My Sweet Auntie Rita

I am lucky enough to come from a family that has very strong and capable women. My mom and my grandmother were independent, almost to a fault. They were going to run their lives come hell or high water, the way they wanted to!
Mom, Grandma, and Auntie Rita
My aunt on the other hand is just as strong, but she learned how to accomplish what she wanted, with gently prodding her husband, (Uncle Bill to me)and has perfected the process. Fifty plus years later they are still a winning team.These past few years have brought a whole new meaning to that team. Auntie Rita was diagnosed with ALS a few years ago. ALS is Lou Gherigs disease. This is her explanation of just what ALS is, she writes, " I have ALS, aka Lou Gehrig’s disease. A *neuromuscular disease that causes the nerves to die which in turn causes the muscles to shrivel up and become useless. This is not what I thought the end of my life would be like, but I am confident that I am ornery enough to not only endure, but I will do what ever I want and what ever I am capable of for as long as I can! " ....sounds just like the other women in our family! Determined, confident, and oh so strong!
I am so proud of the way she has accepted her future, however long that might be. She is very strong in her faith and knows Heavenly Father only gives you as much as you can handle. She has lost her speech, but can communicate very well with the help of a computer like devise. She types in what she wants to say, then the words will then be spoken for her. What I have come to love, even more than I did before, is to blog hop through our families blogs. Auntie Rita has made it her daily ritual to visit all the family blogs, and leave little uplifting comments, that are full of wisdom and love! I absolutely love it!
These pictures were taken last spring when I made the trip to Diana's house in Arizona to see Auntie Rita and Uncle Bill.
This is our cousin La Vonne and my sweet Auntie Rita.

From left to right, Me, La Vonne, Auntie Rita, and a very pregnant Diana. Diana is my cousin and Auntie Rita's youngest of 8 children! So Auntie Rita, here is a new post for you to read today!
I love you...

*sidenote while spell checking this post, blogspot suggested the proper spelling for neuromuscular to be numskull........tickled me to pieces!