The worst of times and the best of times......

The title sums up life for me right now. My Mom's cancer is back. Worse that before. She is back home and back doing Chemotherapy. She is frail and sleeps a lot. She can't eat solid foods and lives on a nutritional drink called Boost. This is due to the Cancer starting in her salivary glands. All of which had to be removed. She needs almost constant care now. She is 80. My brothers and I are doing the best we can to take turns being with her. She is my best friend and I promised her long ago, that she would never be in a nursing home. And I intent to keep my promise.
Life is quite a challenge for me and my family right now. But, within this challenge, it has been the most wonderful time of my life as well. I am truly understanding how Blessed I really am. I have been able to be with my Mom and just sit and chat. We giggle at silly things. Or just sit together in a comfortable silence.
We have really become closer than ever. I didn't know that was even possible.
She is such an amazing woman. She has made it through so many difficult times in her life. And come back stronger than ever.
One example was losing her husband to an automobile accident when she was only 30 years old. At that time she had 6 children ranging in age from 6 months to 12 years old. I cannot imagine what she went through then. And yet, she was able to pick up the pieces and move forward.
This strength is a gift from God. A gift that I pray for every day.
After this and many other tragedies, she remains strong of will. No one will ever know the woman I call my Mom, the way I do.
So even though this may be the worst of times for us it is also the best of times for us.
And I will cherish these moments for the rest of my life.