Beyond the mumbling and the whining days,
these bedridden, trapped and powerless days,
I will remember—
the cookies, fresh-baked,
pink curlers in the hair,
a wet washcloth planted on your head, weeding vegetables under the hot summer sun. I will remember
the harmony at the old upright, laughter and tears,
coloring books at Christmas—and fresh, brand spanking new crayons—and
flannel nighties and egg candling, flyswatter swats, and evening strolls with Dad.
I will remember lawn chairs and your snowball trees exploding white,
welcomes home and sad goodbyes,
flaky pie crusts, blueberry picking, and laundry flapping in the breeze.
Egg routes, choir songs, chiropractor, and 4-H,
and Scrabble,
Sunday School lessons and shotgun shells, hushed conversations and prayers in bed in the night, and
sickness, wellness, and church books past midnight, finding that one lost penny, and I will remember.
Beyond the days of diminished body and mind, what you were
and are,
somewhere still in this failing flesh,
the history, the love, the sacrifice, the gifting, and the stories,
I will remember.
Beautiful in words and images. So many of these things I remember too.
Hard to lose loved ones…
I am sobbing – such beautiful words for a beautiful woman, and from a beautiful woman.
Thank you…sad days. We are losing her, and I am flying to be with the family this week. Sigh.
Thinking of you!
Bless your heart….love the memories of one most dear! I bet you cherish that awesome picture of you two, couldn’t have been better! My heart goes out to you and I will pray for you and family during this time.
Thank you! Appreciate it.
Beautiful. Having just lost my mom who was 83 I can totally relate. May God give you comfort.
Thank you…though it is expected and you see it coming, it just hurts.
Very beautiful post. God bless you on your journey, and God bless your mom.
She is almost there. She has lived her life for eternal things; it’s just this transition that is hard on her and us. If we could but see as He sees.
Yes. May the Lord comfort all of you and hold your hands.
I am praying for you.
Beautiful words and precious pictures and memories, Lilly…God help you, your family and your mom as she reaches her eternal destination, Home with Jesus…
Thanks, Anne. I just saw this.
Love those words. And I love that photo at the end.
Thank you. She was a mix of so many things, it seemed appropriate to jumble them together. She was quite handy with a shotgun, and one day she shot near our dog to scare him as he ran off with one of her chickens–except her near was too close and she hit him in the leg. He survived it and never stole another chicken. 🙂
What wonderful memories and how sensible to think of them and not worry about the here and now.
She leaves a great legacy, and I hope at my passing my kids will see the good things and not remember the mistakes. 🙂
This really did make me cry as my own mother is long gone, but I remember all of those things.
I feel like in grieving the passing of my mum, I am also grieving again the passing of my dad. I was not cut out for the real world, I guess.
So wonderfully expressed, so very true, we send you strength.
Thank you!
How precious!
She was a wonderful mum, and her life touched many more than family.