12/28/2022
As you are aware of, my mom had a severely debilitating stroke on April 5, 2021. The first six months, in addition to being her full time caregiver, I continued to do my Jimmy Houston Outdoors duties and began taking over her duties as well. I turned over management of my sandwich shop and travel agency to a trusted employee. I also had to go on hiatus from real estate as I could not (and still cannot) leave Mom by herself.
After twenty months I pretty much have a schedule of sorts in taking care of our Jimmy Houston Outdoors (television show, social medias, appearances) business and figured out Mom's filing systems. I've moved all of my and her files into my kitchen and work from there. My sister-in-law is helping out by doing the payroll for us. Dad and I coordinate our travel schedules so that one of us is with Mom either here in Keys or at their ranch in Sulphur. I am blessed to be able to do this work from home or the ranch while taking care of Mom. She is making small improvements all the time - her speech is back about 75% overall and gaining. She has no use of her right arm. Our best Christmas gift was her actually taking steps using her right leg. She has to have balance assistance and is very afraid of falling but that foot raising off the floor is truly a miracle from God. God's timing is amazing - only 4 months and 2 days before the stroke, I married the most wonderful man ever. Jack has been a rock for our whole family throughout this journey. He is also at the stage in his career where we are able to do our own traveling. (coordinating with Dad)
We have made the decision to change my real estate license to inactive. There may come a time when I will come back to the industry and Century 21. I've always been a family first person. I can be replaced at C21 but my family can't replace me and depends on me now more than ever. Mom always said she and I were two halves of a whole and I was her right arm. I literally am now in many ways.
