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Jeanne's House of Angels Newsletter

Mother's Day Special

My Mother passed away last October 2006, and each day I find myself missing her more. Today though I came across a book that she wrote for me. One of the Mother-Daughter Memory Books where a parent can fill-in the blanks.
I treasured that book when she gave it to me back in 1999, but I treasure it even more so now.
The thing that stood out to me today as I read the book is where Mom wrote what her deepest, darkest secret was...
She wrote..."That no one would love me!" "This was always my biggest fear"!
Well to my Angel Mom above, I feel confident as you grew older, you married Dad, you had Mark & I, and your grandchildren, that you knew this fear was unfounded. You my dear Mom were and are loved beyond belief. I think back to Mom's final life send-off. The people that came to pay their last respects, the flowers sent, and now months later the friends & family caring ..and your many many visitors to your website! You are so very loved..and on this Mother's Day..never ever forget that!

To celebrate for you this Mother's Day I'm going to take you special flowers & a balloon down to your graveside, but I also will re-do your precious Memorial site in "extra-special" "Mom" things just for you.. My Extra-special Mom...
How I love you....and miss you so very much...
Angie

I would like to share how was my mother was when she was with us, I was born when my mother was already 42,I have one brother,she was a native from Bohol province,a beautiful lady with a dimple on the right of the check,I remembered her how she protected us what ever circumstances in life,one time when I was in grade school my teacher hit me on head, my mother knew this she confronted my teacher with her umbrella pointing to my teacher telling she has no right,for she herself has not even spanked me.that time the teacher have to resigned for her work,my mother cooks well, she does everything for us.when I was sick she was there 24 hour sleepless until she knew I am alright.I now my mother was not a perfect one but I always treasured her for I know no one can be as she is.there was a time when my mother got sick was crying for I knew someday she will be gone, 2001,at the of 89 she was already not feeling well,I have to resigned from my work for I want fully attend my mother's need for she was with me since I got married,we strolled along the city,beach,and places she likes in the middle of 2002 this time she can no longer walk,my fear that I may see her again,I went to a priest for her confession and anointed of the sick,when I am bathing her I always whispered,"MAMA I LOVE YOU SO MUCH," every now an then, I could feel how happy she was I want her to feel that she was not alone ,we always pray for she asked for me to join her in prayers,December 3,2002 we have a simple celebration on her last birthday,my husband did the cooking, I invited my 2 closes friends,we sang her song what she teaches me when I was small"Ching Chong" this a Japanese song,and the song "When I Grow To Be A Lady,"I was in tears in that moment she happily joined me singing,I could say she had the most memorable birthday,New year comes and I was left with my sons for my husband has to leave for work as seaman,we have our own celebration,February 8,2003,I woke up at 2am,I kissed her and greeted her Good morning she smiled, she was just beside us sleeping,then I went to sleep around 7am I woke for my son Nikki was to go school,a glimpse of my eyes I notice my mother was already died, I was crying for I Will lost her forever,I know that she died happily,and I am happy for I have served her until she has gone,I really missed her care,her unconditionally love.Mama where ever you are you are my special angel,HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.
My mother died at the age of 90.

Mary Lee Sumalinog

MOTHER

For those lucky to still be blessed with your Mom, this is beautiful. For those of us who aren't, this is even more beautiful. For those who are moms, you'll love this.

The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way?" she asked. And the guide said: "Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it.. But the end will be better than the beginning."

But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for
them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams; and the sun shone on them, and the young Mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."

Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said,
"Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come."

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children," A little patience and we are there."
So the children climbed, and when they reached the top
they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you."

And the mother, when she lay down at night looked up at the stars and said, "This
is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage.
Today, I've given them strength."

And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth, clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said: "Look up. Lift your eyes to the light. " And the children looked and saw above the clouds
an everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the darkness. And that night the Mother said, "This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God."

And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she was little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And mother said, "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them."

And the children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates."
And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates
closed after her. And they said: "We cannot see her but she is with us still. A Mother like ours is more than a memory. She
is a living presence......"

Your Mother is always with you.... She's the whisper
of the leaves as you walk down the street; she's the smell of bleach
in your freshly laundered socks; she's the cool hand
on your brow when you're not well. Your Mother lives
inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop.
She's the place you came from, your first home; and
she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love
and your first heartbreak, and nothing on earth can
separate you.

Not time, not space... not even death!

When Mother's Day Feels Empty

There are no words to completely describe what a mother feels when her child
has died. She feels lost, abandoned, afraid, lonely, forgotten, and most of
all empty. The emptiness is like none other because it is an emptiness of
the heart. When a child dies, part of a mother's heart also dies.
Mother's Day is a traditional holiday that has grown bigger and bigger
throughout the years. We are bombarded with advertisements to take out
mothers for a special dinner or buy Mother's Day flowers. For more than a
month before Mother's Day, reminders are placed everywhere. It's impossible
to pick up a newspaper, listen to the radio, or turn on the television
without some kind of reminder of Mother's Day.
There are Mother's Day banquets, Mother's Day baby dedications at church,
and special family gatherings to honor mothers. All of this is wonderful
except for the mother that is grieving the loss of her child. For the
grieving mother, every reminder of Mother's Day is like another wound to the
heart. The hole in her heart caused by grief grows larger and larger with
each reminder, and the emptiness feels darker and colder than she ever
imagined possible. What is a grieving mother to do when there are so many
reminders of the precious child she has lost?
Mother's Day is the only holiday that specifically uses the word mother, so
there is no real way of avoiding this day. A grieving mother can, however,
prepare for Mother's Day well in advance so that she knows how to avoid
placing additional pain in her life.
Remember that Mother's Day is not a holiday that has to be celebrated. If a
grieving mother does not want to attend a banquet, or watch baby dedications
at church, or see special family gatherings at restaurants, then she has the
right to choose not to participate in these events without feeling guilty.
Many mothers choose to stay home and do nothing special at all on Mother's
Day, and that is fine. Grief follows no rules and there is no right or
wrong way to grieve.
Explain to others that this day is painful. Giving yourself permission to
grieve in your own way is very healing and helpful, especially during such a
difficult day as Mother's Day.
Do what feels right for you. Maybe that means taking a mini trip away where
nobody knows you. Maybe it is staying at home. Perhaps a walk in the woods
or a walk along the sandy beach would help you during this empty time.
Journal your thoughts. Release a balloon. Or, maybe you want to avoid
Mother's Day altogether. You know what feels best for your heart, and
giving yourself permission to do what is right for you can be the most
healing thing of all.
Lastly, remind yourself often that you will not always feel this empty.
With each passing day new hope will enter your empty heart until one day you
will wake up to realize that the empty hole is beginning to fill with some
joy. Mother's Day is only one day. With a little bit of preparation you
can make it through, and you will have walked one more step in your journey
of healing!

I have a Mother's Day story I would like to share with you.

I was 15 or 16, I entered my Mom in our Mother of the Year contest. It was for our local newspaper in the Bronx, where we lived. You had to write a brief essay on why you think your mom should win Mother of The Year. I figured oh well let me try and see what happens, just for fun.

Well, 2 weeks later my Mom gets a call at home. She hangs up and & asks me to come to the living room and asked me if I entered her in a contest? I said yes. She told me someone on the phone said they are coming over with their photographer and will inform of the details.

I was shocked! Yet so happy. I was not clear if she won first prize or what. But we knew she won something. She calls her mom, my Grandma & tells her. My Granny the skeptic, I will never forget this, she tells my Mom 'Renee do not let these people in your house, it is a scam and they probably want to rob you"......

Well they come over and they take our pictures. My 2 brothers & I, with Mom. Dad was working. She won 1st first and they showed her the essay I wrote. It was beyond profound in their eyes. She read the essay and I will never forget her reaction as she grabbed me as hard as she could, her hugs, her kisses said it all. The tears streaming from her face was proof of all the things I wrote in that essay of what a wonderful Mom she is.

So as I think to that moment of my feelings as a young teen now, I wouldn't have changed a thing. She was a Mom that wore her heart on her sleeve, a person that's inner beauty was just as beautiful as her outer beauty. Her presence would light up a room, and her sense of humor would make any bad day brighter.

For now as an adult with a daughter of my own, I would say my Mom will always be Mother of the Year in my heart forever.

Thank you for allowing me to share this with you :)
HUGS & Love,
Melissa

The following are pictures that Mike Singleton wanted to share. It is for his mother Rublelene Singleton.

Our Heart

You are the heart of the family
And we miss you every day
But the love you gave to us
Will help us light our way.

You taught us so very much
To love others without reserve
We will try to make you proud
It's the legacy you deserve.

You're such a special woman
The base of our family tree.
The memories will never fade
In our hearts you will always be.

Although you had to leave us
We know with certainty
That we'll be together again
For all of eternity.

~DMN~

Our Mother, Our Friend

Love doesn't leave us
It stays within our heart.
The memories you left behind
Will never, ever part.

We love you so very much
With a love that will never end.
For a very special mother
Who also was our friend.

You are so very dearly missed
But now your soul is free.
Paradise is now your home
Filled with peace and harmony.

With all the other angels
Enjoy all Heaven's view.
One day we'll be together
When our life on earth is through.

Until that day's upon us
Patiently we'll wait.
For it will mend our hearts
When we meet at Heaven's gate.

~DMN~

This is the special mother's day edition of the newsletter. I would like to thank those that shared there stories and pictures.
Please note that I will be taking a week or two break due to illness, but I had to do this one so that we could all share in the above stories. I'll see you all in a few weeks. Love, Dianne