Remembering This Day

Good Morning to you! It's hard to believe we are at the end of January; this new month flew by! Today is a day I always try remember~you see 43 years ago today my mother graduated from this life to her eternal home at the age of 61(I was a young 22 yrs old). I know I've posted my parents wedding photo before, but dug out these photos to share today.  This first photo was taken at my brother's wedding.  When asked what I remember about my mom, this is how I remember her most.  I'm also noticing she didn't have wrinkles, even though we had a pool and were out in the sun a lot.  Must have been the Ponds she lathered on her face each night.  Those blue eyes were so beautiful.

This photo was taken of my parents in the Sierra's.  I think it was when my brother was selling land outside of Mariposa.

When I was 19 or 20,  my parents wanted to see the Grand Canyon, so we rented this van and I drove them there.  This was the first pair of jeans my mom ever owned.  Unfortunately, the trip was cut short when my dad had a heart attack on the first morning we were there-so we turned around and headed for home. I was so disappointed on so many levels and I think my mom was trying to make me laugh.

For my parents 25th wedding anniversary, my brother, sister and I got them a puppy.  She was a white German Shepherd-with some Golden Retriever mixed in.  My poor mom was still working and what a chore to get home from work and take care of a puppy.  I wasn't living at home at the time and my dad worked swing shift at a grocery store.

My parents were both very devout Catholics and my mom stayed close with this Sister, who taught her through high school.  Each summer, Sister Cleophas would come to visit.

Love the smiles on their faces.
I wasn't really close with my mom; I always felt bad that she had a baby late in life for the era, had to work full time and then come home and deal with me-I was such a handful.  I wish she had lived long to see me mature, get married and have babies.  I can't say this is a sad day for me, just one I remember vividly.  She was never in the best of health, but her passing came as such a surprise and a warning for me to take care of my health.
If you are blessed with having your mom still in your life, cherish it and give her some loving today.
I'm thankful I'll see my mom in glory.

Hugs,
Noreen

41 Years Ago

I can't believe I forgot to add this on to my Friday post, so if you didn't see my post from this morning please check out our sewing. However, today I want to remember my Mother who passed away 41 yrs ago today. She was only 61 and it was sudden, I was only 22-I would have thought I was younger. Much too young to lose a Mom, especially when I was still so immature and bratty. She never got to see me married or having children; thankfully my dad did.

This is their wedding photo-boy they were such a gorgeous couple. Many people thought my dad looked like Fred Astaire and my mom truly looked like a movie star. I still have her wedding dress and periodically pull it out for our grands to try on.  Miss you Mom.
 Joy to you!
Noreen

In Memory

                                            L.N. Roche
                                            February 22, 1913-January 29, 1974
Unfortunately, I do not have photos easily available of my mom and since I love mom & dad's wedding photo so much I thought I'd share it.  Thirty eight years ago my mother departed this earth; it is so hard to believe it has been that long.  My mom wasn't seriously ill and the thought of her having a stroke never entered my mind; I was just 21 yrs old and still immature, never fully realizing how her passing would impact my life.  There is so much I wanted to share with her~she knew the love of my life but wouldn't see us married, me growing up, having children and grandchildren.  She never got to see me discover Jesus and grow in faith; well she did but from a different perspective.  I never got to fully apologize for what a rebellious and tough child I was, there were so many lessons I learned after she was gone.  I will say that I became the mom I am because of my childhood, it made me so dedicated to my two daughters.  My mom had to work from the time I was two and it took a tole on her health; one of her parents also had a stroke so she recognized the symptoms.  She only lingered about 8 hours and I'm thankful she didn't have to live in a vegetable state; she never would have wanted that.  I know that both my brother and I have many of her traits; we are both Irish through and through and grow more alike as we grow older.  So today Mom, I would like to say thank you for raising me, for being the mother you were, for being an example of prayer~I still remember you on your knees every morning. Thank you for loving me even when I was so difficult and it was so hard for you.
Always your little girl,
Noreen