Sunday, May 13, 2012

My Mom - Jean Lila Ranade Price

Mom as a young mother
Mother's Day Musings May 13, 2012 Naturally my thoughts and heart have been focused on my own mom for much of the past week. It's been 7 weeks sinced she passed, and I miss her so.

The sharp pain of loss has now turned to a kind of dull ache. Now I know what a heartache feels like. The silver lining, because there always is one, is that there is a reason for that feeling of heartache. It's love. Taking the good and the not-so-good, that is what I have learned to do, while always looking for that silver lining, even in the midst of a challenge. Being alive is WONDERFUL!

But just being alive is not enough; I want to LIVE, to really LIVE, to go for those dreams of my heart. This is what I wish for all of my family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, just everyone I know or have ever known.

So, will I go skydiving? Um, probably not this week, but who knows. My sister Julie would say, "Hey ya dummy, you gotta get in an airplane first!!!" hahahahaha

One of my favorite pics

Today is a cool, sunny, blue-sky-beautiful day, and I love it! I hope you all have a terrific Mother's Day today. Here are some pictures that honor mothers in my own family.
Guess where I got my smile from?
Mom, Me, and Frank
Mom, Julie, Morgan, and Papa Frank
Pretty flowers from the Westwoods


Getting ready to sent love and letters we
wrote Mom/Grandma Jean to the Heavens
 



             

We decided not to stay where time stood still. It was hard, but very healthy for us.

I asked Julie's friend Heather James to cut 10 inches off my hair so I could donate it to Locks of Love, to honor my mother.

Over the weeks that followed there were many tender mercies, much insight into life and death.

Susan Davis brought a very pretty Gerbera Daisy plant, one of my very favorite flowers, and a book, which I am still reading and really enjoying.

Shelly Hedin brought us a yummy loaf of Cinnamon Burst bread, but more importantly, she brought herself. We sat on the front steps and gabbed. That gift of herself, of her time, is something I will always remember.

Other Great Mothers in My Family
Julie

My sister Julie (the short one in the middle)
with her awesome kids Kyler  and Jenny

Nana
Nana, my grandmother
(my father's mother)

Katie
Nana's mother Katie Podosky Tait
(my great grandmother)

 
Great Grandma Katie and Nana