You know, I have never been known for a lack of words.........
But today......today I'm speechless. I'm speechless because I am so touched by the many people who attended my Mom's funeral yesterday.......people who knew and loved her dearly; people who worked with her over the years and neighbors who lived next to her.
But the people who attended that left me speechless were the ones who didn't know Mom. They came out of respect for Chuck and I. Many of our neighbors from the lake drove 2 hours each way to attend Mom's funeral; friends from our old neighborhood in Dallas that we moved from almost 10 years ago came; our CPA was there; and the son of one of my Meals on Wheels clients in E. Texas honored me with his presence; most having never met my Mom.
Every one in attendance yesterday will never know just how much you touched my heart.....to the point of being speechless.
And for Liz; this is a first.
Thank you.......
Thank You from the bottom of my heart for honoring my mother with your presence.....
and honoring me with your friendship.
For those who weren't able to attend the funeral, I would love for you to know my Mom the way we knew her......Check out Mom's Video Below (click on link):
Posts
35 comments:
The video is precious, so moving. What a tribute. I wish I had known your mom. But I DO know you. When I know you, I know a part of your mom that lives on. I am blessed. I send much love, Liz
Thanks Liz. Every one I saw in the video is a master piece of God's creation, some might now it, some may not. Your mother was sent to you too enjoy for a little while, but God decided to take her home so she can have a restful eternal life and so to worship "The Master of The Universe, our God" Show me your ways , O Lord; teach me your paths. Ps 25:4
Israel
I'm not only sorry I didn't have the opportunity to meet your Mom, but that I wasn't able to be there yesterday. Travel that distance alone is not a possibility for me anymore, and Sue had a 100th birthday party for one of her parishioners to attend. I WAS there in thoughts and Prayers!!!!!! I LOVE YOU. Nyla
Love and prayers.
Hi Elizabeth! I just read about your mom. I am so sorry for your loss. Your mother always made me feel so welcome! I have wonderful childhood memories of her and spending time at your house. She always had a smile for us and seemed to get such a kick out of the silly things we did to entertain ourselves on Sabbath afternoons! She was a good audience! I am blessed to still have my mom here near where I live. It is such a blessing to be near our parents as they age isn't it? I'm so glad you got to spend so many quality times with yours! My thoughts and prayers are with you as you work through this time of loss. How exciting to know that when she opens her eyes she will see Jesus! How wonderful to hear the words of welcome from her beloved Savior! I love you Elizabeth and I love your parents. I felt loved and safe in your home and loved to go there whenever we could get all the parents to say Yes! Let me know how you are when you get a chance to write. It is fun to read your blog, you are an excellent writer! Love you! jana
So beautiful and so loved. Thanks for sharing this video. Hugs, Sallie & Larry.
Wow! Now I'm all teary and speechless! What a beautiful life. Thank you so much for sharing. Sammie said a lot of people from the Dallas church were there. Wish I could have been there to celebrate your Mom's life with everyone and have a taste of what it will be like when we all reunite in heaven.
Hugs......Julie
"Beautiful!!"
Liz,
I watched the video, it was awesome! I see your Mom in you and your sister! Such a beautiful family! Thanks for sharing!
I am so sorry to hear of your mother's death. It came as a surprise to me because I have not been so involved in your lives. I know she will be missed and her memory will long live on. Best wishes to you , your sister and borther and of course Chuck.
Karen
Love you..
I thought about you also...would have loved to be there...you ate still in my thoughts and prayers...can't view the video just yet bit I will and I'm sire its wonderful and will probably make me cry...luv u girl... "
I read your blog and it was amazing.. wish I could have come but was scared to
try it alone.. Ken want do a funeral ever
since his daughter passed away.. he did not even stay at the cemetery for the
last words at the burial site.. we left straight
from the funeral part.. so I wanted to come and my heart was heavy.. wish I
could have caught a ride with someone else..
I told Ken twice yesterday afternoon that you were at your Mother's funeral..
you were in my heart and thoughts.. so please
know that..
I thought the flowers were so beautiful.. just breath taking.. and I know the
service was so nice.. she was the prettiest lady
in the deal you did on her.. and one of the pictures of her is exactly like you.. it was amazing.. and today you can say you did it all just right and honored her in the most wonderful way.. I've never
seen anyone honored like your Mother before..
I just wanted you to know I was thinking about you... and one day soon I want to meet you and we can have lunch and it's on ME this time.. O.K. ?
Love you so much,
Cynthia
Liz, this is am amazing tribute to your mom. I'm so sorry for your loss. God will see you through the painful times reminding you to keep your precious memories close.
Julie
Rest in the stillness of My Presence while I prepare you for this day. Let the radiance of My Glory shine upon you, as you wait on Me in confident trust. Be still and know that I am God. I love you!
God is right there too - and so is your Mom smiling down on her beautiful daughter. Praying for the family now including Ant Ellie.
I couldn't believe those flowers. Spectacular. Your mother would love those. It was a beautiful way to honor her...everything that was done honored her so well."
Liz, your video is such a lovely tribute to your mother. We never met but reading about her in your blogs makes me feel as if I have lost a friend. My love and prayers are with you, Chuck, and your family."
Liz, I am so sorry to hear about your mom. I know that this is a very hard time for you. I am praying for your family. But sorrow is buffered because of a hope in the resurrection. I posted on your dad's FB wall, but it looks like he hasn't been on there since his birthday, and probably won't any time soon. Please let him know that I am praying for him. Thanks
Oh, Liz. I didn't know you mom had just passed. Please know we still love your family even though we don't see you. We're hurting for you in absentia, I guess. Your mom was wonderful, indded, and I have no doubt we'll be seeing her in a better place. Hugs to you and your dad."
Oh, Liz! i didn't realize your mom had just passed. Your mom was a wonderful woman. Tears here and hugs to you and your dad."
You are sooooo blessed. I am so happy for you for all who attended the service. Continued prayers with you. Hope you enjoy First Pittsburg today. Blessings, Jack
So sorry I missed your mother's memorial. Wanted to attend, but had to work til 3:00, and decided to visit Hilda (Attaway) at rehab in Royce City before it got dark. (I am directionally challenged, so can't drive to new places after dark!) Thinking of you during this time. Happy for your mom, though. You know she must be having a blast reconnecting with friends and family who've been waiting for her :)
Say hello to Chuck for me...Hope to see you both at the lake soon. Lisa called from Italy today, and apparently is having a great adventure! Happy Mother's Day a week early. Love, Nancy
that is sooo awesome an touching and such a great tribute to ur mom..... u made memories sooo beautiful Thanks for sharing this with me... A beautiful family I am deeply touched. She was a beautiful lady inside an out. and I am anxious to see her again in a far better place........ She has served her time here an did it well. Now she gets her rewards,, Love u my heart aches for u an ur great loss here but rejoices with u in the GREAT promise that we will see her again much love n prayers are with u lulu
I hope this day has not been to much for you.. you have been thru so much .. I wandered if you were home.. I know you have got to be mentally exhausted and physically too.. Take a hot shower and get some much needed rest honey.. I'm thinking about you and I hope all the family and your dad are doing o.k. Love you and hopefully see you one day soon.. Wednesday I have to go and check on my sister in Euless.. dread it but it is a must.. I worry about her so much.. she is not doing real well..
You are still in my prayers.. :)
Cynthia
I hope you did O.K. with Mom's funeral. That had to be one of the toughest days even. Somehow we just have to get through them. She is in a better place and you have carry on , in her loving image. You are a great person and that does not happen by accident , she was one of the people that " shaped " you ( maybe the most important influence in your life , I don't know ). But I do know you loved her and she will be with you forever. Stay strong , with a smile. Jim.
Oh Liz, we can't begin to tell you how much we appreciated your sharing your Mother's life with us through these beautiful videos. We met her and your Dad a long time ago at your wedding with Jim but that was the last time we saw her. So it is so lovely to see, through these videos, how beautiful your Mom was.
Also, we want you to know that we wished so much that we could have been one of those friends, that you spoke of, that came many miles to be there for you. We felt bad that we couldn't be there. I thought of flying out by myself but I then decided that you had enough on your plate without having to worry about babysitting me. We do hope that you know by now that even if we were not there physically we were there with you with our thoughts and prayers for you and your family.
We love you and want you to know that we are here for you whenever you need to talk.
Margie & Mike
You remember all those wonderful times with your Mom!!! Thanks for the b'day wish! Hugs to you!!
What a tribute to your mom, I know too well how you're feeling. I pray the pain passes, and all the wonderful memories and blessings you shared stay forever strong in your heart.
I noticed now that my Uncle Norman Graham is a friend; wow. . . how do you know him?
Dear Liz and Chuck,
Mark and I were saddened to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Mark lost his mother this time last year and I feel that no matter how “prepared” you are for the leaving, it still is a huge loss.
I hope you are able to remember all the wonderful times and remain close to your family and friends.
Know that we are thinking of you.
Anne & Mark
Anne Simon
Beautiful tribute to a beautiful and wonderful woman Liz... God Bless all y'all!"
Liz … your video was absolutely Fabulous and what a BEAUTFIFUL tribute to your Mom. The thing that struck me the most was the humor and joy throughout her life … and yours! I wish I could say which was my favorite shot, but there were so many. The very close-up profile shot near the end of the video was right up there at the top. Spoke volumes! The Nuns were pretty cool, too!
I'm so sorry I was in California and couldn't be with you, but I was there in spirit!
I found that when my Mother died, I was able to breathe … let go of all her pain over her last 15 years, and reflect on the 75 wonderful years she did have, and how many lives she touched. I know you were able to do the same.
Tearfully,
Ann
Judy wrote: "Sorry,,I didn't know.. My heart and prayers are with you and Chuck and rest of the family. beautiful flowers and outstanding tribute!"
So what I am trying to say to you is that I only want to be as good a friend to you as you have been to me. I knew you had a wonderful support system in your family and friends around you so I didn't feel that you needed me so urgently, but trust that I would have been there if you really wanted me to. I do appreciate your taking the time sharing your feelings with me as it helps me feel that I am there with you in a small way. It is times like these that I hate that I moved away from you. I've so missed sharing many of our life moments with one another.
The letters your Mom wrote was such a beautiful gesture on her part. You can feel peaceful in the fact that you know that she loved all of you that much. I can't even imagine my Mom thinking of doing that. Actually my family is in no way close like your family has been (but you already have seen that in my Mom). If I had such a close knit family I would have never left where I came from. I guess that's why Mike and I tried to build our own family and when we couldn't have our own we adopted. However, we both know how that all turned out. But, that is in the past.....
Again, Mike and I love you and are here for you.
I am glad you made it though the funeral and family graveside service. Oh , I know how tough this is , but your strength is a tribute to your Mom. What a great idea and thing she did by writing those letters, the more you tell me about her , the more I realize what a special person she was. This goes back to my earlier point about you. You received your gift of love and understanding from someplace and I am starting to realize how great a source of your personality must come from this loving and caring woman.
I think you are right when you say , nothing happens by coincidence. I know that was my feeling when I met you on the rock in Moab. The tear you shed and the kind words you spoke were just the kind of " healing force " I needed at that time of pain in my life. Why were you there? Why right then ? I need no answer to these questions. The beauty of it happening is enough for me. And that , in part , is why , when you need a friend , I will always be there for YOU.
Dry those teardrops and move on with your life , Yes , you are a lucky girl and anyone who gets to meet you is lucky ( I know I was ). Get out there a spread some joy , love and smiles. That is what your Mom would want. Best wishes to all. Jim
Hi Liz,
Thank you so much for sending me the video. I will always keep. it. I had many tears as I watched. She was a precious lady. She taught me many lessons even though she never knew it. I loved her dearly and will always remember her. Thank you and I love you for thinking about me and for sending it to me. I am so sorry I was out of state when she went to heaven but Carlous said it was a beautiful service. Sorry I couldn't be there but he keep me posted that day.
Thank you again for sending this to me. You are just like family to me.
Love to you and yours.
Margaret
Post a Comment