I know Mom is now part of the great cloud of witnesses. She is at home with the Lord although being absent from the earth. She lived the Three Christian Virutes of Faith, Hope and Love. She did indeed fight the good fight and run the good race. She lived life to the full and now lives life eternal. How does someone like me summarize her life...I believe our lives can best be summarized by the most meaningful relationships that God graces us with in this life. These relationships are at the heart of any persons legacy are they not? What were Mom's most significant and meaningful relationships?
3) Her Relationship with my Brother Bruce and me as her younger and older sons.
4) Her Relationship with my wife and Bruce's long time girlfriend Julia.
5) Her Relationship with our children Mark and Claire and Julia's children Brian and Stacy as her grandchildren.
6) Her Relationships with so many lifelong friends gathered here today as well as those who could not be here.
I learned to love life from my Mom. She had many loves and passions in life beyond the loving relationships above. SO what did I learn from my Mom of 54+ years?
1) I learned that the Christian Faith mattered. Even when I turned from it for a time.
2) I learned my love and passion for music from my mother who was my first piano teacher and who always had music on in the house (usually country or gospel) and who often sat at the piano and played or joined in a duet with a friend who joined her at the piano.
3) I learned to love reading because my mom read to me and challenged me to be a "good reader". I now regularly read 5 books a week.
4) I learned to love to travel (even though I had car sickness when I was young). We visited almost every state in the continental USA growing up.
5) I learned to love food---eating it and cooking it. My mom was an incredible cook and I learned alot watching her cook.
Her memories and Her passions...Her relationships and Her Legacy. Things learned. Things passed on. So thanks God for Mom. Thanks God for everything she means to me and each one gathered here as well as those who could not. Finally, as one adopted shortly after birth and told so lovingful and carefully to me when I could understand...thank you for adopting me and loving me. You once said, "We had many children we could have adopted but we chose you. We love you as our own." That taught me more than you know...It has deep implications for me as a child of God in Jesus Christ. Thanks.
May your mom rest in God's peace & rise in glory!
Bryan: Sincere sympathies on the passing of your mom--how hard to say goodbye but good to have had that wonderful time as a family. Please pass along condolences to Caroline and kids--we all know what it's like. What a mom! Wow! Am so blessed to know her a little through the words you shared. I need to play the piano with a friend (or Sarah) even if just a simple kids duet! Here, here for moms! Thank you, Jesus!