“Your Birthday is a day I treasure
though you’re no longer here.
It reminds me of such happy times
that in heart, I hold so dear.
Even though I feel so sad
that you have gone away.
I wouldn’t change anything
or trade one single day.
So thank you for the memories
that are with me forever.
I’ll treasure those always
’till we are back together.”

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). The Lord will wrap His arms of love and comfort around those who trust in Him.

I pray to our Lord for strength and his wisdom to get me through this tough day.

So missing you today and always. You would have been 88 years young. I can not believe it has been 3 1/2 years since you have been gone. Hope daddy is dancing with you in a pretty dress that he always picked out. 

Miss you momma on your birthday

I still see your face before me
Your voice I long to hear
I miss and love you dearly
God knows, I wish you were here

Tears fall freely from my eyes
Like a river filled with grief
My only comfort now is that
From pain you found relief

Luke 6:21

"Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied.   Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh".

Having a heavy heart Mimi. I miss you and I know you would tell me exactly what I need to hear. I pray for your support for the problem that keeps eating at my heart. I know that you always wanted us to be one big happy family. There are times I wonder why we are sometimes pulled apart. I know you would have the answer. Please pray for the missing soul in the family that they find themselves a little happier and find their way back to the love and support of the family. 

Mark 4:17
'But they themselves have no root, and they remain for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.' 

Each root of a tree make the whole tree so that it can flurish. When a branch falls off it is no longer attached to the tree. Like a family, when one person falls astray the whole family tree broken.

Isaiah 53:6
'All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way: But the Lord has caused iniquity to us all to fall on Him'.

Let our fallen sheep find their way back and accept us as a loving family so that the love of the family can shine and forever go on.

So missed you on your birthday. It is still hard but I know you are in such a better place. Will take Al out today so that we can get some flowers and balloons for you. Hope you and daddy had some cake, he always had a sweet tooth. Loving you both.

I am hurting today, so sad because I miss you. I know how much you liked Thanksgiving and how much we loved cooking together. My children are all going their own ways which hurts. All the years we had Thanksgiving we always made sure you were with us, we made sure to go to Kevin's parents for a second meal also. Family Thanksgiving meals mean a lot to me and my children are doing their own thing. It’s wonderful that we raised them to be independen. Thanksgiving is a time to give Thanks ,one thing to be thankful for is for Parents and Family. We are not going to be around much much longer. I am so glad that we did good by you momma. Happy Thanksgiving up there.

Has it really been six months already? It seems like yesterday but then again I miss you more than eternity. I miss our chats, our phone and our lunches togeather. I always looked to you for answers. Sometimes I did not like the answer but I knew that it was probably the best answer that fit the situation. Your wisdom was endless and your knowledge priceless. I am missing family traditions and silly things that you would do. Your loss was the loss of a whole generation of our family and no one can replace that. No one can ever replace you Mom. I love and miss you.


And just for you a little "BROWN", we all know how much you loved that color. 

It’s your Birthday up in Heaven and I wonder what you’ll do?

Will there be a celebration and a cake to honor you?

Are the kitchen angels busy breaking eggs and sifting flour?

Is the angel choir practicing as it gets closer to the hour?

Is there ice cream made from snowflakes and some candy made from clouds?

Will it be just you and Jesus or all the happy crowd?

I won’t be there to hug you, to count and pull your ears,

And I’m sure I’ll feel lonely as I shed some Birthday tears.

But I know you heavenly Birthday will be the best one ever!

Just remember that I still love you on your Birthday and forever.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail
And mortal life shall cease
Shall possess within the veil
A life of joy and peace...


Mimi is now in a life of joy and peace. She told me that when she died that she would once again be with Grandpa Ronnie when we talked about death close to her leaving us.

About a day before she passed I asked her if she could see him, "Uh, huh" she replied. When I asked her if he looked spiffy she replied "DA" to the nurse and I. For those who don't know what she was telling us, in the 50's they had a hair style called a "Ducks Ass, aka DA" Our dad always slicked his hair back in a DA when they would go out. I am sure that he spiffied himself up when he knew his Love was coming to see him. 

When I knew that her time was near, I told her that it was time for her to go, she had done all that she had to do for us and that we wanted her to go be with our daddy. I held her hand and Norm was also standing by her bed. She reached out for his hand also. I know that she felt so loved at that moment and always. 
   
I have always loved this song and so did Mimi. Two summers ago Kaitlyn our grandaughter went to band camp with her brother. Dylan learned to play his guitar and played a solo. Then Kaitlyn took the the stage in front of a crowded auditorium of people and sang Amazing Grace! She had the sound of an angel. Our Lord blessed both Dylan and Kaitlyn with the gift of music.

Wanting to make the mass for Mimi special I asked Kaitlyn if she would sing. She was hesitant at first but then I told her that maybe Uncle Norman could play the guitar for her.

The next thing I knew she was rehersing her special song with her uncle. The following day at the mass for Mimi she got up without hesitation and sang her heart out. I know that Mimi was looking down and smiling at her as well as smiling at everyone who took part in the mass.

Thank you Cheri and Don for your readings, Norm for the eulogy, Ron and Connor for the offerings and all those who made the mass special for Mimi.  
       
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me 
I once was lost but now am found 
Was blind, but now I see   

Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear   
The hour I first believed

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail
And mortal life shall cease
Shall possess within the veil
A life of joy and peace

When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun
 
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind, but now I see .  

The Prayer...

I pray you'll be our eyes, and watch us where we go,  and help us to be wise, in times when we don't know...

This I pray of you Mimi, continue to help us, watch us and guide us, watch over our children and our grand children, your great grandchildren. 
 
When I stayed with her at night I finally asked her who she was talking to when she went to bed and if she needed me. "No, I am saying my prayers" she replied. Mimi said her prayers out loud every night and then said her rosery.

Since I had a monitor by her bed so that I could hear her if she woke up at night and needed me I guess I kind of ease dropped on her prayers without even realizing it until I started to write this.

She prayed for each and every one of us by name. She said her prayers to Jesus, Mary and to our dad. "Ronnie, you would be so proud of Norman, Donnie and Cindy, your grandchildren and their children. Kevin and Joanne you were not left out, she told our dad how wonderful our spouses were. Keep them all safe, watch over them, give them strenght, keep them healthy and loved".  

I really loved this song on here as it is just Mimi. She lead us be example and what a wonderful example she was. She will continue to be our eyes as we will always view things as she saw them, so kind and so gentle. She will always be watching us and she makes a wondeful Angel for our Lord. She was wise but let us all learn not only by example but by our mistakes.

I pray you'll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don't know


Let this be our prayer
As we go our way
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
To a place where we'll be safe


I pray we'll find your light
And hold it in our hearts
When stars go out each night
Remind us where you are


Let this be our prayer
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe


We ask that life be kind
And watch us from above
We hope each soul will find
Another soul to love


Let this be our prayer
Just like every child
Needs to find a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe


Need to find a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe.

And now the end is near and so I face the final curtain...

Even when the end was near Mimi did it her way. She woke on Christmas day to spend it with all of us only to slip back away into sleep that night. I know I will charish that day forever and ever. Knowing that we could all be there, Mimi woke up so that she could have a last "Final Hurrah" with us. She sat up, she ate a wonderful dinner and was so happy to see everyone who came to see her. 

The night before she passed I spent the entire night with her. I climbed in bed beside her so carefully, brushing and stroking her hair, kissing her cheek and rubbing her arms with lotion to make her smell pretty. It was such a special time for her and I.
 
Since she said her rosery EVERY night on the prayer beads that Bob Dwyer used at at my dad's wake, I told her that I would now say the rosery for her.

Mind you I have not said the rosery in a very, very, very long time. So I remembered to say the Apostles Creed, well somewhat I think, then Our Father, Three Hail Mary's and the Glory be to the Father. Yep I remembered the next ten beads were ten Hail Mary's, then oh no what comes next? Ok I know! At least I though I knew, so I say Our Father Who Art In Heaven (mind you Mimi was no longer responsive) but she mumbled "uh uh", Oh, no I must have messed up. It should have been a "Glory be to the Father.". I had a wonderful chuckle and kissed her face so gently I told her, "sorry momma, I should have known, Glory be to the Father comes first then an Our Father". I know she heard me and I am sure if she could she would have told me that I need to say my rosery more often.
 
I don't think I ever finished the rosery as tears came pouring down. Even being unresponsive she was doing it her way. That is why I picked the song "I Did It My Way" by Frank Sinatra for a song when you come to the website. So I guess Mimi, I could say... I did the rosery My Way!

"I Did It My Way, by Frank Sinatra"
 
And now the end is near and so I face the final curtain, my friend I'll say it clear I'll state my case of which I'm certain. I've lived a life that's full I traveled each and every highway and more, much more than this I did it my way.

Regrets I've had a few but then again too few to mention. I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption. I planned each charted course each careful step along the byway and more, much more than this I did it my way.

Yes there were times I'm sure you knew when I bit off more than I could chew but through it all when there was doubt I ate it up and spit it out, I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way.

I've loved, I've laughed and cried, I've had my fill, my share of losing and now as tears subside I find it all so amusing. To think I did all that and may I say not in a shy way, Oh no, oh no, not me I did it my way.

For what is a man, what has he got if not himself then he has not to say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels. The record shows I took the blows and did it my way.

Yes it was my way!