HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Tomorrow, October 28th, ( or today or Monday, I'll explain later) would have been my mom's 95th birthday had she not gone to her heavenly home almost three years ago. This picture was taken several months before she went to be with her Lord. At this time we were in the process of packing and distributing her household goods to her kids and grandkids. After I left, Cheryl came to continue the packing. Then Priscilla and Rich came to take her home with them to a lovely room which was waiting for her in their very lovely home. She moved in July. In October she suffered a stroke. I was able to be with her for the last days of her life here on earth. She moved to heaven on November 13, 2004.

On October 7, 2007 we commemorated the 50th anniversary of my dad's home going. He was killed in a light plane crash flying into a hunting camp in Ontario with a deacon from our church and the plane's pilot. All of them died in the crash. My mom was left to raise four children: Gerry, 16 years old; me, almost 14; Cheryl, 11 and Priscilla, 4. She did a wonderful job of guiding us through those years. I don't remember her ever once questioning God's will for her life. She was a strong and Godly lady. Her strength came from her walk with the Lord. She was what we call a "self-feeder." She read and studied God's Word for herself and knew what it meant and how it related to her. She was also a great homemaker and hostess, terrific cook, tireless servant of the Lord and of others, fun grandma and friend to all. We all benefited from her Norwegian upbringing. What a treat it was to come home for the holidays with all the special Norwegian treats waiting for us!

Now the part about her birth date: we always celebrated it on October 28th. It was not until she started to collect social security that her birth date was called into question. When she received a copy of her official birth certificate, the date was not the 28th. I think it would have been the 29th. She never could figure out if her mom had the date wrong or if her birth was recorded on the wrong day. She was not born in a hospital, but in a place just for babies' births.

Just a word about our dad. He was a pastor and a very educated and intelligent man. He also had artistic ability, as did his comercial artist brother, Dave, and his sister, LaVerne. (That's where Sara's talent comes from.) I can remember him lettering big banners on our living room floor for special meetings at our church. He loved to fish. The best part about that was the stories he told when he took us fishing. He loved our family cabin in northern Wisconsin which he built with the help of our two grandpas. He was a greatly loved pastor when the Lord took him home. You would think that my mom would have blamed or questioned God about that, but as far as I know, she never did. They were both wonderful Christian examples to their family and everyone they knew. I only regret that I did not know my dad when I was adult. I would have appreciated him more if I had. I also regret that Andy and Sara never had any real grandpas, although Andy perhaps would remember my grandpa.

Eleven grandkids loved my mom. They are Kristy, Kirk and Chad; Andy and Sara; Kari, Mari and Sean; Becca, Hollie and Kelly. There are also 12 great grandchildren now.