Aging is not for the "faint of heart". A week ago on Wednesday, when I got home from work, I checked my messages on my cell phone, there was a voicemail from my cousin Elaine, informing me that my mom had fallen down and then was pretty confused when the EMTs transported her to the American Fork Hospital. I called mom and found out that she had a UTI (urinary tract infection). The infection had gone systemic, probably causing the mental confusion. She spent five days in the hospital, I visited with her on the Friday she was in the hospital. I was able to go visit Mom and Aunt Thelys on Monday 1/20 Martin Luther King day, since I had the day off school and was glad to see that she was doing well.
My mom will be 90 years old on March 31st. I have watched the past 12 years (since my Dad died), as my mom has battled loneliness, injury, and declining health. Many of the medical conditions she has faced were life threatening, but she has recovered and faced adversity with grace, courage and good cheer. She sold her home of 30+ years, and now lives with my Aunt Thelys (6 years her junior). I am happy she is there and that she is not alone, but I know she misses her independence, and the connections she had with her friends. She has made friends with some widows who live in the ward that she is in now. She goes to the temple once a week, but usually does two sessions. She has dinner and watches movies twice a week with her friends. She reads, does puzzles and is active in the church. She got an iPad and I have been able to help her to learn how to use it. I am so grateful for every day she has the courage to go on, and live a full life, she is still learning, creating and setting and reaching goals. I hope that I can follow her example, she is an amazing woman and I am glad that I am her daughter.
The Hardman Family
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Sunday, January 19, 2014
No Excuses
I haven't posted a blog for two years, well at least on this account. Actually I have been blogging on a regular basis over the last year, for an educational technology course that I was taking. The blogs were centered around classes that I took and were focused on professional learning. I haven't blogged for my personal life for a very long time.
I won't even try to go over all that has happened over the past two years, I will let my personal journal be my record of what I have done ( though admittedly even my journal is filled with large gaps). What I do want to share is the big events that have not been recorded, but are worth mentioning.
First of all in 2012 one of my entries mentioned the possibility of retiring from teaching in 2013, after 30 years of teaching. That did not happen, and it looks like it may not happen for quite some time. In the fall of 2012, I had a bicycle accident and broke my right arm. Three months and two surgeries later, after careful thought and prayer, I decided to keep working. I am still working teaching at Alta High School, I am in my 14th year at Alta and my 31st year of teaching.
On May 29th 2013, Wynn Christian Knudsen made his entry into the world, our first grand son. He is a beautiful baby, very easy-going and has no lack of love from his parents, older sisters and extended family.
On August 1st 2012, our son Tyler Hardman married his sweetheart, Jessica Lynn Lamph, in the Salt Lake LDS temple. From the moment we met Jessica, we were hoping she would be "the one", she is a wonderful girl, so good to Tyler. She is the kind of girl every parent would want their son to marry. It was pretty much love at first site, and about a year after their first date, these two tied the knot.
On September 6th 2013, it became clear why I wasn't supposed to retire from teaching. Scott lost his job. After working for 32 years in the food industry, and making a good living, he is unemployed. He has had a hard time finding anything, so now the support of our family is mostly on me.
In about the middle of October, I was released from my Young Women calling. I have been in the Young Women for over four years, serving as first counselor for the last three and a half years. It has been hard to get used to. I don't have a new calling yet, but I know it will come it time.
In December of 2013, I finished my Educational endorsement, it will mean a slight pay increase for me, but mostly it has given an infusion of excitement and energy to my teaching.
As far as I am concerned, now I can start blogging again . Wish me luck! I hope you'll leave me a message from time to time.
I won't even try to go over all that has happened over the past two years, I will let my personal journal be my record of what I have done ( though admittedly even my journal is filled with large gaps). What I do want to share is the big events that have not been recorded, but are worth mentioning.
First of all in 2012 one of my entries mentioned the possibility of retiring from teaching in 2013, after 30 years of teaching. That did not happen, and it looks like it may not happen for quite some time. In the fall of 2012, I had a bicycle accident and broke my right arm. Three months and two surgeries later, after careful thought and prayer, I decided to keep working. I am still working teaching at Alta High School, I am in my 14th year at Alta and my 31st year of teaching.
On May 29th 2013, Wynn Christian Knudsen made his entry into the world, our first grand son. He is a beautiful baby, very easy-going and has no lack of love from his parents, older sisters and extended family.
On August 1st 2012, our son Tyler Hardman married his sweetheart, Jessica Lynn Lamph, in the Salt Lake LDS temple. From the moment we met Jessica, we were hoping she would be "the one", she is a wonderful girl, so good to Tyler. She is the kind of girl every parent would want their son to marry. It was pretty much love at first site, and about a year after their first date, these two tied the knot.
On September 6th 2013, it became clear why I wasn't supposed to retire from teaching. Scott lost his job. After working for 32 years in the food industry, and making a good living, he is unemployed. He has had a hard time finding anything, so now the support of our family is mostly on me.
In about the middle of October, I was released from my Young Women calling. I have been in the Young Women for over four years, serving as first counselor for the last three and a half years. It has been hard to get used to. I don't have a new calling yet, but I know it will come it time.
In December of 2013, I finished my Educational endorsement, it will mean a slight pay increase for me, but mostly it has given an infusion of excitement and energy to my teaching.
As far as I am concerned, now I can start blogging again . Wish me luck! I hope you'll leave me a message from time to time.
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