend.
Martha, I was so happy to see your post in my reader this morning. You have been VERY miss!
ReplyDelete" Oh and nothing is easy these days. Everything takes fifteen phone calls where you are placed on hold for an hour, twenty one emails, thirty two forms to download and print or have mailed, then filled out and mailed back."
Doesn't it blow you away that for how technically advanced this world has become, it's made the process of doing things much more difficult!?!
My brother, who lives in Delray Beach, although in the path of Ian, was miraculously spared being hit. But I was so worried for him.
Glad to hear you were able to have a quick gathering with your family on Christmas. I know the holidays can be very difficult after the passing of a loved one. It was hard for my brother and I after my mother passed away, which was during the holidays in 2012.
"but my sweet little grandbaby has been the one constant bright spot."
What a wonderful bright spot and blessing. Being that I love the moon, I love her name!!
Thanks so much for you update, my friend. Know that you are loved and in our thoughts.
Happy New Year! X
I was glad to see that your name popped up in my Feedly less this morning. I knew you would be back when you got to the place where you could. Please take my condolences even though they are belated. Can't wait to hear more about your grandbaby and we too went through Ian it was 40 Mi north of us but we got swiped and it cost us a new garage door by kicking it in but other than that we did okay and I'm like you it was the scariest one I have ever lived through. Glad you have your job and your family and your new baby to keep you going through these tough times. Will be waiting to hear from you again. Thanks for letting us know how you're doing. Hubby and I just had covid 3 weeks ago we were really sick for 2 days and then for another 3 days we will kind of sick but by the 5th day we were okay except for I kept headaches that I still have
ReplyDeleteIn such hard times, I'm glad you have the light that Luna brings. Sending positive thoughts for you as you continue to sort out things during these very difficult times.
ReplyDeleteWonderful to see you update the blog, Martha. I am so happy that you have been enjoying Luna's company. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteWelcome back to the Ether. Little Luna sounds like a cutie pie and the light to keep you going. Happy New Year
ReplyDeleteMartha - I've thought about you and wondered how you were holding up. Sorry to hear about the mountain of paperwork and the disruption of the hurricane. Goodness, it all sounds very overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteHooray for Luna and the time you spend with her. No surprise that you are over the moon with her.
Wishing you a better 2023 with time to relax and enjoy your family. All the best to you.
Thank you for the update; it's lovely to hear from you again.
ReplyDeleteI know you'll be glad to have so much of 2022 behind you, and as soon as possible. Hopefully, it won't be long until the Best Things are all that remain, Luna and loving memories of your husband and your life together.
Here's to a kind, happy, and peaceful New Year for you and your family, Martha. And for all of us.
Oh man, that's terrible Martha, what you've gone through. That had to be so difficult to lose your husband. I have friends and family members who refuse to see a doctor even when they have very bad symptoms. I'm so sorry you lost your husband. And then to be hit by Ian damage. I can't imagine living through a hurricane that savage. Or trying to manage all the necessary damage control paper work and phone calls of either extreme event. It migh take a great while to heal from all that. I wish you the best from Oregon. The worst we've had here is the usual lots of rain and a couple days of being iced over. Big exciting stuff for us (the one day ice storm)
ReplyDeleteMartha, That's so much to face this past year. I'm glad your children are there for you and the baby is definitely light.
ReplyDeleteI hope 2023 will be a much better and much easier year for you. Keep taking joy in your sweet baby granddaughter!
ReplyDeleteThanks for checking in. You have been and are missed. We will keep the light on for you so that when you are ready to return you can. In the meantime, keep reveling in your beautiful granddaughter.
ReplyDeleteIt is so good to hear from you again, Martha. I can imagine the joy sweet Luna brings to your life, a ray of sunshine when the days seem so dark after the loss of your husband. Take care my friend!
ReplyDelete2012 was that kind of year for me, Martha. I know well the overwhelming piles of paperwork and lists of places to contact, the helpful/unhelpful behavior of some people and companies and the difficulty getting through ANY of it while numb from grief. I'm happy that you're staying busy with work and finding solace in your family and your granddaughter. Sending hugs and love!
ReplyDeleteSo lovely to hear from you Martha and that you are doing as well as can be, focussing on what is important such as your lovely grandbaby.
ReplyDeleteSo wonderful to hear from you, Martha, and for letting us know how things are going for you since losing your dear husband. Know that I've been keeping you in my thoughts and prayers all this time, and will continue to do so.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that your little granddaughter is bringing so much joy into your life, especially at this time (I sure miss mine!), and that Ian didn't do too much damage to your home. Thanks be to God for that!
Hope you can continue to wade through the mountains of paperwork as you try to bring everything to a suitable, workable close.
Blessings and best wishes for a better year in 2023!
It is good to hear from you, and that you are doing alright. You must have had an awful Christmas, and I am so very sorry. But babies always seem to bring joy and togetherness.
ReplyDeleteSo nice to see and read this post from you.
ReplyDeleteI am pleased you were able to get-together with family at Christmas.
Luna sounds adorable ... grandchildren bring so much joy.
Sending my good wishes for the New Year of 2023.
Take care.
All the best Jan
I'm so glad you popped up again. Yeah, this year has been rough. But it sounds like Luna has been a great spot of happiness. You'd think they'd find a way to make the paperwork easier, but nah. They just have to make it as hard as possible, don't they? Take care. The blogosphere will still be here when you're ready to return.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to see a post and know that you survived your "Annus Horibilis" as the late Queen put it. Hopefully the coming year will be a good one for you.
ReplyDeleteSo good to catch up with you again ! Hope you have a good New Year !
ReplyDeleteMartha I want to say how sorry I am that I am just now finding this information out. - Yes I took a big break from commenting on blogs and from even posting much on my own blog. No particular reason other then general life goings and comings. I am so sorry to hear you lost your husband. I can't even begin to say I know how that would feel. I pray you find peace in all your wonderful memories of him. - Praise God for the birth of that new grandbaby, Luna (what a pretty name.) Can't wait to hear more about her. - Looking forward to trying to catch up with posts and blogging again in the coming New Year.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the updates, hopefully 2023 will be much more calm for you all. I truly hope you all have a Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteHi Martha, it was good to hear from you! You have been through a lot. I am glad your granddaughter brings joy to your life. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteIt's good to hear from you, Martha. Thank you for the update. I know it's been a very difficult year for you but I wish you all the best in the new year! I hope it will be a better year for you.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as though things continue to be difficult. I understand, as we’ve gone through the loss of our parents and other relatives we have power of attorney over. It is mentally exhausting and that’s not even considering the grief you are going through. I’m so sorry, Martha. We miss you but know that this is a season of life where blogging has to take a backseat. Wishing you a new year full of peace.
ReplyDeleteMy story, though from ten years ago, is nearly a mirror image of yours (and I was a Floridian at the time as well). So much will change for you, a long and slow journey that you will walk alone. But like you, my joy and spirit were always lifted up by grandchildren, especially the littlest one. I will not share my story, but always held strong words of our President, who said "there will come a day when the thought of your loved one will bring a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eyes ... I promise you." And that is true, it will happen. Be blessed, find your joy in the small moments.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure this had a to be a challenging holiday and I hope it was a peaceful one. Grieving is hard at any time of year but more intense, I think, at those traditional times when all gather together. I'm glad you escaped the wrath (if not the fear) of Ian. But that's quite a year. I send wishes for a happy new year and an easier one.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you Martha. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Martha! I'm so sorry life has been so difficult for you, and I hope the new year brings better days for you. How nice that you watch your grandbaby a few days a week. I watched little Mia once a week for about 8 months, and at the end of the day I was pooped haha. But it is something I'll never forget, and we got special time together. I really felt for you when you were talking about making all the calls and being put on hold and being transferred to different people. It's all so frustrating, and there really should be something done to improve that, right?
ReplyDeleteWishing you a bright new year, Martha, and you are such a strong and vibrant lady, trying to figure things out after losing your husband. It's hard, but please know you are doing a wonderful job.
~Sheri
I'm so glad to hear from you again. We've missed you. Yeah, all that paperwork and phone calling. You'd think in these computerized days things would be more streamlined. I often tell people how hard it must be for those who are a lot older, or suffering from dementia, to navigate it all, when I, who tells herself she knows what's going on, has difficulties. How nice for you to be able to spend time with Luna so often!
ReplyDeleteI'm sending hugs.
Good to hear from you again Martha. I can not imagine the year you must be having.. but you are powering through and that is good. Sending you some happy thoughts going into the new year.
ReplyDeleteGlad you still were able to get together for a little visit. 8 months is such a delightful age! Welcome 2023!
ReplyDeleteHi Martha, I somehow missed your catch-up post at the time you posted it. So good to hear from you but a terrible year and I am so very sorry that your husband passed. I hope this coming year will bring you peace.
ReplyDeleteMartha - I was popping by to see if you are still posting "Throwback Thursday", and my, oh my. 2022 was a rough year for you, to say the least. I am so sorry to hear about your husband. I turned 59 today, and although my husband and I are quite healthy, mortality is never far from my mind when I hear about others in my age group that are not so blessed. Congrats on your grandbaby, and I hope she continues to bring you joy.
ReplyDeleteJust popping in to say hello and give you a virtual hug.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you, and I'm sorry that I missed your post. I'm glad that your children were able to be together for Christmas even for a short time. Sounds like little Luna has been a blessing. So sorry for the damage from Hurricane Ian; definitely not what you needed to deal with last year. I hope the paperwork and everything is getting straightened out.
ReplyDeleteSending lots of hugs and prayers.
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Just wanted to send a hug and a hello! I miss you and hope you're doing well.
ReplyDeleteHi Martha!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted you to know that I have been thinking about you. Hope all is well, my friend. Know that you are missed and loved. X
Thinking of you!
ReplyDeleteHi Martha! Just wanted to stop by to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you're doing well. Miss you! X
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say hello and hope you're doing well. Miss you!!
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Hi Martha, Just checking in on you. I hope you are well. I think of you often.
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