Posted on 01/12/2012 6:58:10 AM PST by FryingPan101
When I would think of her over the years, I would think of a blue bird. I never knew why. It's just what I felt. She had an aura. Maybe because her eyes were blue and she could sing like no other. She loved music. It took nothing to make her sing. She expected all her children to sing. We did. Even if she didn't know the words, she would make them up and dance in place. She was the reason I came to write songs. When I was nine years old, I was chosen to sing a solo at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Milledgeville, Georgia. I sang as clear as a bell. Jesus, Thou Art Coming. I couldn't believe it I could sing like that. She turned from her place in the pew and looked at me over my Dad's shoulder. I could only see her eyes. They smiled.
She could whistle. She could whistle whole tunes and they were beautiful. She was beautiful. Eyes of blue, dark hair, a warm smile. She was an artist in her own right. Always sketching faces and scenes. Yet, none of that was her strong suit. Her strong suit was her faith in God. She faced hardships all her life that would have broken an average spirit. She wasn't average. She lit candles for everyone. She fought every day to overcome worry, sadness, fear, and disappointments that came our way as a military family. She stood strong when her young husband went off to WWII as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne. Then again he would fight in the Korean Conflict. He wore six stars on his paratrooper wings. He made every campain jump in WWII and Korea. She nearly burst with pride when she spoke of him or introduced him. She faced tragedy with all the strength she could summon when her five year old son was the victim of a drunken driver. She and my Dad cried for a lifetime.
She was a poor man's chef. She could turn eggs and potatoes into the greatest of feasts. She created her own style of spaghetti and meatballs that is still a family favorite today. A rump roast with mashed potatoes and red cabbage was the "welcome home" meal when we all lived far away. When I was a little girl living without the pleasures others took for granted, she would roll up a slice of bologna and call it a rolley-polley. She would make a pitcher of koolaid. She would hang an army blanket over the clothesline to create a tent for me. Boy, were kids jealous of me. And she would sing. I would one day roll up slices of bologna and call them rolley polleys. I would make tents for my children. Cherry Koolaid. Through the years I would move couches together to create a giant playpen for my grandchildren. And I would sing.
She made a home for all of us no matter where we were called to live. She was a decorator, seamstress, cook, dishwasher, housekeeper, policewoman, doctor, teacher, storyteller, and disciplinarian to her children. When we were ill, she was the nurse. She had the softest, coolest hand on earth as it touched our foreheads. My children and grandchildren still bend their heads forward for me to check their temperature...because of her. She was a lady at all times and humbly proud of the beauty God bestowed on her.
It wasn't a perfect life by any means. It was a life filled with challenges that sometimes saw results that were painful. Some days were filled with anguish, confusion, and even anger. But she was always there fighting the fight for her family.
She will always be loved and never forgotten. Yesterday, in the loving care of my sister, she finally ended this life's journey to join my Dad and brothers in heaven. In a dream last night I saw her run to them. She was smiling and she sang.
That is a beautiful tribute to your beautiful mother. I’m sorry for your loss.
Prayers for you and your family.
This choked me up as my mother is so similar to yours.
God bless you.
You were blessed my FRiend.
May God continue to bless and keep you, as your mom sings to you from above.
Tears. Bittersweet, but with faith.
Tatt
With salty tears falling down my cheeks, I offer you my sincerest sympathy.
Loosing your Mother is one of the toughest crosses we bear in life.
May God always keep her in his tender loving hands.
God Bless.
Thank you for sharing this touching eulogy this morning.
My God continue to bless you and your family as He has with wonderful memories of your lovely mother.
I am sorry for your loss.
What a beautiful tribute! May God comfort you in your mourning.
Lives like your mother’s inspire us to forge ahead - fight the good fight, finish the course, keep the faith and never give up.
It would be easy to despair when major setbacks appear - Thank you for the example of heroic inspiration and courage to be found during the course of an “ordinary” life.
So many parallels here. I feel your pain and I feel your joy. May God bless you and welcome your Mother into his arms.
May God give you peace in knowing you will see her again. Losing my mom was the hardest thing I every experienced, but I know she is enjoying heaven and praying for her family, now she is praying face to face with God. God be with you and yours.
May you keep yours and she RIP.
What a lovely tribute. My condolences on the loss of your precious mother. May the Lord give you divine comfort and peace.
Knowing that she is in His arms, and happier than she has ever been before, is such a blessing. Praise God that it’s not goodbye to her, but only a temporary separation!
You’ve been blessed. Now so have we. Thank you.
My condolences.
What a wonderful tribute!
Your loss is the gain of all of heaven. Though you grieve, smile for her. She is radiantly happy and you will see her again!
sneaks
My condolences.
Thank you for this post. Makes me think of my mom who is thankfully still with us. I’ll be going home to visit in March but will call her today.
You were most fortunate to have such a mother. And many who have wonderful moms take it for granted, so your mother was fortunate as well that you cherished her so.
Very sweet, thanks for sharing. Sorry about your loss.
May God’s Peace That Passes All Understanding surround you and your family in this time.
Condolences to you and your family. May she rest in peace.
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