One year

I've been feeling a mix of emotions today.  You see, today marks the one year anniversary of my mother in law's passing away.  It's been tough, this year.  Our children were affected by her death much more than we expected them to be.  They all have her funeral memorial card on their nightstands or pinned on their respective bulletin boards.  Reeve brings her up often....when she had new flannel sheets put on her bed she claimed " Oma Noordam sure would've loved these...and they would've felt nice on her sore back" :)  When someone tells a "groaner" of a joke, we say "that was an Oma Noordam joke"...she loved to tell those cheesy groaners ;)  Her death has prompted many wonderful discussions and the last year has been filled with many opportunities to talk to each other about many important topics.  I remember one conversation with Reeve very clearly:

"Mom, our friends and families are a gift from God right?"
"Yes Reeve, they are".
"Mom, when we give something to someone, we aren't supposed to take it back right?"
"Yes, that's true".
"Why then would God give us an Oma and then take her back?  Sometimes I think it was very rude".

Lots of discussions :)

Some days I would give just about anything to see her come through my side door, lugging her ever present bag of sewing and purse full of just about anything you might ever possibly need.  I'd love to visit Chatham on a Sunday and enjoy her delicious soup and "white cloud" dessert ~ she really made THE best soup.  I'd love to see my kids line up to have her fix all the various toys that had broken since her last visit.  I would love for her to dig through my cutlery drawersagain, and make a point of telling me what was missing from my set.  She was wise...the kind of wise that made you stop and listen.  She knew her bible...better than almost anyone I know.  She lived quietly and confidently.  She died the same way. 

I would love to see my husband give his mom another hug.  It is a hard thing to see your husband hurt.  His heart is so big and he misses her.  He would love another chat at the kitchen table.  Another look in her face.

But this is what he had to say today:

"Just was thinking about how God blessed me with an amazing mom so many years ago as an adopted child. I understood what it meant to be adopted but never felt it. I was loved unconditionally and now as mom has been in heaven for a year today , she knows fully how I have felt, as she has now been there as the 'adopted daughter' of the King of kings! Praise God from whom all blessings flow! I still miss you Mom but still feel your love and wisdom that you passed to us still here! Till we meet again!"

Indeed.  Til we meet again!