Today we celebrated your 1st birthday in Heaven Mama!
Jen shared the song of worship from your Celebration of Life service, “The Goodness of God”, and my tears flowed.
Your life is still speaking to us of God’s faithfulness.
I opened my devotional to this day and saw the same Word from Jeremiah 45 that God gave me 30 years ago when He called me out of Corporate America.
It’s as if you are agreeing, and encouraging me from above.
God is indeed faithful to us Mama, and we will sing of His Goodness!

Grandma was a pure delight to have around the house. As I prepare to head home for the holidays, I know I am going to miss this presence deeply!

Oh Mama,
As we approach the holidays, I think of you with a heart full of so many warm memories! You were the queen of every holiday, always setting dates and planning menus to gather us all together as a family. Here we are, about to celebrate our first Thanksgiving and Christmas without you here, and yet you are here. And that knowledge brings me so much joy. Over the last few months since your passing, every time I feel the pain of your absence, I also feel the immediate comfort of your presence. And in those moments, I can see your warm and beaming smile, with overwhelming love and gratitude radiating from your face. This is how you lived your life, always so joyful and grateful, even in the midst of your physical pain and the mental anguish of your fading memory. But now your dementia is gone, and you are fully ALIVE in Jesus! And I can picture that same joy and gratitude now perfectly emanating from your face, both in your eternal praise of God before His throne, and in your continual intercession for us your children, grandchildren, family, and friends still here on earth. It is such a wondrous mystery for me to take in, and it brings me healing consolation every time you come to my mind.

I’ve been cooking your recipes, extending your warm hospitality, and trying to seize every opportunity I can to embrace the beautiful legacy you’ve left for me. I love spending quiet time in your peaceful room, which still feels like such holy ground. A friend of mine gave me a bracelet in memory of you… it says “be happy”. I wear it every day, and each time I look at my wrist and see those words, I can hear you speaking them to me: “Don’t worry, Jenny, be happy.” In these current days of unrest, surrounded by so much societal hostility, division, isolation, and anxiety, these simple words that you spoke on repeat remind me of the Source of Peace in which you found rest every day of your life - no matter what was going on around you. I love you, Mama. What an honor it is for me to try to carry on the rich legacy of love and faith you left me. I know you and dad are praying for all of us - that with God’s grace we can keep on “singing in the rain” and "be happy"… in the HOPE of Jesus and eternal life with Him!

It's a beautiful Sunday afternoon Mama... and I'm missing you!  Sunday was our day to spent time together, and I so looked forward to seeing your sweet smiling face!  So many precious memories flood my mind, but I'll share the most recent now.  It was the last Sunday in June, and since we had not left the house together since Mother’s Day, I was determined to get you out… for a fun drive and a much-needed haircut!  My friend Yvonne had agreed to meet us at her salon, so we were going!  Yes, it was Covid days and you were somewhat weak, but we were fearless and you never complained… just your happy “go with the flow” self!  Of course you read the billboards and street signs the whole way, and sang a few ditties too... and we laughed and held hands.  Yvonne was so happy to see us and I was super-delighted, as your last haircut and style was February!  She transformed you of course, and we so enjoyed the visit!  Then we went to Starbucks and drank coffee in the car as we people-watched, and you sang “who’s that doggie in the window”.  We also called Mary but when she didn’t answer, we left a funny message on her phone, which is now a treasure to her.  I wondered where we could go to dinner, and Peg came to mind… after all we were in her part of town.  Peg had kept a strict quarantine, but at least we could say hi from the car I thought, and see Grace and Abby too.  I called Peg and she said “come on over!”  Yippie!  Grace and Abby were waiting for us, and we carefully joined them on the sidewalk.  Peg arrived after walking Buddy and said “come on in!”  Jim made a fabulous salmon dinner and we had so much fun!  We even watched the old Parent Trap movie, and at 10 pm I said “oh my gosh… we have to go home!”  It was a priceless day and the best outing ever!!  Who knew it would be our last.  Less than 2 weeks later, you would have a mini-stroke and go to be with Jesus just a few days after.

I’m so grateful for that priceless day with you Mama, and though I miss you deeply, especially on Sundays, my overwhelming emotion is gratitude... because Jesus answered every prayer, taking you into His presence from your bed in Jenny’s home, without sickness or pain, and with all of us surrounding you... to release you into heaven.  I love you Mama!