I had the opportunity to know Virginia during the time my husband I were members at Zion Lutheran.  I used to sing a bit, and Virginia was so kind, encouraging, and was a wonderful coach and mentor.  Her ministry of music went above and beyond.  She would often accompany me, and everyone thought I was her daughter because of the same last name.  I always took that as a compliment.  

She played for our wedding, and she helped plan all the music.  It was wonderful.  I will never forget that day.  We just celebrated our 25th. 


As we approach retirement, we want to make sure we are as active and contributing as Amster and Virginia were during their "second" careers  Their hearts were always open.  We will miss them.    

This was the handwritten note from Virginia to those who received a Christmas Piano Songs CD: "I am very glad that I can give you the Christmas CD. It was done primarily for all my children, grand, and greats to have you know something of me that can stay with you and be a witness to God's love in sending the greatest gift ever to all mankind when Jesus was born. May you receive a blessing from above as you listen to it. Love, Grandmother."

Our family means the most to us, as crazy as we be

We’re each unique in taste and talk and sing in different key

Some are quiet as a mouse, while some should probably 8-)

But all’ve been blessed with many gifts from Mom (or Grandma V)

Sing or play, direct or act, she performs on every stage

Her talents know no bounds; they grew with every page

Her peers slowed down eventually; she got faster with her age

And she would teach us Life-n-Love, to us she is a sage

Whenever I feel a gentle breeze n my song sung by a dove

The sun will warm my chilly skin and fill with me with a shove

Of memories, the times we’ve shared, and moments we’re proud of

Then I’ll smile at my Grandma, who’s still Loving from above

-JMH

 ...until we meet again.

I (Olivia) have been in Corpus Christi the last two weeks helping out extended family. I've had a lot of fun hanging out with everyone, especially Grandmother. I hope I'm doing as well as her when I'm 96.

Today we painted our fingernails.

She was so excited. She gracefully waved with her hands and said, "Now we're ready to go out dancing!"

When I was finished she said, "Wow, you can do everything. This is much better than paying someone 50 dollars to do it.":) Then later, "That's somethin'" :D

I showed her the picture on the camera and she said, "Oh, that's the best I've looked in a while." :)

I thought the pink needed some sprucing up, so I added some flowers. She thought it was the coolest thing ever. I did flowers on two of my fingers, too. :)

When our hands were next to each other, she pointed to her own hands and said, "Bumpy" and then pointed to mine and said, "Smooth- not like mine."

Grandmother has a hard time understanding what you're saying sometimes. So to convey important stuff we use a whiteboard. Her reply was, "I have done a lot of stuff with these hands."

I'm treasuring these days and knowing they will go by fast. All too soon I'll be the one with bumpy hands.

(See original post at http://howardfaml.blogspot.com/2011/05/hands.html) 

this is the power point presentation that we put together and showed at Mom's 90th birthday party at Zion Lutheran Church

Mom had the strong, pioneering, can-do attitude, without complaining and was always looking for a way to make something better; that included family, children, friends, neighbors, home, church, community, and country. 

In the 1950’s she would drive every summer half-way across the US with 3 kids – before A/C, before freeways, before prolific gas stations, fast food, or motels. 

She patented an affordable folding picture frame that every mother could use for all her children’s drawings. 

She was a poet, an inventor, a home maker, an author, archivist, editor, and adventurist.  Her love for Jesus and her love for others to know Him were always evident.