A sweet farewell -

My sweet mother died tonight.  I don't think I always referred to her as sweet - I'm sure I used to use adjectives like bossy or nagging - when I was young and ignorant!!

In retrospect, my mother was about as good as a mother could be!  She encouraged me all the time to be a good student.  She taught me homemaking skills I wasn't sure I wanted to know.  She set a wonderful example of spirituality and obedience. She assured me all the time that I could "do it!"  She could be counted on to be her, who she really was - all the time!  I think that was the greatest blessing of all.

And tonight, as we were sitting around her bed, singing Primary songs and hymns, reading our favorite scriptures, telling stories and sharing anecdotes, she quietly slipped away from us - and it was almost seamless.  One minute she was breathing shallowly, and the next she was not.  

We all feel blessed and privileged to have been there for the start of her next journey.  We were quipping that Dad probably came and said, "They're all busy chatting Mary, come ahead with me."

Heaven is a little brighter, the earth around me is a little dimmer tonight.  But God's in His Heaven, and "all's right with the world!"

Happy 96th Birthday to You!!

Happy day to day to my dear mother!!  She is on the decline, but she rallies often and we enjoy these moments with her.

 

Mother with Lyn in 1944 - long ago and far away, but I see her in the old photos!

 

Camping with Dad before they were married.  

 

Mom and Dad loved Disneyland!!

 

Mom and Dad when she graduated from college - he hadn't always been enthusiastic about her going to school, but when she graduated, he acted like it was all his idea - he was pretty proud of her!!

These last few weeks with my mom have been precious indeed - I'm especially glad that I followed the prompting and asked her questions about her life and wrote down the answers!

Happy day to a woman who deserves all the best!!

Thinking about my mother today!!

Here's a young mother with 4 little kids - a third of her family at this point!!  I don't have many memories that young, but it looks like she cared how our hair looked!

 

Mother with Mrs. Vergine, the neighbor and mother of my good friend Judy.  This is how I remember my mom growing up! Moms really did wear dresses all day!!

 

 The other consistent memory is of her at the stove!!  And until a few months ago, you'd still see her at the stove quite often. Too bad I don't have a photo of her at the sewing machine - or behind the wheel of the car, driving us places.

As my mother declines, it is a time of reflection as well as sorrow.  And upon reflection, I am so grateful, not only for a wonderful mother, but for so many good memories - that she made for me!!

Happy 94th!!

Mother's  high school photo - I'm sure she wasn't thinking about being 94 one day when she had this shot taken!!

 

This is a fairly recent shot.

 

And here we have the oldest and youngest posing together at the birthday bash.

Happy Day to you Mom - you're the best - and you deserve the best!!