Mom

I just spent the last half hour reading the memory book my sisters and I started about Mom. So I am missing Mom...not that I don't always miss her, but the memories are such a reminder. We had such good times as a family and Mom loved us so much. The younger girls have different memories than us older girls, but not any less special. And so nice to see and read from their perspective.
   We were a farm family and lived next door to Dad's parents. Dad didn't work off the farm back then and him and Mom worked so hard. We worked hard, but we played hard too. We always took a week or two off after the summer harvest to go camping in the wilderness.
   Mom and Dad dreamed for years about buying a ranch somewhere far away. Finally, due with their youngest baby, they bought their dream ranch in eastern Oregon. That was over 14 years ago now, but we had so many happy times and good memories there before Mom passed away in Sept. 2007.
   Those who have never lost someone so close to them may think 3 1/2 years is a long time since someone passed away, but in some ways it's harder now than it was right away after. Dad has since remarried and for me that has been the hardest part of losing Mom. Mom suffered with cancer for years, but the last 4 1/2 years were the hardest. When she finally won the victory, I was SO happy for HER, even though I grieved for myself, Dad, the little girls at home (Marissa-14 and Marita-11), and all our family, my joy for her outweighed my grief for us.
    We had other trials we faced soon after Mom's death that I don't think anyone should have to endure, especially not right after a death, but God used it to draw us closer to Him and one another. And through that trial we found a wonderful new church family. Today we are in a place that we would never had been had we not endured such a grievious trial, and despite it all, I thank God. He has been our strength, our anchor when none else could be found, and our hope and slavation. He has never left us, nor will He. We have a great God!