A Tribute To My Mother

My mother passed away yesterday. She had her two best friends by her side. My father, and her best friend for over 40 years, Joyce. Joyce shared with us that in the 40 years they were friends, they never fought, never shared an unkind word about each other and were as close as two friends could be. My father and her had a true love story. They were devoted to each other and with all marriages had their ups and downs, but stuck together through thick and thin and focused on their families. Family meant everything to my mother. She loved all three of us unconditionally as well as her grandsons and great granddaughter. 

She was involved in so many organizations over the years, most that focused on her family like Girls Scouts and boy Scouts in her earlier years, and in her later years, she was very involved with Relay For Life. 

What I remember most about the things my mother loved to do was sewing - she made a lot of my clothes as a young girl, crocheting, gardening and was a very talented tole painter as well as scherenschnitte (german scissor cutting) She was also an avid bowler in my younger years. When she and my father first got married, she never bowled or knew how to bowl. My grandfather ( my father's father) owned a local bowling alley and taught her to bowl. Within a year, she was out bowling many of the regular bowlers and my grandfather was so proud of his new daughter in law! 

Last night, my father, sister and brother and I sat around the dining room table reminiscing about mom. My father had so many stories to tell us, things we did not even know! 

The next few days, weeks, months, years, will be difficult as I will want to pick up the phone to call my mom to tell her something that Sweet Melody did, an achievement one of my boys had, something funny that I had just heard, or just to chat or cry on my moms shoulder. 

I will miss you mom. 

You were my rock

You were my biggest cheerleader

You were my mentor and my teacher

You were my mom who loved me unconditionally and no matter what, was always there

to help me stand back up, dust off my knees and keep on going. 

I love you mom.