Janet posted a condolence
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
My mother. If I had one more hour with her, I would have said “thank you” over and over—- I would have thanked her for giving me life and for caring for me the way she did. I would have told her how much she was loved by God and how precious she was to Him and to her family. I would have thanked her for sitting with me through my childhood heartbreaks—always letting me know everything would be ok. I’d thank her for all the love she put into the countless meals she made and the cookies she baked. I would tell her how I’d never forget waking up every Sunday morning to the comforting smell of her pot of sauce or every Thanksgiving morning to the wonderful smell of her roasting a turkey that she began roasting at 4 a.m. I would thank her for the the memorable Christmas Eve dinners she would host. She created a warm atmosphere and taught me by example how to be hospitable to all who came in to my home. I would sit with her for that hour and just hold her hand, pouring out love to her as she did for me. I will not be able to hear “You Are My Sunshine “ without shedding a tear the rest of my life, because she sang that song to me every night as a child as she tucked me into bed. That brought security to me just knowing she was there every night singing the same song, reaffirming her love. I would thank her for loving all my friends I would bring home—cooking for them, too! She not only made sure I was cared for, but she made sure the coffee was on for everyone—relatives, neighbors, those plowing her driveway, politicians in town—everyone. Her hands were strong for the tasks she so diligently worked at—repeatedly sewing my tattered stuffed lamb, hanging him on the clothesline to dry. (I still have that lamb), She was always organizing, always planning, always—always cooking. Once I looked into her three, yes 3 freezers, and asked why she was making more food when they were almost full already. She said, “because you never know who will stop by!” If I had one more hour with her, I would tell her “I love you” one last time and not to fear, but to put her faith in Christ to bring her into heaven with Him and that one day, I would see her again.
