It's been 9 years today since you left this old world. Things are so different. Casey is married now. Her name is Jessi and you would have loved her. Billy passed away 3 years ago, that's still heartbreaking to even say those words. It's so sad when we gather together and him not there with us. Your kids are all doing ok, we all miss you so much. We still gather together for most holidays, just in a smaller group now as it became too hard for us to manage what you did for all those years. I showed Jessi a picture of you on Hogue Rd standing in front of the Christmas tree with all those presents behind you. It really is still shocking to see how crazy we actually were buying all those presents. Never have I regretted it once. Money means nothing when it comes to family. You taught me that. Casey wrote the sweetest note to me for the wedding. It was filled with references of you, affirmation of the mark you left on us. You are missed so much, Mom. I dreamed a few months ago that I had 1 hour to talk to you. Just one hour! I remember being sooo excited, wondering what we should talk about first, it was thrilling!! Then I woke up. How I wish I could have that 1 hour with you. I'd happliy take 1 minute. But I'd probably just hug you so tight, there wouldn't be much talking. I know life goes on, but the quality of life has been greatly reduced by your absence.

Today, Butch and I took a trip to where I was born, Paramount, CA. I took a video and sent it to all my siblings on Facebook. Golda I spoke for a good bit on the way back to the hotel about how you took the train with all the kids to meet dad in California. It was good to hear the stories again, some of them I had forgotten or never knew about. I wish you were here to add to her memories. But I'm thankful she was old enough to remember and share them with me. 

Mom, I'll forever cherish the 42 years I had being your daughter on this Earth. You were a gift we had to give back, like the gift to the world of Jesus. You were just too good for this old world. 

And I was the luckiest.

Love you always and forever.

Shelly

Lord we must if drove her nuts, not that we would of noticed back then, but I can remeber hanging around the house or running through the house and her setting with her coffee cup with a smile and shaking her head...And correct me if im wrong shelly wasnt it you that wore dresses all the time (lady like) until you were talked into wearing a pair of my jeans? and that just happened to be the day she came looking for you? such fun...

         but all that aside knowing your mother made me a better person, I didnt have one so that relationship back then as a kid made me very envious, and at time jealous and sad, but from seeing her interact with you and the rest of the kids (marty) showed my of true family values, and ties...My grandmother i wouldny trade for the world but i also wouldnt never trade not knowing your mom..

       A gift from god, given to a special group of people that never took her for granted or questioned her worth...she is an angel then and now...   

                                       your life long friend, margaret...

Oh, how mom loved the holidays! From cooking on Thanksgiving, to a million presents under the Christmas tree, that special time of year was full of so many great memories. My siblings & I can remember waking up VERY early on Christmas morning, waking mom & dad to open presents, only to come to the sad realization that we were now in the mercy of the good ole fashioned perculator! We were not permitted to touch a present until the perculator had perked its last coffee grind & mom & dad had their cup of Maxwell House coffee in hand, oh what a long wait for that stupid perculator! I do believe all my siblings now own Bunn coffee pots...coffee in 3 minutes...WOW!! 

Even though we were, by most measure, probably poor back in those days, we didn't know it. Mom & dad always provided for their children, even when they probably didn't have it. I can remember my sister telling the story of mom taking them to Woolco & buying the cutest clothes & boots for them, yet going to The Little Miss Worn Shop on Main St to buy her own clothes (That was the 60's-70's version of a thrift store). That story breaks my heart! She deserved so much more.

Christmas was a special time with such great memories to reflect back on, she made everyday special just being the sweet, loving person she was. I'm so thankful to the Lord for allowing her to be my mom, what a blessing that was...how did we get so lucky.