Remembering Mom - (Part 2)

As sad as those days were leading up to my mother's death and afterward, and as bad as I felt, what I want to remember are the good memories, the happy times I spent with my mom.

I remember coming home from school and more often than not finding mom sitting at her sewing machine.  Whether out of necessity or enjoyment, she loved to sew, and was good at it. There were 5 girls in my family and mom made our dresses.  Back in the day, dresses were worn a lot more. We wore dresses to school and always to church.  Remember, my dad was a minister; on a modest income, mom had to stretch every dollar we had.  Sewing our dresses was one way to do that.  As each garment was made with love, the finished product gave mom a sense of accomplishment. She took pride in her well made garments, with straight seams and flawlessly placed zippers, collars and sleeves.  I'm sure she made hundreds of items in her lifetime.  

Mom at the ol' Singer.  That is a memory that I'll always love and cherish.

Not only was mom an excellent seamstress, she was an accomplished pianist.  I can see mom playing the piano at church. Being a pastor's wife, this talent came in quite handy.  This was before the days of the guitars, drum set and keyboard on stage. This was when the piano was on one side of the platform and the organ was on the other. There, my mom sat, usually at the piano, ready to play.  As the song leader would call out the page number in the hymnal or announce the next chorus, mom was expected to start playing, and I think many times without a clue as to what song was to be sung.  For some reason and I really don't know why, mom seemed to always have a crumpled up tissue on the side of the piano keyboard.  Maybe she had sinus problems more than I realized. But that was my mom.  As a young girl, I would sit on the second row and wait for mom to come sit by me when song service was over.

Mom at the piano.  A memory I'll never forget.

My mom was a great cook.  Oh those Sunday dinners!  (Some might call it lunch.)  The typical meal after Sunday morning church was pot roast, carrots and potatoes.  Mom would get up early enough Sunday morning to prepare the meal and put it in the oven.  When we got home from church, mom would finish up making the gravy and we'd have a wonderful meal.  There was a particular period of time when we would always have guests for dinner.  We lived near Hamilton Air Force Base in Novato, Ca, and at least 4 single service men would come for dinner every Sunday.  (My older teenage sisters seemed to enjoy that.)  To me, they were like the brothers that I didn't have.

I especially loved the holiday meals. The turkey and trimmings. Homemade pies.  Simple, yet delicious and appealing. The table set with our best china.  (Passed down from Grandma to Mom and now to me.)   I marvel at how mom always seemed to have the food ready at the same time, something I still struggle to do.

One year, mom asked me what kind of cake I wanted for my birthday, I answered, "Cheesecake."  From that time on, Mom very often made that for my birthday.  And it was g-o-o-d! Homemade cheesecake.  Hmm!

Mom as a great cook.  Something I'll always remember.

Mom could teach Sunday school and lead the church choir.  Mom could quilt and knit.  Mom even made a Tiffany style hanging lamp, soldering the glass pieces together with lead.  (Who'd a thought?)  It hangs in my sister's family room today.  Mom had humor and a quick wit.  She was strong.  She was vulnerable.  She was my Mom!

As a child I would say, "Mom, I love you more than you love me cause there's more of you to love."  She would respond with, "No, I love you more than you love me, cause there's more of me to do the lovin'."

That's the way I'll remember my mom.  Soft yet strong, loving and giving.  I love you, Mom!

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Health Update - I feel better everyday.  I go to the doctor weekly (it's been Tuesdays), to have my incision area drained.  I'm still waiting for an appointment with the oncologist.  When my friends ask me about treatment, I just have to say I don't know.  I stopped by the oncologist office twice and they keep telling me they're going to get back with me.   I guess they are not in a hurry.  Really, I won't start any treatment until I am fully healed, 6-8 weeks from surgery. It would be nice to know the plan, but I guess only God knows The Plan!

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD.
 "They are plans for good and not for disaster,
to give you a future and a hope."

Jeremiah 29:11

I have felt such peace since my surgery and I've thought maybe I shouldn't feel so peaceful, but then I remembered Philippians 4:7, so it shouldn't come as a surprise.

. . . and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7

Thanks for you continued prayers.  God is good!

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