Where Have I Been?

Life needs to be taken one day at a time, and we must enjoy every minute of the day as best we can. With the loss of my mom, I am definitely having to take it a day at a time. When you lose your mom, I promise you that there will always be a hole in your heart that can't be totally mended. Even with the gospel of Jesus Christ, knowing where my mom is and who she is with, yes there is a promise of the eternities; but that doesn't take the hurt away.

The days I was able to spend with my mom before she passed away were special memories that are held in my heart. When you see your mom slipping away bit by bit, it is difficult; but things change and instead of my mom being the nurturer, my sister, dad and I became the nurturers. Just simple things--opening her straw wrapper, opening her sweet ' n low package and pouring it into her tea, cutting her finger nails , taking off her socks because she was too warm, and messing with the a/c controls to get the room cooler for her--these were precious privileges. As for her finger nails-I asked her if she wanted me to fix her nails because she said they were getting much too long. She definitely said yes, so my sister Phyllis gave me the equipment and the next day I cut her nails (almost nicked her, I felt so badly); and then I would file them to her liking. I would show her a nail and she would say, "could you file that a little bit more on the corner?". Even as she was dying, she was upset with her hair and cared about her nails. My sister and I went shopping for her which was such a fun day spending time with my sister. When we brought the capris and shirts to our mom, she had to examine each one and pick which ones she liked. She wanted things to be as normal as possible; and she was a rock, so strong, trying to look nice when she had visitors. She smiled, was kind, she was everything my mom has always been. I look back and remember beautiful memories of her and the charitable person she was.

The memorial service was beautiful. Garret gave a wonderful eulogy about my mom (my mom wanted Garret, who is a Pastor at their Lutheran Church, to perform the service). We laughed, we cried, we remembered, we loved. Singing hymns, beautiful hymns like "Precious Lord Take My Hand" and "How Great Thou Art", was not an easy thing to do. Music touches the heart in numerous ways. It can bring you joy, it can bring you sadness, it can touch your heart in a way that it has never been touched before.

We had a nice luncheon after the service, and I was able to see people that I haven't seen since I was a teenager. Enjoying each others' company, loving to have a shoulder to cry on--it was something my mom would have wanted, no weeping but enjoying her life, celebrating it.

All the family went back to my sister's house and the day was enjoyed in celebration of my mom's fun-loving, caring, and charitable life. Here are some pictures of the family enjoying the sunshine, the laughter, the water, and the music.

I can't resist this cute little face. This is Olivia,
or Livvy as she is called. She belongs to Greg
and Chrissy, my sister's son and daughter-in-law.

And here is Kyle, her twin. Look at those eyes.

Phyllis, Greg, and David

Ali, David's wife, having a blast

Don't you just love Livvy's floaties?Greg and Livvy, my brother Den in the
background

My camera didn't work so well in this video,
but it is so cute of Kyle and Olivia.

Kyle loves the water

Garret, my brother-in-law and my Brother Dennis have always loved to tease Kim, especially when she kind of eggs them on. Only now Chrissy, Glen's wife, gets teased also. And, Dennis and Garret took the opportunity to get them wet.

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What a rock my dad was. Even in his grieving he entertained us with his talent, uplifting us with great music. Ali is holding Matthew in the background. He loves to watch my dad play the piano (he likes to play on the keys, too). Maybe someday he will be able to play like his dad and grandpa.

Music is something not only in his hands
but it is in his heart

Little Matthew, Dave and Ali's little guy, loves to play (well almost play) the piano with his great-grandpa. And then Dad takes over. I love to hear him play because he plays songs that most people don't know anymore. I can remember singing this one with him as we stood around the piano way back when. "I'll be down to getcha in a taxi honey, better be ready 'bout half passed

eight. Oh honey don't be late, ....before the band starts playing". Well, I used to know the words.

I love to watch Kyle and Livvy wiggle their
little bodies to the beat of the music.

I guess really this is part 1 of where I have been. As I look at my pictures, Irealize how discombobulated my brain has been. I don't have a single picture with my sister, my brother, and nephews, nieces, and Kim. The camera is always in my hand focusing on someone else. I was able to capture the peace that the Lord surrounded us with to make it possible for all of us who were together to enjoy the moment; and we were able to do what we always do when we get together. Only there was a dear one missing this time; but she was shining down on us, I know it, I really know it.