To my faithful readers I apologize for my sporadic posting this last month. Having my mom go into the hospital December 17th for emergency surgery and then the roller coaster ride we were on until she passed on January 4th was so hard. I knew someday I would loose my mom but I thought I had so many more days ahead to enjoy her company.
Saturday we celebrated her life. The church, which holds 450 people, was standing room only. The love and support from the community was amazing. Each of my mother’s grandchildren took part in the service in some way. Reading a poem, singing a song or just sharing their remembrances. No one conferred about what they would be reading or sharing and the words they spoke gave a clear picture of who my mother was.
As my sister shared, my mom changed the world, day-by-day, person-by-person. She gathered friends at an early age and like tending a garden nurtured those friendships her entire life. She not only cared deeply about her friends but she also cared deeply about the environment and her town and took steps to change things for the better. Whether it was starting a recycling program, picking up trash along the road or working to save a piece of property for others to enjoy.
She was always moving; tending her gardens, fighting invasive plants, feeding the birds and finding special lands and then working to preserve them. She taught us so many lessons growing up. She taught us all how to never go to bed mad, how to forgive and how to believe in ourselves. She then taught her grandchildren these same lessons. She loved us all dearly.
It’s so true that sometimes you don’t realize what you have until it’s gone. The hole my mother has left behind is so large. Our world is forever changed. However I will remember all my mother taught me and I will move on. I will strive to live as my mother did and make the world a better place. I will be passionate about my work and my life. I will embrace each day and when I am walking in the woods or spending time in my garden I will remember my mom. The world is richer when we share our passions as my mom did. I am so thankful for everything she did to help me become the person I am.
A Note From Over The Hill
While higher hills before you
Obscure the rise beyond,
Those who’ve passed beyond the peaks
And entered valleys green,
Can tell you that the future
Lies rosy, calm, serene.
The weathered sides of mountains,
Three-oh, four-oh, or five,
Yield to persistent testing
Of goals for which you strive.
The highest peaks and passes
Which lie before life’s way,
Come early to prepare you
For a gentler, happy day.
Take heart, you lads and lasses,
With tears of growing old,
I’ve seen the other valley
And its streets are paved with gold.
Gold of life, with golden friends,
Gold of conscious pleasure
Of each Past and present soul
Who has become your treasure.
So, gather rosebuds every day,
They bloom among the faces
Of those who with you climb the heights
Or rest in sheltered places.
Texas Swanjord
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Nancy on the Home Front 