I got the call…
It had been a busy day filled with early spring projects. I had just sat down to put an end to the day, my wife Sue had just gone to bed and it was time to relax.
My phone rang..it was my Dad, he said Mom had been transported to the hospital, he really did not much info then that we didn’t know which hospital we have two here. I went to the bedroom to tell Sue and to change my clothes for the quick trip to the ER. I called RVMC but they say no one has come in under that name, I called Providence the same response no one by that name has come in. By this time I’m getting a call from my sister she can’t find Mom either.. I quickly call a friend who has connections with the ambulance company he checks his records and there has been no one transported from the dance hall all day? Where is she! I call back to Dad’s they are just getting new info…What she is in Grants Pass? Phone rings it’s my sister… I tell her to just head to my house and we can head to Grants Pass together.
Phone rings again I don’t remember if it was Dad or his wife Shirley but whoever it was said that Mom had passed…….What, no this is the wrong, we are not getting the right info at all. I’m standing in the kitchen in shock not knowing what to do.
The phone breaks the silence, it’s my sister wanting to know whats going on. So the questions begin I ask “where are you?” Why? “are you driving here”? Why? “ Is Tom with you”? WHY, WHATS GOING ON? Mom died! I really think I said that. Crazy, all I could hear was Tom saying what, what going on, what’s happened. She had thrown the phone down jumped out of the car and began running down the street. As my heart just broke now there was the second heart breaking trying to not believe the voice on the phone. That call made I knew had to be repeated at least two more times, and i really didn’t want to do it. All I could do was Pray and ask for wisdom and strength to have the words and the answers to the many question that were on the way. My other sister was just as heart-broken, I had to begin the process all over “where are You, who are you with, are you at home? is Lynn with you?” and of course the whole time she is saying why, what’s going on, why..and of course after I find out they are not driving down the road by themselves I tell them that their Mother the center of our world has gone to be with Jesus.
The following week up to the day of Mom’s Memorial is really just filled with tears and laughter, with decisions and with memories, more phone calls and words of comfort and disbelief. I don’t need to tell anyone this but I will..This is a life changing event in your world..and it would be best if you had a Wonderful, Loving, Savior JESUS by your side. you will be blessed.
I wanted to post my words that I was able to share with those who came out for my Mothers Celebration of Life She had touched so many in such a short life the church was filled with family and friends who all knew this wonderful Woman God had gifted us with.
For myself and my brother and sisters I want to thank you…
It’s because of all of you here today that makes mom’s life so amazing… You all carry a special memory of how she has been in your life. And it was only this last week when I came in contact with so many of you that would share their story with me which I so appreciate because I begin to see just how she was so amazing. I especially thank Wayne for sharing with me how she was impacted his life especially on Saturday night while she danced.
And moms neighbor Sharon who came by Moms house Sunday morning.. And just playing her answering machine with the flashing messages and hearing those that were there saying now come on pickup I know you are there hurry up we are waiting for you it’s time for breakfast. Her life was just so full of friends and events.
It didn’t matter what any of us were involved with…Mom became a huge fan of it..
Even the morning I called to say hey you want to go to Canyonville I’d like you to be there while I ride a motorcycle straight up a hill until it would go no more and begin to slide back down. I’m sure that had an amazing calming effect for a mom… but she eagerly would pack her yarn bag and jump in the car. I’m sure she was working on my slippers for Christmas..
She was so involved with all of us…
I’d like to share a thought from scriptures.. Sunday morning as I was just still so shocked. I was sitting at my desk with my bible open just waiting on the Lord to tell me everything would be ok and he gave this scripture in Genesis 2:18 18 The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
19 Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.
But for Adam [a] no suitable helper was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs [b] and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib [c] he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
23 The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman, [d] ‘
for she was taken out of man.”
It says She will be called Woman I’d like to think that it should say, she will be called Mom, wonderful wife, loving sister, Awesome Mother-in –law, Grandma, Great Grandma and now ill have to add incredible friend. Not to mention doctor and nurse, bus driver, referee. Den mother and of course the goes on.
For me I will always have her with me in my heart, and of course for many of us we have that special gene in us “the Joyce gene” that will come shinning out of us and be seen in us Daily. Everyday I’ll remember, MY Mom who made me who I am, well the good side of me and she has left me with a heart filled with great memories.
