The next 4 pages are in honor of my/our Mom
There are 4 of us, me being the oldest.
My folks are of the OLD fashion kind,
they are still married, to each other.
Living the commitment they made to each other
and to God:
their wedding Vows

My tribute to Mom is to recall the 'music'
she brought into our home and family life.
Music as soothing as her voice
and as warm as her love for each of us.
We are very blessed to have a mom,
we each know how blessed we are and we give
Thanksgiving and Praise to our Lord for this gift.

Our parents are such
that we did everything together
as a FAMILY.
Took family vacations,
some really fun,
some not so fun,
however the 'on-the-road' trips
were almost always fun.
We played games in the car,
had a blast.
Mom knew when we were bored
she and dad played
right along with us.

The 'items' I remember besides the kitchen plaques always had a Piano, king size furniture in Mom's room MOST of all the beautiful Sacred Heart statue, it is a blessing to behold even to this day the site of that statue radiates comfort.

A rendition of this plaque
made of metal
was given to each one of us
as we left the 'nest'.
As a time honored tradition
Mom made a trip to
Knotts Berry Farm's gift shop;
each time one of her younglings
were stepping out.....
this was a gentle reminder,
don't forget from where you are from....
and that you are LOVED

"Where ever you wander, Where ever you roam, Be happy and healthy, And glad to come home."

We children were NEVER left in the car
while they made errands,
even if the 'stop' were for only a moment
we were NEVER left alone.
NEVER had the 'feeling'
we were unwanted or unloved
in our own, teenage minds
maybe, that 'thought'
hit us from time to time...
of our OWN doing,
not from them,
and they would have moved
the moon and stars themselves
to show us how wrong we were
in that state of mind.

Our family is a bond of trust and loyalty....
as we turned 'teenagers' we, the children,
tempted this 'bond'
through their unconditional love.....
the bond was never broken.

To this day, we each may speak our mind
and our hearts with complete openness
and either be left to our own devices
if we are so set in our way
or if we are open to their 'thoughts'
they will talk the subject over with us
till we understand or even
till they understand
they are not ashamed
to admit they could be wrong..

Love, gentle movements of love,
the waves of love,
the torrent storms of love
as the tempos of music..
that is what has kept
their Marriage Vows Sacred
our blessed Family as one

Thank-you dear Lord for this gift
How can Heaven be any different?

From Tiny: the Oldest Daughter