TODAY I WILL REAP MY HARVEST.
HOW CAN IT BE POSSIBLE FOR A DAUGHTER TO LOOSE HER MOTHER, BUT STILL FIND IT IN HER HEART TO FEEL GRATEFUL? I SUPPOSE THE ONLY WAY TO PUT IT, IS THAT IT'S A MIRICLE. WHEN I THINK ABOUT ALL THAT HAS TRANSPIRED, IT HAS GONE SO SMOOTHLY. I HAD SO MUCH FEAR, BUT EVERYTHING HAPPENED PERFECTLY.
THIS IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR AND HOW IS IT POSSIBLE DURING THE HARVEST, NOT TO BE GLAD AND THANKFUL FOR SO MANY BLESSINGS?
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THANKS TO YOU, WHO KINDLY LEFT COMMENTS AFTER MY MOTHER DIED. I GIVE THANKS FOR YOU, BECAUSE TO KNOW SOMEONE WAS THINKING ABOUT US, GAVE ME STRENGTH! MELANIE EMAILED, SAYING; I WILL GO TO LIGHT A CANDLE FOR LOIS. MY MOM SAID LAYING IN THE HOSPITAL, DO YOU THINK MELANIE WILL REALLY GO LIGHT A CANDLE FOR ME AT THE CATHEDRAL IN PROVANCE? I SAID "YES MOM, I DO". AND SHE DID!
FOR MY HUSBAND PETE, WHO NOT ONLY LOVES, BUT CHERISHES ME. WHAT A TEAM PLAYER! FROM THE MOMENT WE MET, HAS BEEN MY PARTNER AND HE HELPED ME AND MY MOTHER THROUGH THIS END OF LIFE EXPERIENCE AND NOW, HE TOO FEELS BLESSED.
FOR FRIENDS LIKE SAMANTHA AND JEFF WHO APPEARED LIKE MAGIC INTO OUR LIVES LAST YEAR. AFTER LOIS DIED, THEY INVITED PETE AND I TO THEIR HOME AND OFFERED US A PLACE OF COMFORT AND PEACE. THESE PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN DURING ONE OF THE MOST DELICIOUS DINNERS THAT SAM PREPARED FOR US.
FOR NOELLE CALLING TO SAY SHE LOVED ME BEFORE SHE WENT TO NEPAL AND KNEW SHE WOULD NOT HAVE PHONE ACCESS, SHE JUST HAD AN INTUITION SHE SHOULD.
FOR SOMEPINKFLOWERS DECIDING TO TAKE A PHOTO OF LOIS (AFTER SHE FOUND OUT THAT MY MOM DIED), TO LOS DIAS DE LOS MUERTOS IN SAN MIGUEL, MEXICO AND FOR ALLOWING LOIS BE PART OF THIS WONDERFUL CELEBRATION, ONE THAT I NOT ONLY BELIEVE IN BUT HAVE LONGED TO ATTEND FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS, WELL I GUESS LOIS MADE IT FIRST! AND THERE SHE SAT ON THE TOP SHELF OF THE OFFERANDA PROUDLY, SITTING BESIDES REBECCA'S FATHER AND NEAR STEPHANIE'S FATHER AND LEA'S HUSBAND, MILT. WHAT A COOL THING!
FOR ALL THE TIMES DUTCHBABY HELD MY HAND (VIA THE PHONE), I GIVE THANKS.
FOR ANDREA AND LEITHA AND ALL LOIS' AND MY FRIENDS WHO WERE PRESENT AT LOIS' SPARKLING CELEBRATION OF LIFE LAST SUNDAY. MY MOTHER MADE THIS JOY IMAGE (AT THE TOP) LAST FEB, BEING ONE OF HER LAST PHOTOSHOP COLLEGES. I ADDED THE BOTTOM PART FOR HER CELEBRATION AND IN THE INSIDE WAS THE POEM "MISS ME BUT LET ME GO".
ESPECIALLY FOR DEBORAH FOR HELPING ME SET UP THE PARTY,
FOR MIEKO AND DEBORAH FOR HELPING ME TAKE DOWN THE PARTY.
FOR MOLLY FOR HELPING ME FEEL AT PEACE BEFORE AND DURING THE CEREMONY, FOR CHARLES PLAYING HIS GUITAR, FOR BRING THE DOM PERIGNON TO TOAST TO LOIS WITH, FOR THE EXOTIC FLOWERS, DINNER AT THE STILLWATER AND FOR ARRANGING THE FLOWERS. TO SAMANTHA AND MOLLY FOR READING THE TRIBUTE I WROTE FOR LOIS.
FOR SHARON AND BILL BRINGING DINNER AND BILL'S FANTASTIC TOAST!
WHO KNEW THAT IT WOULD OR COULD BE SUCH A JOYFUL CELEBRATION? BUT IT WAS!
THE FOLLOWING IS WHAT I WROTE ABOUT MY MOTHER, LOIS:
Lois was a radiant and elegant person, she was curious and intelligent, she was compassionate and kind, not to mention creative and fun.
She didn’t waste time speaking negatively about other people and did not hold grudges. She made birthday cards and Christmas cookies not only for her friends, but for the those she feared might feel alone.
She was disciplined in all areas of her life. She exercised, she dressed well, ate whatever she wanted (including dessert), however she never ate in between meals. She enjoyed sipping white wine and couldn't live without two cups of coffee each day. She liked spaghetti very much and was not only a fantastic cook, but an exceptional entertainer!
She adored animals, especially cats. She believed in the humane treatment of all people and all animals.
Lois revered nature, especially flowers. She would take me on walks and introduce me to all the new blossoms in town and never did she forget the tiniest little fairy flowers mixed in with the weeds. She also was a "Rooting Specialist”. There was always a cutting on her windowsill, that would someday become a plant.
She was stoic and extremely brave and rarely complained.
A few of her favorite expressions were: "Life is a maintenance trip”, “Everything in moderation”, and “Waste not want not”.
Lois was for peace not war and she was a peacemaker who preferred to loose a battle, than not have peace.
She always wore a smile upon her face, a blessing for all who crossed her path.
She adored being a member of the The Jefferson Carnegie Library, and also belonged to the " Friends of the Library". For the past 32 years, she checked out books and always had at least one in progress at all times. She belonged to her book club for 25 years.
She was smart and loved to learn. At age 80, she turned her back on reading the encyclopedia and opted to google information everyday instead.
She enjoyed playing bridge and could sit for five hours a go!! Mainly, she enjoyed the mental challenge and would try to play her very best, as she didn’t care if she won or lost.
As a member of the Jessie Allen Wise Garden Club, Lois shared her talents and time with joy, because she deeply believed in preserving the beauty and integrity of Jefferson, but she believed in historic preservation in general.
Her home, The Barry Benefield House, was featured on Jefferson’s Candlelight Christmas tour three times being one of the first homes ever on tour.
Lois made a difference in our world, she was extraordinary and exquisite, but when others would compliment her, she would just laugh, because besides everything else, she possessed humility.
She was a loyal friend and the very best mother and mother in law a person could have. She and her smile will be missed by all who knew her, so now it's time that we’ll have to carry her smile around for her.
Lois was an artist that choose to make her life a beautiful work of art!
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For having had such a wonderful mother for fifty~five years... I feel truly blessed!
YES, INDEED, I HAVE A CORNUCOPIA OF GIFTS THAT JUST LANDED IN MY HEART.
MY MOTHER WAS GOING TO HAVE TO DIE ONE DAY, WE ALL WILL DIE. BUT WHEN SHE PASSED, IT WAS THE RIGHT DAY AND IN A WAY SOMEHOW I WAS ABLE TO HANDLE HER GOING, SURROUNDED IN AND BY MUCH, MUCH LOVE!
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2012 TO ALL WHO READ THIS!
LOVE,
CONSTANCE
