Goodbye, Mom - part 4 The joy of family

Our final days in Sisters ended with a fun celebration of Mother's life in this little town.

During our luncheon at the church, after mother's service, the sky filled with snow. The children danced in the parking lot...

With their mouths wide open to catch every flake.

Little Californians aren't use to the snow.

When we returned to mother's house the children shoveled the snow,

Played in it for hours,

Made snow balls,

and made tracks along the slippery roads.

It was a cold day but no one seemed to mind.

Everyone welcomed a taste of winter.

Jonah made dozens of snowballs and Sasha did not complain.

Margaret and Kevin brought Marina and Nicole to Mom's place this week...Here they are gathered around the computer to sing crazy songs with our children. It was so good to be with them and to spend long night hours talking to Glen.

Early Saturday morning, our last full day together, we decided to go on one of mother's favorite annual shopping sprees - The Stitchin' Post Early Morning Pajama Sale. We got up early, with

Bob, Doretta, Carl and Nick, and all the girls and went to mom's favorite quilt shop in our pajamas. The shoppers came in the snow, with warm slippers, curlers in their hair, and lots of flannel robes. We all got a coupon at the door that gave us 30% off every item that we purchased in the store. It was a perfect way to end the week.

Nick, Carl and Bob went to a near by diner for a hearty breakfast, while the rest of us began to shop. Nan found fabric for her first homemade quilt- Mom would have been so proud of that choice. I bought a green table runner for my Christmas table, and some unusual felted Christmas balls (you will see them in my Christmas post)...and of course, we bought Quilt books (you never leave the Sitchin Post without a quilt book). The author of our books was there in her pajamas too- Jean Wells (a very famous quilter and owner of the store). Some of her little quilt boxes are in this picture with Nick. What a colorful designer (both Nick and Jean).

Tina and Carl are browsing in the "Fat quarter" section of the store. I don't think that Carl has any idea what a "fat quarter" is.

It was such a pleasure to be shopping with our dear friends, Doretta and Bob. Here is Doretta in her pajamas with all the other brave, cold shoppers of Sisters. She fits right in..a part of this fun community.

It was a fine way to spend our last days together. We won't see each other until next July. What a memorable week in the middle of our mission... It has been a gift to return to be with family and friends at this time. Thank you for coming.

What a group ! You are the best of the best. (after four posts, I have run out of superlatives).

When we finished our successful shopping spree, all the girls went to The Gallery for breakfast in our pajamas. People were walking all over town in their pajamas.

We were too hungry to get pictures. This is a picture the second time we went to The Gallery with all the little kids.

Later, we dined at an old "gourmet" restaurant called the "Snow Cap Drive-In". It is not a Drive-In or a gourmet restaurant, but is a great place for big hamburgers, corn dogs, and greasy onion rings...food we have not eaten since we left for Denmark. I think that this place

is the oldest eating place in town. It is about the size of our living room in Denmark.

We decided to take a family photo. Maybe we'll use it for our Christmas Picture.

Vaughn, Stepi's husband, is not in a lot of these pictures. He has been on "Simon watch", and caring for two new little puppies that the Hormikos have adopted into their family. This is a picture of the very first walk that they have taken on a leash. I think that they are wrapped around Vaughn's leg. It was a very short walk.

Thank you, Vaughn, for being such a kind, patient father of one sassy little boy, two busy little girls with many bright ideas, and a great big boy who is growing up too fast. (he has lots of bright ideas too) We love having you all. I am so glad that you were willing to come to be with this crazy family of ours.

During this week we had some surprise visitors. Gretta came running up to mother's house to tell me that there were over twenty wild turkeys next door. They are the same color as the dirt so they are hard to photograph. But after this picture was taken, Gretta turned around and scared the poor gobblers by chasing them all through the woods. All I could see was a little red coat running through the trees.

There were lots of hungry deer in mother's backyard. They often came right up to the deck.

Carl is standing on a snowy road near her house. Sisters is located in what is called a "high desert." It has a mixture of sage brush, and tall evergreen trees. It is nature's paradise.

I grew up on the other side of these Oregon mountains down in the Willamette Valley. I love the lush green Oregon foliage and the dark brown soil of that valley. But there is magnificent beauty here with the Three Sisters snow capped mountains, and the clear lakes and rivers near mother's Sister's home.

During this week I was able to read (in person) the spooky Halloween stories that I wrote for this blog to Sasha, Gretta and Jonah. I got to play with little Simon and enjoy some of the best people in the world. I will long remember these days.

I have been accused by some of our family- of writing the longest blogs in "blogland." Consider the last four blogs as a place where you can come when you want to read about your grandma. Use it as a little album of her life. Read it on her birthday, or when you are thinking about her and wishing that she were here.

Use her life to lift you up and be grateful for the heritage that you have. Live a full life like she did...use all of your talents, work hard, and then take time to smell lots of roses, dahlias, and fresh green beans picked from your garden. Remember to plant daffodils in the fall so that you can enjoy them in the spring.. and hang gingerbread boys on your Christmas tree.

Thank you, Mom, for leaving us with these sweet memories. We love you, Belva

Goodbye, Mom - Part 3 The Farewell

This is my mother's family tree. She is the oldest of four children. Her sisters is her last living sibling. She is 92 years old.

Arvilla was visiting mother when she died. We are so thankful that she stayed for the next week while we prepared for mother's funeral. She shared with me many little childhood stories that she remembered about their life on their Idaho farm. She helped me create mother's life story to be given at her service. This is a written copy of the story I told about my mother's memorable life. I have included two pieces written by two of mother's good friends, Christina Zandonatti and Shirley Lalli. (Remember to click on each page if you want to read the story)

Sue and Jim Anderson spent hours preparing the printed program for Mother's service. Thank you for this fine work.

This is the colorful front and back of Mother's Program.

This is the inside of the program.

Ladene and the Richins family surprised us with a beautiful floral bouquet. Thank you so much for remembering us and honoring our mom.

Thank you also, to Margaret, Kevin and Kathy Richins. They have been dedicated to caring for Mom before she died. Thank you also for helping us to prepare for her final service.

I am so grateful for our good friends, Bob and Doretta Henshaw. They took the time to drive nine hours from Sacramento to Sisters, Oregon- to be with us during the week.

What a joy, in the middle of our mission to Denmark, that we could come home for this special occasion- and see our dear friends, as well as some of our grandchildren and all of our children.

In all of the sadness, we have been truly blessed during this season of our lives.

In all the tragedy and sorrow, Heavenly Father fills in the gaps. For all of this, again, I am truly grateful.

Thank you, Bob and Doretta for connecting us to home with your thoughtful and unexpected visit.

On this day, the Sisters Branch was full of long time friends and family. Mother wore a brand new temple dress. She had spent three years looking for this dress and hoped to wear it in the temple. I had the sweet experience, with some of her very dear friends, to dress her for this event. She looked beautiful for her final goodbye.

The service was well attended. There was a feeling of love and sadness over the loss of this grand lady. In some way, all the family participated. I gave her life story and Glen, her grandson, told about his life with her, especially the last few years while he has been living in her home. (I am sorry that I don't have a record of his talk, or the rest of the service because our tape recorder failed to record the entire event.)

Kathy Richins spoke about her memories of mom. Thank you for your kind words.

The music was beautiful. The grandchildren and great grandchildren sang "Families can be together forever." Lisa Smith and Trisha Liddell provided the fine music that mother had requested long before she passed away.

Some of mother's friends, who had become family through the years, brought us hope through their testimonies and prayers. Thank you again Phillip, President Nyle Head, and Jim Anderson for the extra loving care that you gave so generously to our Mother. Thank you to all the members of this exceptional Sisters Branch of the Church. You really know how to watch over your own.

It was a cold, sunny day waiting to snow until after we all met at the cemetary to say goodbye to mom. Her dear friend, Jim Anderson, dedicated her grave. Thank you, Jim, for your strength and for the sweet words that concluded our day with mom.

It was a pleasure to be with Arvilla during this time. She was a peaceful, kind reminder of our dear mom. It was a pleasure to be with all of you.

The Relief Society provided a lunch at the end of the day. Thank you for preparing for us- a place of comfort and rest after a long emotional day. It was a time to be together and enjoy the blessings of friends and family. A fine way to celebrate the life of our Mom and grandma.

What a dear group. I can't tell you how much I love and appreciate you all.

We were surrounded by flowers. In the middle is a bouquet sent from Nancy's work in Washington, DC.- Thank you all, for helping us to remember Margaret Parker Richins - on this day.

I hope that it was the grand finale that you had been waiting for, Mom. We will miss you so much. Thank you for the life that you gave us. Thank you for all the things that we have forgotten to thank you for. You have been well loved. Can't wait to see you again.

Good bye for now, all my love, Belva