Mama

I never called my Mom “mama”… but since she has been gone, it is often the way I refer to her in my mind. It seems to fit. And, although I have two other wonderful mother figures in my life (Lori & Sue), no one can replace my Mama.

Honestly, no words can give justice to how much my Mom means to me or how much I miss her!

But, I’d like everyone to know just how wonderful she was!

She raised 10 children while farming alongside my daddy.
She never got her license til she was 32… but she drove the hay truck and the tractor.
She loved to go hiking and hunting with my dad.
She knew how to sew, although her brain cancer took that away from her. She made very nice dolls for my 3 older sisters, dresses, curtains, etc.
She loved when we went on family camping trips.
She struggled with words and numbers, but was the smartest woman I know.
She raised chickens, pigs, goats, dogs, cows, and raspberries.
She picked me up in the middle of the night from my friends house every time I didn’t dare to stay all night and never grumbled about it.
She kept a clean and tidy house, but was happiest in the great outdoors.
She loved seeing her children and husband happy.
She grew and canned veggies.
She didn’t care much for technology… and she loved antiques.
She grew and harvested apples, plums, and pears.
She had a son with a serious heart murmur, who had major heart surgery when he was just a toddler (my older brother Jeremy).
She was physically very strong.
She was a quiet person, but always gave her honest opinion and stood up for what was right!
She made life/motherhood/being a helpmeet look easy (now I know how hard it really is… and I am amazed by her!).
She was an excellent cook/baker! I miss her food!
She trusted Jesus and her faith in Him was strong and simple. She knew she was a sinner saved by grace!
She lovingly and un-judgingly guided me through my emotional pre-teen/early teen years! She became my best friend!
She “had cancer” for the majority of my life (I was 2 when she was diagnosed).
She taught me how to drive… good memories that make me laugh! (I was a nervous wreck!)
She accepted going bald, swelling up from steroids (used to reduce swelling in her brain), using a wheelchair, getting chemo and radiation twice, going on a strict not-so-yummy organic diet, taking over a hundred different pills a day, having others care for her, being confined to a bed… so humbly… so apologetically… so sad that she was a “burden” to others (she wasn’t!).

These are just some of my memories and thoughts… I am just one person. I know that my Mom was also a wonderful daughter, sister, and friend.