Sheila's Y-T-D challenge

[J. W.]

I may have to check that out... like Elin... I keep hearing about that story.

[Debbie]

Elin, click on the GR link for the description and all the reviews, including Sheila's: The Birthright: a Pride & Prejudice Variation

[Sheila]

111.) Mr Darcy & Elizabeth: Unexpected Affection: A Pride and Prejudice Variation 3 stars

[Elin]

Thank you Debbie, will do that and Sheila has sent me her summary so I will peruse that also.

[Sheila]

112.) The Immovable Mr. Tanner: A Pride & Prejudice Variation 4.5 stars

[Sheila]

113.) The Best Laid Flight Plans: A Modern Pride and Prejudice Variation 4 stars

[Sheila]

114.) London Holiday 5 stars

[J. W.]

Oh Sheila I am so glad to see that it was 5-stars for you. I'm looking forward to reading it. I have it next on my list. I've had to be with family... we had a death and so I've been busy. I'll catch up soon.

[Teresa]

My sympathies J. W. I too have had a death and I'm all over the place.

[J. W.]

Oh Teresa... my sympathies to you also. Some of the family had not seen each other in years. It is terrible how we don't get together very often and it takes a death to bring everyone together. My thoughts are with you.

[Mary]

Jeanne-my sincere condolences on the death of your loved one.

[Sheila]

J. W. wrote: "Oh Sheila I am so glad to see that it was 5-stars for you. I'm looking forward to reading it. I have it next on my list. I've had to be with family... we had a death and so I've been busy. I'll cat..."

Sorry to read of a death you had to deal with.

[Sheila]

Teresa wrote: "My sympathies J. W. I too have had a death and I'm all over the place."

Sorry to also read of the death with which you have to deal.

[Teresa]

That's it exactly J.W. It was my mother who died. Hadn't seen some of the cousins for a long time even though throughout our childhood we had met up fairly regularly.

[J. W.]

Thanks everyone.
Teresa, I am so sorry for the loss of your mother. I remember when my mom passed.
This time it was my aunt. She was best friends with my mother and she took her passing really hard. Now, it is her turn. I'd like to think they are together.

[Teresa]

Yes J.W. it's been a difficult ten days. Mam was the last of that generation that I had grown up with. She was due to come home from hospital last Tuesday but got a bad turn the Wednesday before and that was that. Even though she had been unwell it was a huge shock. She was eighty seven and it seemed like she'd be around forever as she was still very sharp in her mind, it was the body let her down.

[Mary]

This is just my personal opinion but I believe that our loved ones' spirits live on and are hopefully not just looking down on us but all around us.

[Teresa]

I believe it totally Mary. Wouldn't survive if I didn't believe this as my Mam did.

[Debbie]

Teresa, you have my deepest sympathies. It's never easy to lose your mother at any age. And a funeral is always such bittersweet family time. Last time I saw most of my family was when my mother died in 2012. Jeanne, I'm also sorry to hear about the loss of your aunt. Both of you and your families are in my prayers.

[Teresa]

Thanks so much Debbie. These words mean so much.

[J. W.]

Teresa, my aunt was eighty-eight. Isn't that odd?

Thanks Debbie.

[Sheila]

115.) Teachings of His Father: A Pride and Prejudice Variation 3.5 stars

[Sheila]

116.) Lost & Found: A Pride & Prejudice Novella 5 stars

Love the cover.

[Debbie]

#115 - I snagged this when it was free but haven't gotten to it yet. Others muscled their way up to the front of the line!

#116 - This cover and the previous one for Elizabeth: A Pride & Prejudice Novella are both gorgeous, but this is a MUCH better book!

[Sheila]

117.) Superior is as Superior Does 4 stars

[Sheila]

118.) Netherfield Park Is Let at Last: A Pride and Prejudice Novella 4 stars

[Marlene]

J.W. and Teresa, I'm so sorry for your losses. It's never easy when someone close to us dies. I am really not looking forward to my mother dying some time in the future. Hopefully not for a long time.

[Sheila]

My mother died at age 77 ( in February of 2000) of renal cancer's spread. I still have times I would like to share something with her. She called death a "graduation" to heaven.

[J. W.]

What a wonderful thought Sheila. My mother was 75 [also cancer] and was not afraid of death. In fact one day when she and I were alone she asked me if she was going to die. I looked her in the eye and said 'yes.' When she asked when and I said, 'days, months' .. and started shaking my head... 'year.' After a moment... she said 'OK.'

Mom's pastor said he had never seen anyone embrace their pending death as she had. It taught me a lot about her faith and her belief system. I was forever changed that day. She was gone soon after that.

I guess the upcoming Mother's Day celebration here in the US is making me think about her more than usual.

Marlene, enjoy her every day that you have her. Record as many of her stories of family and events as you can. They will be gone with her. I've wanted to ask Mom so many questions. Things will come up and my brother will ask me and I don't know or I don't remember. A wealth of knowledge is lost with the passing of our elders. Just saying.

[Sheila]

My mother filled in one of those "For My Grandchild" books. I also filled one out for my grandchildren. It has curious entries about favorites and childhood memories of their parents. I used to have my kindergarteners (Taught K. for only 2 years.) ask questions about childhood on a Grandparents' day I had for them once a year...favorite toys growing up, etc.

[Debbie]

My dad was remarkably sanguine when his doc told him he didn't have much time left. At his funeral, one of his closest friends said Dad had called him and mentioned his prognosis as casually as if he were discussing the weather. Had no fear of it at all. Then again, he faced a LOT of death all around him in the infantry in WWII. Didn't ever talk a lot about that time except that he acted as literal "godfather" in a number of battlefield baptisms.

I love the idea of a "For My Grandchild" book. Never heard of that before. I'll have to look into that!

[Marlene]

Sheila and J.W., thanks for the recommendations!

[Sheila]

Debbie wrote: "My dad was remarkably sanguine when his doc told him he didn't have much time left. At his funeral, one of his closest friends said Dad had called him and mentioned his prognosis as casually as if ..."

Hallmark store used to carry them but I am sure you could find one on-line. I also had one for my father-in-law but he never filled it out...sadly.

[Debbie]

I already checked, and there are a bunch of different ones. There's a Target near me and apparently they carry one of them that's among the least expensive, so I'll look there.

[Teresa]

My mother told me lots of stories about the family over the years. She could go back years. She also seemed to be the only one in her family who was interested and knew all about the family and she has passed on the interest to me. In her last weeks in hospital she told me even more that I hadn't heard before. I feel I must write it down for my own children while most of it is still fresh in my mind. So glad now we had all those chats.

[Sheila]

Yes, do write it down. I also "wrote" chapters about my youth growing up. One chapter was about vacations we took, etc. I didn't print it out as I was adding chapter...BUT for about 25 years I typed out a "Christmas Letter" to send to family and friends and so kept a copy for me and then put together a book of "Christmas letters" for my children. They enjoyed that...suddenly there they were...as each was born and joined the family. The letters usually covered 2 sides of an 8"x10" paper.

I would talk about the sports they were in and their hobbies and interests and vacations/trips we took as well as what I and my husband were doing. Then came weddings and babies but stopped soon after that.

[Teresa]

Oh wow Sheila that was a fantastic idea. It's the kind of thing I'd love to receive myself.

[Sheila]

I had to do that as I didn't have time to write details in all the letters/cards I sent out. I have cut my Christmas card list way back now.

[Marlene]

Sheila wrote: "BUT for about 25 years I typed out a "Christmas Letter" to send to family and friends and so kept a copy for me and then put together a book of "Christmas letters" for my children.."

That is extremely clever!

[Sheila]

Well, at least they have a history of events in their lives as well as that of their siblings and parents. I also made sure I bought a photo of each siblings for them to have in a photo album and put together another album of sports photos...team photos so they have that in chronological order. And they each got one of those baby albums which records the first few years of their lives, first tooth, first step, people at first birthday party. So you can see I am "big" on memories.

[Sheila]

Happy Mothers' Day to all who mother: biological, godmothers, foster mothers, grandmothers, adoptive, aunts, teachers...

[Elin]

Thank you Sheila 😊

[J. W.]

Oh Sheila, your idea is most excellent. I've been going through my photos pulling pictures of my father for a slide video. He passed away Friday night suddenly and we are to have his funeral on Tuesday. As I looked through the pictures... I am pulling the ones where he is with the grand-kids. They loved him so much and will appreciate seeing those pictures. I have decided to gather up the old albums and divide up the pictures for the kids. They can make copies if there is a need.

[Teresa]

J W I'm so sorry to hear your news! I know how you feel having just lost my own parent. I'll be thinking of you and I'll light a candle for him. Take care.

[J. W.]

Thanks Teresa... that is so sweet. He was a man of faith and we will miss him.

[Anji]

Oh Jeanne, so sorry to hear your sad news. Sending you lots of hugs from across the pond 💖💖💖

[J. W.]

Thanks Anji... I have talked about him so much here... I hated to mention it ... but you guys are friends and we support each other during the hard times. I'll be OK later.. the funeral is tomorrow.

[Sheila]

Jeanne, I do know that tomorrow many tears will be shed. You are in our thoughts and prayers. I also know that the memories will be a comfort. Take care.

[J. W.]

Thank Sheila... I've gone through the pictures and am taking them to the funeral home today. I have a swatch of our Scottish plaid that will drape the casket. We will have a piper at the cemetery. It is only fitting.

[Sheila]

I love pipers but they do make me cry even more. We have a HS with a piper group.