Dear Love Note Readers,

I have missed you and appreciate you letting Love Notes From the Garden into your world. 

In September, I traveled to Arkansas for a few days to visit my mother. A few days ago I returned to Georgia. 

Bless my sister and her husband - I stayed in their guest room for several weeks, and our mother stayed in a hospital bed in their dining room for the last month of her life. Bless the very caring hospital and hospice professionals who held our hands, coached us, and gently told us what to expect at every stage. Bless the caregivers who brought in smiles, stories, and knowledge and let us leave the house periodically. Bless friends and family who called to check on us, sent flowers and food, or took me away to a party or the wine bar for a few hours break. Special blessings to those who dropped everything and flew in to give us hugs at Mom’s funeral. And bless Mom, who managed to communicate love, humor, and patience as we tried our level best, fumbling, laughing, apologizing, and figuring things out along the way. 

I have returned and so will Love Notes. Thank you for your patience. I hope that the changing seasons of nature and life find you well.

With Love,

Connie Cottingham