I just feel I need to share this.
Basically, if you are thinking about travelling to visit a family member and are not quite sure if you're going to do it because of money or time concerns, find a way to make it happen.
My mother came out to help when my first child was born three years ago. She cleaned the house, helped paint the nursery, made us meals and bought us baby gifts. We had no idea at the time, but that was the last baby she was able to help me with, at least in a physical way. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August of 2010 and passed away in May of 2011 at the age of 62, 6 weeks after our second child was born. Our 3rd child was born 5 days ago, and the small things are so comforting- for my brand-new daughter to be able to sleep on a receiving blanket Grandma Lin gave us, that we can bathe her with a washcloth Grandma gave us. As a young mother, it is hard not to be able to talk to, receive counsel from my Mom (and she was the ultimate mother- 7 children! who all adored her...) She was always such a kind, sweet, gracious, thoughtful, and generous person- it is nice to have these physical reminders of her to care for my babies with.
