4 years ago

Four years ago today we said goodbye to mom. She left us for a much better place. As we are going through this process with Ron's dad I'm grateful that mom went quickly. We were told about this time (2:30) that we needed to call the family. So we did. Most of them arrived by 5:30. We were gathered around her bed talking and sharing. Around 6:00 mom kind of awaken. We told her we loved her, and what a great Mom, Grandma, and Great Grandma she had been. Then we told her she could go to be with Jesus and Dad. We sang one of her favorite songs - "It is Well with my Soul" and by the time we were done singing (I might add it wasn't our best voices) she had quite breathing. I've thanked the Lord many times for His presence and the quick release of Mom from this earth. She had always said she prayed that she would go with her boots on. In the scheme of things it was quick with just 5 weeks from her first physical symtom till she went home to heaven. We still miss her. I thought of her yesterday as I was "organizing" the tupperware at Ryan & Jared's house and how she loved to do that for us girls when she was visiting. There is a peace in knowing where your Dad & Mom are and that someday we will see them again. Thank you, Lord. Her middle daughter, Cindy

It would have been Mom's 91st birthday

It's been four years since Mom went home to be with Jesus. It still seems like only yesterday. Somedays I still have a hard time believing it. Even though the years have dulled the pain they haven't made us forget mom and what she meant to us. We were blessed to have her as a mom to benefit from her example of a Proverbs 31 woman. She wasn't perfect but her life exhibited a continued work in progress. We remember her on this day especially. Here middle daughter, Cindy

Mother's Day 2010

Another year has come and gone and here we are remembering our mom's again. Today I purposely based the clothes I would wear on the fact that I wore my mom's earrings. We gave them to her one year for Christmas and I really liked them so when it came time to decide what to do with them I asked if I could have them. I like to wear them on Mother's Day in honor of my GREAT mom. She was such a special and classy lady. She taught me to stay strong in the Lord even when trials and tribulations came along. She was an example of putting her trust and faith in God. She never got bitter, worried, or questioned what was happening in her life. What an inheritance we were given. I pray that my children and grandchildren will see the same characteristics in me. Remember she lives on in our lives and we still love and miss her.
Here middle daughter, Cindy

Grandma would have been 90 today

Us three girls got on a 3 way call today in honor of Mom ( & Polly's) 90th birthday. We find it very hard to believe that almost 3 years have gone by since she left this earth. Today Mom & Polly will celebrate together ( I'm sure they are celebrating everyday in heaven). As I was out and about today I thought of how much Mom loved the greens of Spring. I think it was because she only saw the browns of Arizona all winter long. It is comforting to know that she is enjoying more color now that she could have ever imagined. Our mom was a special lady. The pain is getting less but we still miss her especially on her birthday and Mother's Day. It will make our homecoming that much sweeter cause we know mom will be waiting for us at the door of Heaven. Her middle daughter, Cindy

I did it Grandma's way

Grandma would have been 89 today. It is hard to believe that it has almost been 2 years since Mom died. This spring when I decided to do a good "housecleaning" on my porch I did it Grandma's way. I got out my old toothbrushes and started scrubbing away on all my window and got all the dirt out from between the window sill grooves. I have to admit that it did look nice when I got done and it made me feel soooooooooo good. Thanks mom for being such a good cleaner and passing that on. You are never far from our hearts. We still miss you and always will but you live on in our hearts and our "lifestyle". Her middle daughter Cindy

Still drinking from that cup...

Rachel and I have lived in North Carolina now for an entire year. We just celebrated our 6th Wedding anniversary last month and on Monday had a dinner to commemorate our arrival here. I was thinking on all of this and realizing how fast time moves it dawned on me that I had not visited this website for some time now. Upon my visit I realized that there hasn't been a post on here in nearly a year.
So I'm here, posting.
I'm here, thinking.
I'm here, remembering.
I am still drinking from that cup...the one I took on the day we went to Grandma's apartment after the memorial and went through her things. The one that I remember watching her drink coffee out of in her motor home. I love the smell of coffee. I love that a strong smelling cup of coffee can sometimes make me remember Grandma so much. And I love that coffee snaps my eye lids vertical and straightens my back after dragging myself out of bed. :)
I saw an older woman tonight with very white hair done up kinda like Grandma did hers and again I thought of her. It's nice to still have these things that remind me of her, I like to remember and more often than not anymore it isn't painful, it's a delight. It makes me smile. Hope it makes you smile too.

Remembering Mom, Grandma, & GG 1 year later

This is a letter written to us on April 15, 2007. We thought you would all enjoy reading it and remembering the wonderful lady Mom was on the anniversary of her homegoing.

Dear Dory, Cindy, & Debby

I've been going to write this letter ever since your Mom went to heaven, but I've kept putting it off. I know from experience, of the 1st year after my folks went to be with Jesus, that at different times the loss of them would hit me suddenly & at unexpected times. But God was faithful, as I know he has been to you.

I don't have to tell you, but I will, how SPECIAL your Mom was to me and mine. She was like a 2nd Mom to me, especially during the 1st years of my marriage when I was so far from my own Mom & she was right there where I could call & talk to her on the phone. How she had Ike & I over for dinner every Sunday during our first year of marriage, if we didn't have other invitations. Then when Dalona was born & she became "Auntie Grandma" and was willing to give wise counsel & support. When we moved to Grand Rapids for about 6 years she was still my "Special Aunt." After we moved back to the cities, when the twinnies were "1 year old", again she was just a phone call away. Her life greatly impacted my marriage and my children. Then as the kids got a little older we had time for Scrabble games, and we spent many an hour in each others presence, pondering words & just being together - "Precious memories"

Last year when she started getting weak & sick, it was like it wasn't real. She'd always been there for me. It didn't really become real until her memorial service. That's when the tears came & reality hit me.

I thought my heart was going to break and then at the end of the service when "God Will Take Care of You" was sung, it was like a special message from her to me. "I'm gone, but GOD WILL take care of YOU." The tears flowed but comfort came.

Thank you girls for the intersecting of your live with mine. It was a beautiful memorial service that you put together for her and it was a real blessing to me.

She lives on in this world thru you girls in a SPECIAL way. She was very proud of each of you, and so proud to be your Mom.

Thanks again for sharing your Mom with me. She will always be remembered with fond memories by Ike & me and our children & grandchildren.

God bless you as the anniversary of her HOME GOING is coming up so soon now.

Truly "GOD WILL take CARE of YOU."

Love, Jeany

Jeany was Mom's sister MayBelle's daughter