Remembering Mom and Missing Dad too

Sunday is the 1st anniversary of my dad's death.  When he fell ill, my sisters were with him in Indiana, taking him to the doctor. I was here in Kansas, waiting to hear what the tests said. 

I needed a project to keep me from falling apart.  So, I mosaiced the steps into my kitchen from the breezeway. Doing mosaics keeps the hands busy and the mind calm but still gives you time to think and reminisce.

My dad was a gardener his entire life, from working the farm as a kid to planting veggies and working his garden plot right up till the day he went to the hospital. 

At his funeral, I brought a tomato plant instead of flowers.

My steps are a tribute to him, I tried to give them an organic, growing feel of newly sprouting garden vines.  He died 2 weeks from the day he went in for testing and was diagnosed with cancer. I think of him when I walk across these steps.

I've mentioned this before, but when I talk about Daddy, I have to bring it up again- when I was born, he filled out my birth certificate while my mom was still under anesthesia. His name is Hubert, so he named me Huberta Josephine.  My mother changed it as soon as she woke up! Who knows, I might have liked being a Berta, not such a bad name. I wonder if I would have had a different life if I had grown up as Huberta?

Sunday is also Mother's Day, so I got out the scrap book that I made with old family photos.

My parent's song was "Always", so I have added that word to this page of the two of them together.

Mom loved butterflies.

Here we are together.  (my family calls me Karkie Jo, or Aunt Karkie to all the little ones).

My wedding- with Mom on the end in pink and her mother in the gorgeous silk Sari.  And see my handsome husband, so young and skinny? Now he is a weightlifter and you should see his arms! I just hate him, its not fair, he gets better and better looking, I just get older.  And fatter.

  Here is a photo of "us girls" as we'd say back in Indiana: Bobbie Sue, Sissy, Karkie Jo and Marty Jo. Don't our names sound like we come from Petticoat Junction??

My mom's favorite flower was the iris.  I think partially, because I used to do so many iris watercolors (like this one of mine).  She was sweet that way, she loved her daughters and would adopt their favorite things as her own favorites.

Its sad to be an orphan on Mother's Day.  But I have my boys, and my little Sugar Wings, and her sweet mama, who is a daughter to me. Hopefully some day, they will all have happy memories of me, like I do of my mom.

This is a pencil drawing I did of my dad's mom.  I know that my dad missed her the rest of his life after she died in the early 70's. 

You never get too old to miss your mommy. 

I will always miss mine. 

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for all the love.

 

Comments

[Heather~Pretty Petals]

What beautiful memories you have shared with us Karla! I just loved hearing about you and your family...so cute all of your names! I also love how you took a tomato plant instead of flowers, your Dad was probably smiling about that for sure.

Have a wonderful Mothers Day! Heather

[Gumbo Lily]

The tears were welling up in my eyes as I read your tribute to Mom and Dad. What a blessing and an honor to their memories. I too am missing my mom this Mother's Day, but I have those memories that God gives to refresh the soul.

I loved the pictures and I'm glad you shared your sisters' names -- you must have all starred in Petticoat Junction! (you're a hoot)
~Jody

[clarice]

You are very blessed Karla. I know you will have a loving mothers day. xoxoxo Clarice

[Eva Agnes]

Such a sweet tribute to your parents. I loved to see photos of you and your near and deer ones.
Thank you for sharing it.
Love and hugs Eva Agnes

[Becca]

What a touching post; I have tears in my eyes....
I love the picture of your mom looking at you when you were little ~ you can just see the love on her face for her little girl.
My dad was a gardener too. By the way, he wanted to name me Mona Lisa. Seriously.
I know you will be thinking of both your mom and dad tomorrow ~ and I'll think of you.
:)

[Mrs.Staggs]

You are so rich in lovely memories of your parents, thank you for sharing them with us.
I think your iris watercolor is amazingly beautiful and your garden shed and all in your previous post shows your creativity so well. I especially love the bird and the vine around the door. Oh, and the irises on the propane tank was surely an inspired idea!
My heart is with you this Mother's Day. My mom and my grandmothers are gone too. It does bring a different feeling to the day. Now I'm the mom, and the auntie, and my sister has grandchildren. Reminds me of that old hymn, May the Circle Be Unbroken. It just keeps on keepin' on.

[Jungle Dream Pagoda]

What a lovely tribute!!! Your world is sssooooo beautiful! I swear, I am a closet,shabby chic/pastel lover. However I could NEVER see myself parting with my favorite color red.
I think your blog name is wonderful,I also love alliteration.I'll be visiting often!

[Jungle Dream Pagoda]

I might have already posted,sometimes I can't tell if comment moderation is on! I love this beautiful tribute and your amazingly beautiful world. I am a closet shabby chic/pastel lover,but I could never part with my beloved red!!!! I think your blog name is wonderful,I love alliteration. Ill be visiting often!

[VickiChrisman]

I dont even know where to start. I was so overwhelmed with emotion reading this post. I am SO lucky to still have my mom. She's 85 now. I will be spending tomorrow with her... and certainly wont take that for gantid. I do understand your feeling about your parents ..as I lost my day 20 years ago.. and it seem like yesterday to me. I was the youngest of 7 children, and my dad was 50 when I was born. I had him in my life only 24 years, and miss him now...so much. I'm sending you a big mothers day hug!
As for your artwork... OH MY...you are one talented girl! AMAZING!!!!

[Peggy]

ohh I have tears pouring down my face after reading your post. What a beautiful tribute to your parents. I am feeling much the same way you are this weekend. I am thinking about going to the cemetery tomorrow..but unfortunately,, that does not help me..it only makes me sadder. This is wonderful and I am so glad that I found your site!! Have a beautiful Mothers day too! Hey..I love your little babies too...I am a Yorkie mommie too!!
Peggy

[Ulla]

Lovely post! May your mother's day be filled with heart and soul... Thank you for visiting my blog as well! Blessings to you...!

[Debbie]

oooh... what a wonderful, wonderful post =) happy mother's day!!! debbie

[Lilli]

What lovely storytelling. Both my parents have been gone since 1991, so I'm an orphan too. Fortunately I have a wonderful husband, and my brother lives in town too :)

[Kathy]

I miss my Mommy too.
She's in Missouri today while I am in Florida. Your post makes me want to go home!

[Maureen]

This was a very touching tribute to your parents and a reminder not to take who we have with us for granted either. Happy Grandmother and Mother's Day!