And another thing: Mom’s influence on other people, from any and all backgrounds, was unfailingly remarkable.
I remember Hafsa, over and over, telling me how much she loved my Mom. The two of them really hit it off. Apart, they'd go off on trips and bring back gifts for each other. Hafsa wanted me to be more like Mom. She once asked me if I was adopted. I denied it, but I understood the point.
In the Big Brothers program, my Little Brother, David, took about three months to warm up to me. The first time he met Mom, he hugged her, and you should’ve seen the look in his eyes. I never saw that glow before or after from him. His mom, Alicia, told me, “He REALLY likes your mom.”
I told her, “That happens to a lot of people.”
Friday, February 8, 2008
Mom's 80th Birthday
Hi Mom and Happy Birthday!
I'm new to blogging and I imagine you are too so I hope this comes out alright. I just wanted to send along my love and best wishes for you on this milestone birthday. You look great and healthy and we're so lucky that you are still so active and involved in our family, your church and all your extracurricular activities.
I want to thank you for all the years of being not only a great mom but a great grandmother to my children. Not only have you set a great example for your kids over the years but I know how lucky my kids are to have such a wonderful example for a grandmother. As we all grow older we're so fortunate to have a person in our lives who sets such a great example of grace, appreciation, faith, compassion and care for others.
Ironically I had a friend a few days ago complaing about how difficult it was taking care of there 70-something mother. How this mother had suffered such a tough time raising her 3 children while her father was away at work, etc. and how it had just taken such a toll on her. I couldn't help but think about you: Your father passing when you were 12, raising 5 kids on one sometimes shaky income, the difficult issues with Dad's health....
How you survived, provided, went back to college, became a great teacher, was a caregiver to our father and grandmothers during there most difficult times....is an incredible testament to your resourcefullness, selflessness and drive.
The list goes on and on of your incredible achievements. Through this life of yours you've taught by example: Love, Discipline, Perserverance, Compassion, Modesty, Leadership and many more of the greatest virtues and wisdom one person could ever hope for.
How lucky we are to have a mom like you!
Love from all of us,
Jim, Pam and the kids
I'm new to blogging and I imagine you are too so I hope this comes out alright. I just wanted to send along my love and best wishes for you on this milestone birthday. You look great and healthy and we're so lucky that you are still so active and involved in our family, your church and all your extracurricular activities.
I want to thank you for all the years of being not only a great mom but a great grandmother to my children. Not only have you set a great example for your kids over the years but I know how lucky my kids are to have such a wonderful example for a grandmother. As we all grow older we're so fortunate to have a person in our lives who sets such a great example of grace, appreciation, faith, compassion and care for others.
Ironically I had a friend a few days ago complaing about how difficult it was taking care of there 70-something mother. How this mother had suffered such a tough time raising her 3 children while her father was away at work, etc. and how it had just taken such a toll on her. I couldn't help but think about you: Your father passing when you were 12, raising 5 kids on one sometimes shaky income, the difficult issues with Dad's health....
How you survived, provided, went back to college, became a great teacher, was a caregiver to our father and grandmothers during there most difficult times....is an incredible testament to your resourcefullness, selflessness and drive.
The list goes on and on of your incredible achievements. Through this life of yours you've taught by example: Love, Discipline, Perserverance, Compassion, Modesty, Leadership and many more of the greatest virtues and wisdom one person could ever hope for.
How lucky we are to have a mom like you!
Love from all of us,
Jim, Pam and the kids
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Mom's 80th Birthday
Sorry about that test post. OK, it appears I do know what the heck I am doing. So, a few memories of the Greatest Mom On Earth!
***
One of my earliest memories is making Christmas tree ornaments. I made one at school out of an egg carton. Mom still has it! It looks pretty lame now, but I have to tell you I thought I had done something pretty special at the time, right up there with Rodin or Van Gogh. And I remember how much Mom loved it - what a big thrill, and Mom gave me a head full of confidence for future endeavors. (Hey - she still loves it!)
One time I was riding my bike to school and trying to keep up with brother Bill. He wanted no part of his little brother tagging along, and performed a series of expert maneuvers designed to leave me in the dust. It did. I spun out in the gutter and cried all the way home. There was Mom, hugging me and putting me back together again. (And when Bill got home, Dad gave him a serious spanking. I loved his cries for pity.)
Mom came to all my games and bought the hot dogs and suicides. A heck of a lot of fun. I even hit two home runs on Mother's Day, 1968! On the camping trips she bundled up up front so we could have it perfectly climated controlled in the back. When I got sick up and threw up, she held my head with a cloth and comforted me. I probably would've died if she hadn't.
She made great meals on a very tight budget. They still beat the best restaurants I have taken her to. I loved the ground beef on mashed potatoes and the tacos (another flat one, Mom!) And how come her spaghetti was always better on the second day than any I've ever had since, on the first or second day? (She still makes dinners for me, and she's become a real gourmet chef, let me tell you.)
When I got older, she always let me have my say and make my way. Between her loving grace and Dad's stern discipline, I couldn't have possibly have asked for anything more. I've always told her, any good I have ever done, I owe to her and Dad. All my dumb stuff, that's on me.
My favorite adult memory is when I got a job at Dial Finance after working as basically a glorified stock boy at Kmart for six months. After working the floor in retail, I was pretty jazzed to sit behind a desk in an office, and I told Mom all about it. Mom said, "You have a desk? That's incredible! You're doing so wonderful!" Later I remember feeling kind of stupid for having bragged about that to her. I mean, what were they going to do, have me sit on the floor? But Mom was great at that kind of stuff. If you even thought you were on a roll, she sure knew how to keep it going for you. Whatever I was up to, Mom was there for me, and all was right in the world.
I saw Kathi write in a recent email something I wrote to Mom once - How in the world did we get so blessed by God to have her as our Mother??? Given how undeserving I am, I don't even try to figure it out. Mom, on your 80th birthday, I can only quote from Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night': "I can no other answer make but thanks, and thanks, and ever thanks..."
I thought it at ten, I thought it at thirty, and I think it today - I am the luckiest person in the world.
My love always,
Bob
***
One of my earliest memories is making Christmas tree ornaments. I made one at school out of an egg carton. Mom still has it! It looks pretty lame now, but I have to tell you I thought I had done something pretty special at the time, right up there with Rodin or Van Gogh. And I remember how much Mom loved it - what a big thrill, and Mom gave me a head full of confidence for future endeavors. (Hey - she still loves it!)
One time I was riding my bike to school and trying to keep up with brother Bill. He wanted no part of his little brother tagging along, and performed a series of expert maneuvers designed to leave me in the dust. It did. I spun out in the gutter and cried all the way home. There was Mom, hugging me and putting me back together again. (And when Bill got home, Dad gave him a serious spanking. I loved his cries for pity.)
Mom came to all my games and bought the hot dogs and suicides. A heck of a lot of fun. I even hit two home runs on Mother's Day, 1968! On the camping trips she bundled up up front so we could have it perfectly climated controlled in the back. When I got sick up and threw up, she held my head with a cloth and comforted me. I probably would've died if she hadn't.
She made great meals on a very tight budget. They still beat the best restaurants I have taken her to. I loved the ground beef on mashed potatoes and the tacos (another flat one, Mom!) And how come her spaghetti was always better on the second day than any I've ever had since, on the first or second day? (She still makes dinners for me, and she's become a real gourmet chef, let me tell you.)
When I got older, she always let me have my say and make my way. Between her loving grace and Dad's stern discipline, I couldn't have possibly have asked for anything more. I've always told her, any good I have ever done, I owe to her and Dad. All my dumb stuff, that's on me.
My favorite adult memory is when I got a job at Dial Finance after working as basically a glorified stock boy at Kmart for six months. After working the floor in retail, I was pretty jazzed to sit behind a desk in an office, and I told Mom all about it. Mom said, "You have a desk? That's incredible! You're doing so wonderful!" Later I remember feeling kind of stupid for having bragged about that to her. I mean, what were they going to do, have me sit on the floor? But Mom was great at that kind of stuff. If you even thought you were on a roll, she sure knew how to keep it going for you. Whatever I was up to, Mom was there for me, and all was right in the world.
I saw Kathi write in a recent email something I wrote to Mom once - How in the world did we get so blessed by God to have her as our Mother??? Given how undeserving I am, I don't even try to figure it out. Mom, on your 80th birthday, I can only quote from Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night': "I can no other answer make but thanks, and thanks, and ever thanks..."
I thought it at ten, I thought it at thirty, and I think it today - I am the luckiest person in the world.
My love always,
Bob
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Last Full Family Portrait?
It must be time for a new full family portrait - this is the most recent one I could find. Anyone have a more recent one?
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Family Picture Circa 1988
Remember this one? I think someone asked Bob to stand on a soap box or did he think he was trying out for the Lakers?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)