Pictures

Momma and her Benji

Mom with her Grandma Ruby.

XoxOxOxoxOxoxo

~Brein

Happy Birthday Mom

This picture was taken in July of 1994 at Madi's baptism. 2 1/2 months before Mom died.

left to right: Brein, Ben, Rileigh, Madi, Aariel, Joseph and behind Dad & Mom.

Mom would be 52 years old if she were still alive. But I guess she'll remain 37 forever. Her birthday was sunday. I've been thinking of her a lot lately not even realizing her birthday was coming up. My dad texted my siblings and I that day to let us know he had some things of Mom's we could have if we wanted. He has 4 big totes of pictures, letters, jewelry, music, tapes, and other odds and ends. I really hadn't even realized he had saved it all. I'm so glad he did.

Madi and I went over to my Dad's last night to see what was there. My youngest brother Joe joined us. It was fun to see all that she had, but felt very strange to take things home. It makes it feel more permanent. It's as if 15 years without her still hasn't sunk in all the way and I still haven't fully realized the gravity of the situation. Taking home things she loved really makes it real.

Reality hurts. But I think it's just what I needed to help me try and move on. Life will never be the same without her. She would make any situation better just by being here. We were robbed. It's not fair. But you just take it one day at a time and do the best you can. What else can you do? I know the world would be a better place just having her in it. I miss her terribly.

I love you Mom. Happy birthday.

~Brein

Funerals

Well as you know we just buried my mother-in-law.  :(  It has really gotten me thinking about my funeral one day.  For the record... there shall be NO double chin pictures of me up, not in my obituary or anywhere else, even if I'm heavier at that time than I am now!  Anyway onto my Mom memory...

When Mom was sick and knew she was dying, she told me what she wanted for her funeral.  

She wanted her casket to be carried in the back of a van, our van if possible.  She said she didn't like hearses because they were sad.

She didn't want a luncheon afterwards, she wanted a PARTY with nothing but CHOCOLATE! She wanted us all to have fun and talk about all the good times we had with her.

Well she never got those things.  :(  Dad said the hearse came with the package.  And no one was in the mood for a party at all.  I remember rolls, and funeral potatoes , but I don't remember any chocolate.  Not saying there wasn't any, just none I can remember.

Oh ya and I forgot, when posting don't forget to add your name at the bottom!

~Brein

Silly

I was really excited to see Aariel & Brein post some cute memories & pictures of mom, so it inspired me to do the same. I have so many seemingly insignificant memories of mom but they are all that I have so that makes them very significant in my life.

Simple memories like after getting my tonsils out, she rubbed lotion on my back & gave me back tickles. Or asking early in the morning if I could go wake up the baby (Joseph) and her telling me in one minute I could, so I counted to 60 as fast as I could and ran to wake him up. Poor mom! Even trying to take naps with her on the couch but never falling asleep. Waiting in the kitchen for her to get off the phone, knowing that as soon as she said "okie dokie" she would be done soon.

I am so proud to be hers & my dads. I am so proud of my family and how far we have come since the loss of such a precious family member. I really hope that people can get some joy out of our little silly memories of our beautiful mother, wife & friend.

~Madi

Being a Mom

Mom with her awesome fro' and Ben.

Mom and me and my awesome fro'!


Mom always told me the only thing she ever wanted to be was a mom. She said in school when all the kids were supposed to think of what they wanted to be when they grew up, being a mom was the only thing on her list. You could tell being raised by her that her kids were her main priority. That is what made my childhood wonderful and this world with out her so scary and hard. I love her so much, and the holidays are always especially hard, now with Grandpa gone it is even harder. But knowing that she's with her dad somehow makes me feel better.

~Brein

a special memory of Mom

I don’t have very many memories of Mom, and most of them are just little ones. Her asking me what kind of cereal I wanted and me changing my mind so many times that when I got the bowl, it had different kinds of cereal in it - and I was mad! Seeing her go potty while I was taking a bath (I’m sure she’d love that one). Her talking on our white rotary phone. Getting me a drink of water.

Probably my most meaningful memory of mom was on my first day of Kindergarten. She walked me into the classroom and I sat down at the table. Everyone was coloring a picture of a schoolhouse with a bell on top, and I was nervous because I didn’t know anyone. Mom asked me if I wanted her to stay and, since no one else had their mom there, I said no. When she left I cried. I was scared and lonely and wished I’d told her to stay with me!

Later that day I opened up my pencil box and taped inside was a mini Crunch bar and a note that said “I love you, Aariel!” Thinking about it now, I don’t know if I knew how to read that note. But I knew my name, and her handwriting, and I knew that my mom had put that in my pencil box for me. It made me feel special and I knew things would be okay.


-Aariel

Yay!

I just gotta say that Im really excited about this blog. You know anyone who knew my mom knew how wonderful she was. Not a day goes by that I don't think about her. It's nice to have a blog to be able to get the feelings out that I feel about her everyday. We all miss her like crazy so this is gonna be nice to be able to post pictures of her and chat about her. Anyone who knows her is more than welcome to share memories or stories or feelings. Thats why we have this blog, not just for us kids but for everyone.

~Madi