Mama Sue. That is what almost everyone called her - all my friends anyways.
Today she would have been 76 years old.
She was an amazing woman.
At 42 years old, she was working through the biggest loss of her life, paying the bills from a funeral, sorting through all the legal paperwork to finalize assets; her husband has just passed away. During all this she can't seem to kick this stomach bug that has been ailling her for a few weeks now. Is it just stress? Is it just her mind and body processing her loss? No, it is morning sickness. About two weeks after the love of her life dies, suddenly, due to complications from a routine surgery, she discovers she is again expecting another child. I can't image her shock. Her husband never knew he was going to be a Daddy. A daughter was never going to know her Daddy. A widow at 42 years of age, she learned that she was expecting her second child, almost 20 years after the birth of her first. This, after doctors had told her for her entire life that she couldn't ever have children. They thought my older brother was 1 in a million...
This strong, determined, powerful, loving, caring, smart, woman was set to raise a child, alone. I have to admit - she did a pretty good job! For 22 years, she did it ALL, alone. We had great support from our family, my mom's sisters mostly - my "Aunties" as I've always called them, but for the most part, my mom did it all by herself. She never re-married, it was always "just the two of us". My best friend; even though I wouldn't have admited it during those teen years. She sacrificed everything, so I could have anything. I never really knew, maybe never will, the sacrifices she made for me.
Ten years ago this past May she passed away from a four year battle with breast cancer; 7 weeks before my wedding; 8 years before her grandson was born.
About two weeks ago Landon noticed a set of pictures that had been sitting in an art niche in our living room since before he was born. One was a picture of my mom and her two sisters, taken about 5 years before she passed away. The other was one taken of them in 1948 when my mom was 16 years old. He asked me who those people were. It struck me. I tried to find the words to explain to him that it was his grandma, but he didn't seem understand. I know I will have plenty of time to tell Landon about the amazing woman who was his "Grandma Sue", I just wish he could have met her here, on this side of heaven.
about 1994 - My mom and her sisters, my Aunt Lois and Aunt Jerry
1948 - Aunt Jerry, Aunt Lois, My Mom
I have always known that I had a purpose in life. I know that I don't REALLY know what it is yet. But I can't look back at all the circumstances that led to me being here today, and not think that "God has a purpose for my life" - Jer 29:11 has always been a verse that I cling to.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you,
and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."
God worked miracles to get me to this Earth. God worked miracles to get Landon to this Earth. My purpose in life may be to raise Landon in a way pleasing to GOD so He can use Landon, my Mom's grandson, in mighty ways.
Happy Birthday, Mom.
3 comments:
enjoyed reading your tribute. What a neat story! Today is my parents' 41st anniversary and Thursday is my 9th anniversary.
Shelley,
Your blog is such a wonderful way of keeping us in touch. It often shocks me the parallels to what is going on in our lives. Just last night at bedtime (one of those conversations that kids seem to come up with because they know you'll answer their question even though it's past bedtime)the boys were asking me about their Grandma Nancy. Today would have been her birthday. We lost her just shy of her 44th birthday (21yrs.ago). The boys remember Grandma Hodges at least some at this point, but they wanted to know everything about Grandma Nancy. Isn't it amazing how as the years pass by, those that we have loved become even more dear and we can at least share with our little ones that their Grandmas were wonderful and would have lavished them with love? Thanks for sharing!
I always love hearing your mom's story. I wish I could have known her too . . she did such a great job with you! I'm so glad God put you in your mom's life . . . I have no doubt it helped her through such a difficult time. What a special story you have to share with Landon . . . he will go on to do GREAT things (at a minimum, be an Olympic gymnast - ha)!
Karen
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