Happy Birthday, Mom! We just passed the 7th anniversary of your passing. It's AMAZING that so much has happened during this time. MaryLou and I calculated that we have "road tripped" together about 40,000 miles, mostly during summer months. Last year we made three trips to Texas. (I almost said 3 trips to San Angelo, but while we were down there in September she made three trips from Fort Worth to San Angelo with loads of Christmas decor... all from a donor near Fort Worth (who used to live in Valley Center). So far this year we have made one trip.                                                                            I have made one trip to Escondido so far and expect to make a second one within this upcoming week. Brenda and I plan to leave for the MK Career Conference in Escondido on Thursday and return on Monday. I'm HOPING I can get my storage at Cube Smart wrapped up while I'm there.                                           Nichole came out last month and helped me put together shelves in my garage so I have been working on emptying boxes and putting whatever I'm keeping on the shelves out there so I can find them to retrieve them. That resulted in "piles" inside the house... where things have to be integrated into inside storage. Then this week I hosted a tea party which meant I had to get the "piles" picked up and put up. It's been a challenge.
Thank you for your example of doing what's necessary... teaching me to persevere through the challenges.

Happy Birthday, Mom-- #102!! 
This year I am writing from my "new/old home" in Arizona. What a LOT of changes this past year has brought.
It's SPRING here and flowers are in bloom. You would enjoy the colors and fragrances. Virginia said they were having snow yesterday so it isn't yet springtime everywhere.

Five years! Have been thinking back over the changes that have occurred in that span. You don't EVEN want to know about all the political ugliness that we are seeing these days. And this year we have added the stressors of the COVID virus--sequestration, wearing masks in public, extra care with personal cleanliness, compounding that many additional people are without work or cannot attend classes. Our seniors in nursing homes are unable to have visitors as is the case with hospitals-- people are dying alone because family is not allowed to visit. We DO miss you, but are grateful that you are not having to be subjected to such as the above.

Happy celebration of the 100th anniversary of your birth! How amazing!

In just a couple of months I will observe the 75th anniversary of my birth, which has led to many thoughts of how many changes we have seen in our lifetime(s). 
You were born and spent your childhood in Germany before emigrating to the United States at the age of 10, attending school while learning a new language, and graduating high school as Valedictorian. An amazing achievement.
You birthed and raised 5 daughters, all of whom are celebrating this anniversary in your memory.

Celebrating your 4th anniversary, Mom. Your rocking chair is empty... and I miss our mornings of listening to the birds from the front porch of Hilo Glen.

When we think of Mom's favorite flowers, we most often think lilac blossoms, and they were a great favorite...but she also loved camelias, Shasta daisies, calla lilies, and when I saw a picture today I remembered that Daddy planted Hollyhocks for her in their yard at Hidaway Lake (CA). So...today I am remembering her memory with a Hollyhock blossom. Four years ago today she went to join Daddy...and he probably welcomed her with an entire garden, because growing things was his pleasure.

Mom, we miss you and honor your memory. 

Good morning Mom. Happy 99th year. Have been sitting here thinking about how much our world has changed during your century. You saw so many advances in technology..from the radio being a primary means of communication to carrying your own cell phone. Travel changed from ships and trains to planes.. and now they are introducing cars that drive themselves!! Who would have thought!
The flowers of spring are SO pretty. I know you would be enjoying them. It rained during the night so everything is fresh and dripping with crystal droplets. I have mini-daffodils and a grape hyacinth outside my kitchen window...and small pink & white roses in a vase on the sill.
Happy 99th Birthday!!!

A day late and a year short, it appears! Sorry, Mom. You have been in my thoughts a great deal lately. Yesterday was the anniversary of YOUR promotion day and day after tomorrow will make 3 years for Uncle Hal. This is the first year that Aunt Marianne won't be here.
You are ALL missed greatly.
We have had successive days of rain the past couple of weeks. The hillsides are lushly green... except where there are mudslides. The dry creek beds are flowing rivers. I'm currently enjoying a bouquet of what Miss Lou (Procter) calls "Magic Flowers" -- bright yellow daffodils (which we always got for Kathy's birthday)-- along with some Japanese Iris, which make me think of Virginia.
This morning a little hummingbird was darting in and out of my lanai. Not much blooming right now. Made me wonder whether it was considering this a possible location for a nest. Wouldn't that be fun?

Fleur Elise! Nice song...Today it should be Happy Birthday to You..#97. Wow!! Hard to believe another entire 12 months have passed and it's spring time again. The wild Lilac is blooming right now--very intense color this year. Beautiful. I know you are enjoying it.
Last weekend Mary Lou and I were at the Oceanside Harbor condo with Kathy...and, of course, we thought a great deal about happy times shared there as a family. Today my grands and greats from AZ will arrive and we have TWO units at Oceanside Pier. Looking forward to the beach time with them as well.
Last year as my girlies were checking in for their spring break in Oceanside Mary Lou and I were leaving on our road trip. Amazingly it turned out to be almost 7,000 miles and reached coast to coast. Such a wonderful healing time. We saw spring in Oklahoma and in the Ozarks and in the Smokey Mountains. You would have LOVED all the blooming trees.. and spring has come early there this year so the Red Bud trees and Daffodils are already blooming.
We also got to spend time with Jan & Mike Brown...and I had find days snuggling with Brantley. He's already has his first birthday!!! ...and is anticipating the arrival of a baby sister in July who is to be named for me. I'm so honored.
We're all doing well...taking care of one another as you would want. Love and miss you...and Daddy, too... but grateful you are together.

Good morning, Mom. Happy 96th Birthday. Know you are celebrating today...not only your birthday, but a family reunion. Now that Hal has joined you, the whole family is together again. We are going to attend a celebraton of his life next month. I'm looking at the photo from your 95th birthday and trying to believe it was taken only 12 months ago. What a LOT of life has happened since. You were so happy that Hal was able to come to your house that day with Herb and Marianne... and all your girls were there.
Last night Mary Lou and i checked into the condo at the O'side Harbor where our family spent your 89th birthday. There are many wonderful memories of family dinners and of walks on the beach, and my favorite photo of you--in the bright pink teeshirt holding a Bird of Paradise--was taken on that day.
Yesterday morning I noticed that my roses are returning from their hybernation with a plethora of buds. There will again be wonderful bouquets to share and I'll remember how much you enjoyed their colors and fragrance. At this season our French lilac is blooming, and your beautiful Camelias... but I'm sure heaven has gardens for you to enjoy that exceed even wildest imagination. Not only that, but you are no longer limited in what you can see...so you can enjoy the beauty. And you can hear...the birds songs (not just the raucus crows) as well as joining in conversations...able to walk (probably even skip!) without difficulty. 
We're doing well...taking care of one another. It goes without saying that we miss you...in a thousand ways...but confident that you are now healthy and happy. Sending you my love~ Ruthi

Ruthi, I'm sorry to hear about the home-going of your Mom. I know it is a celebration - because she is enjoying the gifts and home promised by our wonderful Lord. She is with Helene. Your Mom always send me cards which I have kept. Love, Marge Thomas Aylor

I send my deepest sympathy to you, Ruth, and all of the family, as well. Your family has such a wonderful and deep faith in our Lord, and I know He will provide much comfort in these difficult days. Love, Patty Davis

Unser tief empfundenes Beileid, übermitteln ganz herzlich
Annelie & Christian

My thoughts and prayers are with all the family.