Here we come!

Grand island, here we come!,

Bradley on a new adventure

Four years ago this February, 

a dear friend and school nurse, Monica

said goodbye to the son she knew.

After a tragic car accident on his way to work

at Thibodaux Regional, Bradley suffered a severe head injury

and never awakened to be the son she and her family once knew.

She and her husband, Steve along with her extended family did

what many of us could not even begin to think of.

They took him home in his semi-comatose state and

began the family altering task of caring for him.

Many of us wondered how? 

No one would have thought any less of them had they decided

to admit him into a long term care facility to help with his care.

Not these parents, not this family.

They took him home, not only cared for his basic necessities

but exercised him, nurtured him, brought him in his wheelchair

to every event he was able to attend, went to church.

All in the hopes that something would spark, and their

personal "sleeping beauty" would awaken after months,

even years and ask, "What the heck happened?'

He was known to have the same muscular build he had had

since playing football for ED White even after 4 years of 

being wheelchair and bed bound.

His mother, Monica was known to have said on many occasions

that Bradley would be very upset with her if he awakened

after 4 years of sleep to find that his body had not been

maintained in the way he always maintained it before.

This week Bradley passed away to the curious place

we call Heaven and will be buried on Monday.

I sit here outside today and I wonder why?

Why after 4 years of the extended illness was it time to 

die? I wonder about his parents, his brothers,

how long their days will be now that Bradley will not

be there to tend to. I am so very sad for their loss

yet, I have this sense of peace for them, that even though

they cannot see or feel it now, that will once again be

a family that can take vacations, go see a movie,

sit to read a book, able to sleep a whole night... I also sit here thinking that this lesson,

these 4 years were never about Bradley or Monica or Steve.

Not about his two younger brothers or any of the rest of the family.

I want to believe that their strength, their care was to teach others 

what true love, true unconditional love is. 

That not only did they never take the easy way out but went 

above and beyond what most of us would think we are capable of.

They have taught me that even through all of that, you can still smile

even if you don't feel like it. You can still think and speak positive,

still hope. Their 4 year ordeal is over but it will never end.

I and many others will continue to always think of the Story of Bradley

Hymel and remember what an honor it was to know and watch this

family. As I said, they have taught so many lessons, it is their turn to rest.

To be just like others who have lost a child, never the same but finding

peace at the end of a long journey.

The Big Man, he needed a "Big boy" in the big heaven...

Bradley was called and he went, his parents do not question, their 

faith being that that many of us should try and have.

Rest in Peace, Bradley, move and laugh, fish and play ball...

To the family, may God be with you all during this time 

of sadness and loss.

HOBL comes home, Grand isle vacation almost here!

HOBL missed his flight yesterday to come in

was soooo disappointed as I am ready for him to come home this time.

The home is more fun when he is here in it.

Hoping on Friday to come out of this walking cast 

because I broke my heel... Long story.. not today...

On Monday, we leave for our yearly Grand Isle trip.

WE all have been looking forward to it for so long.

It is the one time a year, aside from last year when we skipped

that the Riera clan takes the time to spend days together

in Grand Isle.

It is always a time for relaxation, reconnecting.

Gypsy baby is between jobs so she and Kelmiester

will hopefully be spending the whole week.

This year, we also get to add the Guilbeau in-laws

to our vacation. When a child marries,

that family also becomes family...

Can you tell how excited I am about this vacation.

Of all the places I have been,

Grand isle is still one of my very favorite places to be.

Was it not for the hurricane dilemma, expense of living there,

and Bean being 2 hours away from GI,

I would so want to have lived there....

So touching, Thanks, Stacy for sending this!

I often speak of the relationship I have with my now, 92 year old,

demented mother, I speak of how much I love her but how I feel like

I have lost the mother I once had.

This morning, I have this in my email box from my dear friend, Stacy.

I cannot thank Stacy enough for sending this as it puts into perspective

that if I think it is hard for me, imagine how hard it is for her.

These are the words I think she would like to say if she could.

How I would love to have a picture of myself and my mother 

just like this....

beautiful...

Word of Warning:

If you have an elderly parent kleenex will be needed as you will

shed tears when reading this.

Love your Mother and be ever so thankful that you still have her!

hanks Tired mama...so touchingl! ♥ Letter from a Mother to a Daughter: "My dear girl, the day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don’t ...interrupt to say: “You said the same thing a minute ago”... Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep. When I don’t want to take a bath, don’t be mad and don’t embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl? When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don’t look at me that way... Remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life’s issues every day... The day you see I’m getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I’m going through. If I occasionaly lose track of what we’re talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can’t, don’t be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you. And when my old, tired legs don’t let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don’t feel sad... Just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I’ll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I’ve always had for you, I just want to say, I love you... My darling daughter. "

A weekend to treasure

Beginning on Thursday for a long weekend,

Tedi and Tiffy came to Riera R and R.

From the minute they showed up to the minute

they left, we had a wonderful visit.

Above is Tedi and I scrapping.

So many things were discussed.

I always say Tiffy is such a good mother to Tedi

but Tedi makes it easy because for a 15 year old

teenager, she has her head on straight.

She and her nannie spent a lot of time just talking

and it had been too long.

The older she gets, the harder it is to find the time

to spend together because she is a socialite.

I am glad for any time she can give me.

I don't know if she is just faking it or really means it,

but she seems to really enjoy our time together,

whether it be scrapping or shopping at flea market stores,

she always seems happy to do it.

The weekend was about relaxation for Tiffy and I think

she got that here. 

 On Saturday, my besties, Ann and Laurie spent the day 

along with bestie babies and my sweet Abby, my niece

who is best friends with bestie baby, Jessica.

Bestie Laurie had just came from a vacation and bought

me this house warming gift, a vintage clock 

that I fell in love with right from the minute I saw it.

Bestie Ann also brought me my favorite circle E candle

Bird of Paradise. Nothing was needed so the gifts were appreciated.

Sweet Abby and baby, Jessica love nature and animals

so they were in their element when finding a nest that fell out the tree

that had two babies that could not fly yet.

It was entertainment for at least an hour.

After sweet Abby called her Pop for advice,

it was decided that they would fly soon and the best thing 

was to leave them there, as they did.

 These girls are growing up so fast!

Sweet Abby, on the right, rarely looks her age of 12.

I was so happy to find that this picture here finds both the girls

looking their age and not older.

This is a scrapbook page for sure.

 We did some front porch sitting at the new abode.

All loved the new house, my favorite

part was that there are so many areas to relax and

it will be even better once we have all our outdoor furniture and

our outdoor wharf on the water.

Having no wharf did not stop any of us from enjoying the

waterway. On Friday night, Tiffy and I took the pups out there

and began to read, watching the sun go down.

When we looked at the time it was 8:30 pm!

So relaxing and to spend it with my first niece, the one 

that made me an Auntie Lil was fantastic!

 I call Lindsey, below, a bestie baby but she really has become

a great friend to me. Here, we were cutting up.

when she saw the picture, she said,

"Delete that picture, you told me silly face and you didn't do it"

My response to her was,

"Girl, my boob, looks like it's attacking you, isn't that

funny enough???"

 I love this picture of the besties.

I will scrap it with a picture of the three of us when 

we were teenagers.

I think we are aging well considering we are soon to 

be 50...50.....

Our friendships have waxed and waned over the 

years but because it has withstood many things,

I am so proud of all we do to maintain this love 

we have for each other.

 Below is me making fun of Tedi-girl....

she loves taking pictures of herself in different scenarios.

She denies it so I showed her how she looks some times

when she takes the camera out.

Of course, she is much cuter than I am in her photo shoots.

 Below is our Thursday night supper.

Baby boy came over with KD and Bean to cook 

supper for his mom and cousins, Tiffy and Tedi.

Unfortunately, because Tiffy took the pictures

she isn't in any of them.

Gypsy baby and Kelmiester also spent time with us this weekend.

Loved all the company.

I was sad when each couple of people left but more

so when the last group left yesterday, Tiffy and Tedi-girl,

I was sad. I was already having a tough day as since

I broke my heel (another story) and had to wear this 

day walking cast, my back is acting up.

They packed up and drove off and I wanted to cry but

held it together, Until I went into the kitchen and saw 

on a chalk board I have a message from my dear Tedi...

"Tedi loves you always"

then I shed some tears.

It reminded me of being a little girl, raised in the big home

of Dursette Lane.

TIffy, Tie, and Beck would come with their mom and Dad for 

the weekends and I would always get so excited for the 

weekends that they would come.

As usual, the weekends would pass so fast and on Sunday afternoon,

they would pack up and head back to Houma, where they lived at 

the time and I always would be so sad,

would retreat to my room and lay low for the rest of the day,

read or watch TV, wishing it was just Friday and not Sunday.

It is exactly what I did yesterday.

Layed low, read and watched TV for the rest of the day.

Cannot wait for the next visitors...