Thank you all for your support and thoughts today.
Today, we had her memorial service and even though it was hard, it was nice sharing our special memories of Mom with everyone. I guess I'm a proud daughter. We did a power point presentation of pictures of Mom set to music during the service. It went from babyhood up until 2 wks. before she died.
Both my brother and I spoke and Dane wanted to, but he had me read some special memories of his grandma to everyone. He was so sweet, he came up there with me and when I got teary eyed, he put his arm around me. This is what we read:
Mom:
I could talk for hours about some of my Mom’s special qualities, her favorite things and my memories of her. That is what I would love to do, but what I have decided to talk about is something that you can do in her honor. I am going to talk about the qualities that she passed on to me in hopes that you might take something that I share about her and pass that on to someone that you love. That way, even though she isn’t physically here with us, you will have a bit of her, in you and your loved ones.
She taught me about love. Love through doing the most simplest things. Saying “I love you” every day. She taught me how to be affectionate with hugs and kisses, by being a stay-at-home mom and giving us her time. When we were babies, she would hold us until we fell asleep and sacrificed her time for us, so that we could feel so loved. She taught me about being kind to others, through simple pleases and thank yous. And by thinking of other peoples feelings. She taught me how to be a Mom through unconditional love and the importance of family. She and Dad were so committed to being great parents and they taught us about what a marriage is through all these things that I mentioned earlier. My Mother’s greatest pride and joy and what brought her the most happiness was her children and grandchildren. She so desperately wanted to watch her grandkids grow up. So, please take my words and memories about my dear mother and hug your family extra tight in honor of her.
Two years ago, my mom sent me a card with this handwritten note inside:
A teacher’s first grade class were discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture had a different color hair than the other family members. One child suggested that maybe he was adopted and a little girl said, I know all about adoptions because I was adopted. What does it mean to be adopted? asked another child. It means, said the girl, that you grew in your Mommy’s heart instead of her tummy.
She wrote: Lisa, this little story is so true. During the time we were waiting for our baby girl, my love for you was growing all the time, in my heart. When you were put in my arms, it was love at first sight. And we love you more as the years go by. Love, Mom
I was so lucky to have been blessed with a gentle Mom like her and even more lucky to have had the opportunity to have her tell me those exact words when she was in the hospital last week.
I will leave you with this poem, sent to me this week by a dear friend:
Her Journey’s Just Begun
Don’t think of her as gone away, her journey’s just begun,
Life holds so many facets, this earth is only one.
Just think of her as resting, from the sorrows and the tears,
In a place of warmth and comfort, where there are no days and years.
Think how she must be wishing, that we could know today,
How nothing but our deep and painful sadness, can really pass away.
And think of her as living, in the hearts of those she touched,
For nothing loved is ever lost, and she was LOVED so much.
Dane's Special Memories:
The day my Grandma died I had a hard time falling asleep. So me and my Mom sat and wrote some of my special memories of her:
I loved her hugs and kisses.
Her house smells like bread.
In June, before her trip to Woodland Park Zoo, we sat and talked about Zoo’s and animals together.
I love to climb her big tree in her front yard.
She would make me the BEST cinnamon sugar toast and I got to eat it in front of the t.v.
We got to go camping together.
She took me to go feed the ducks.
We went hiking at Mt. Rainier together.
I liked talking to her on the phone.
We would sit at her kitchen table and watch the squirrels and birds eat on her deck.
She would read to me.
Grandma liked to watch me swim in Kauai.
She would come to my Grandparent’s Day at my school.
When I was little, I would spend the night at her house and sleep with her.
Last December, she stayed with us and she was the first person who saw that it was snowing and we sat and watched it together.
She made good cookies.
She worried alot.
She was a nice grandma and was always there when I needed her.
My cousin Karen, wrote this poem about my Grandma’s Mother, Rosella, a long, long time ago and we wanted to share it with you:
Grandmas are neat, they always have treats
They have stuff in store, for you to explore.
The food is great, in other words first rate.
So lets give a hand, for Grandmas are GRAND!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks again for your understanding and love. I'm exhausted and feel so empty inside. This week will still be busy because we are doing the internment on Thurs.
In Her Memory & Love~
Lisa
