This is a basic written copy of my remarks at Mom's funeral. I varied it a little.
I’ve got a few more numbers to add to the program:
# of points of interest visited – 5277
# of billboards read aloud to all those in the car – 5,437,000
# of times I heard “Rise and Shout the cougars are out” at 6:00 am – lost count
# of carmel candy apples consumed – unknown
My mom loved visual aids so I had to use some. As I was thinking about what I wanted to say, I went to sit in my mom’s room and when I saw the things she had loved and surrounded herself with on her bedside table and desk… I knew what I wanted to tell you.
Crystal – My mom had this crystal on her desk next to a picture of Mt. Timpanogas and a seashell. She loved this world and everything about it. She was always on the go wanting to see and experience all the wonders this world holds. My memory is filled with excursions as kids to the Gorge to find tadpoles, Valley of Fire, Zions and other National Parks, museums, and every point of interest or scenic view she could find. She had so much energy for seeing, going and doing… when she became sick, I thought I might finally be able to keep up with her… and I still wasn’t. She instilled in all of us a love and wonder for the world around us and grateful heart for the beauty we saw around us.
Nametag - I think this tag says it all about my mom. She loved serving the Lord and having His name on her chest for everyone to see. It had always been there even before it was visible to others. I have so many memories of the loving service she gave to me and to everyone she came in contact with. She made new friends on every plane ride and where ever she went with her easy nature and genuine interest in others.
Books – My mom loved to read and loved to learn about everything. When I was young my grandma complained to me that I was just like mom “she never could walk past a piece of paper without picking it up and reading it”. It made me laugh then because it was true about my mom and myself. We came up with several other #’s to add to our numbers list..
# of bottles on grocery store shelves read 4,367,000
# of pages read in bed after 1:00am – 48,000
# of books being read simultaneously at any given time – 7
When I was in high school my mom went back to college. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree the same year that I graduated from high school. She then went on and got her Masters’ degree. I loved having her on campus with me. I often stopped by to visit or ask advice on papers. She was a whiz in the library and at editing papers. I’ve always wondered how other kids got through college without their moms right there on campus. She instilled her love of learning and knowledge in her children and almost all of us have received our bachelors degree and half have pursued graduate degrees as well.
Pictures of her family – She loved her family! She was always happiest when she had everyone around her playing games, talking, and telling stories. She loved playing games like spoons or cranium. We discovered several years ago while playing Cranium that my mother could not physically hum. Whenever she drew a “humdinger” – a card where she was supposed to hum a song and get us to guess it… she would hum a few bars and then start doodle-dooing. We couldn’t stop laughing. In November we played Cranium again with her, her memory didn’t allow her to participate in the same way but she laughed and grinned like she had in the past enjoying our time together.
Laugh Out Loud Sign and Gute Fahrte ornament – My mom was one of the most cheerful people I’ve ever known. She could always find something fun and enjoyable in every situation. This sign embodies my mom. When she was on her mission she would send us all these funny stories of the fun that she and Sister Farmer had. My favorite story which was made better by her telling it while barely restraining her giggles was a time she and Sister Farmer had gone to a mall I believe. They had got mixed up and tried to go out the wrong exit or something, by the time they had got to the right area and paid for their parking they were already giggling, but the little sign that thanked them for coming finished them off. The German translation means Good Journey but at the sight of Gute Fahrte she said they laughed like 2nd grade girls and couldn’t stop. She always found the good in every situation. I hope to always do the same.
Thou shalt Persevere – I’m not sure when my mom finished cross-stitching this but it was either right at the end of her mission or a week or so after her diagnosis. She asked me for a frame and when I came in to her room she had placed this next to her bed. Whenever I think of my mom “perseverance” is one of the first words that comes to mind. She was so strong and always kept plugging along no matter what adversity came her way. When I was in college trying to decide what direction my life should take she told me “Make a plan and follow that as best you can until a better plan comes along”. I wasn’t exactly sure at the time what that meant. I wanted things organized and planned, I didn’t see all the curve balls life could throw at you. Cancer wasn’t in the plan my mom had had for her life, but she persevered mostly cheerfully, accepted and altered her plan for a better plan that she knew Heavenly Father had for her. My younger sister asked her a few weeks ago if she was angry at the Lord for allowing this to happen. She said, “Not at all”. She didn’t claim to understand the Lords’ purposes for this plan but that he would always take care of her. One of her last journal entries in her mission journal says that the greatest comfort she has in the gospel is not that she will be together with her family… that was an added blessing; but that she knew that through whatever happened the Lord would take care of her and she would be able to be with Him in the end. I hope that we can learn from her legacy of faith and perseverance in the face of opposition and trial and in some way be like her.
I’ve got a few more numbers to add to the program:
# of points of interest visited – 5277
# of billboards read aloud to all those in the car – 5,437,000
# of times I heard “Rise and Shout the cougars are out” at 6:00 am – lost count
# of carmel candy apples consumed – unknown
My mom loved visual aids so I had to use some. As I was thinking about what I wanted to say, I went to sit in my mom’s room and when I saw the things she had loved and surrounded herself with on her bedside table and desk… I knew what I wanted to tell you.
Crystal – My mom had this crystal on her desk next to a picture of Mt. Timpanogas and a seashell. She loved this world and everything about it. She was always on the go wanting to see and experience all the wonders this world holds. My memory is filled with excursions as kids to the Gorge to find tadpoles, Valley of Fire, Zions and other National Parks, museums, and every point of interest or scenic view she could find. She had so much energy for seeing, going and doing… when she became sick, I thought I might finally be able to keep up with her… and I still wasn’t. She instilled in all of us a love and wonder for the world around us and grateful heart for the beauty we saw around us.
Nametag - I think this tag says it all about my mom. She loved serving the Lord and having His name on her chest for everyone to see. It had always been there even before it was visible to others. I have so many memories of the loving service she gave to me and to everyone she came in contact with. She made new friends on every plane ride and where ever she went with her easy nature and genuine interest in others.
Books – My mom loved to read and loved to learn about everything. When I was young my grandma complained to me that I was just like mom “she never could walk past a piece of paper without picking it up and reading it”. It made me laugh then because it was true about my mom and myself. We came up with several other #’s to add to our numbers list..
# of bottles on grocery store shelves read 4,367,000
# of pages read in bed after 1:00am – 48,000
# of books being read simultaneously at any given time – 7
When I was in high school my mom went back to college. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree the same year that I graduated from high school. She then went on and got her Masters’ degree. I loved having her on campus with me. I often stopped by to visit or ask advice on papers. She was a whiz in the library and at editing papers. I’ve always wondered how other kids got through college without their moms right there on campus. She instilled her love of learning and knowledge in her children and almost all of us have received our bachelors degree and half have pursued graduate degrees as well.
Pictures of her family – She loved her family! She was always happiest when she had everyone around her playing games, talking, and telling stories. She loved playing games like spoons or cranium. We discovered several years ago while playing Cranium that my mother could not physically hum. Whenever she drew a “humdinger” – a card where she was supposed to hum a song and get us to guess it… she would hum a few bars and then start doodle-dooing. We couldn’t stop laughing. In November we played Cranium again with her, her memory didn’t allow her to participate in the same way but she laughed and grinned like she had in the past enjoying our time together.
Laugh Out Loud Sign and Gute Fahrte ornament – My mom was one of the most cheerful people I’ve ever known. She could always find something fun and enjoyable in every situation. This sign embodies my mom. When she was on her mission she would send us all these funny stories of the fun that she and Sister Farmer had. My favorite story which was made better by her telling it while barely restraining her giggles was a time she and Sister Farmer had gone to a mall I believe. They had got mixed up and tried to go out the wrong exit or something, by the time they had got to the right area and paid for their parking they were already giggling, but the little sign that thanked them for coming finished them off. The German translation means Good Journey but at the sight of Gute Fahrte she said they laughed like 2nd grade girls and couldn’t stop. She always found the good in every situation. I hope to always do the same.
Thou shalt Persevere – I’m not sure when my mom finished cross-stitching this but it was either right at the end of her mission or a week or so after her diagnosis. She asked me for a frame and when I came in to her room she had placed this next to her bed. Whenever I think of my mom “perseverance” is one of the first words that comes to mind. She was so strong and always kept plugging along no matter what adversity came her way. When I was in college trying to decide what direction my life should take she told me “Make a plan and follow that as best you can until a better plan comes along”. I wasn’t exactly sure at the time what that meant. I wanted things organized and planned, I didn’t see all the curve balls life could throw at you. Cancer wasn’t in the plan my mom had had for her life, but she persevered mostly cheerfully, accepted and altered her plan for a better plan that she knew Heavenly Father had for her. My younger sister asked her a few weeks ago if she was angry at the Lord for allowing this to happen. She said, “Not at all”. She didn’t claim to understand the Lords’ purposes for this plan but that he would always take care of her. One of her last journal entries in her mission journal says that the greatest comfort she has in the gospel is not that she will be together with her family… that was an added blessing; but that she knew that through whatever happened the Lord would take care of her and she would be able to be with Him in the end. I hope that we can learn from her legacy of faith and perseverance in the face of opposition and trial and in some way be like her.
Melinda, I am so sorry for your loss but so thankful for the life that your mother gave to you and your family. She sounds like an amazing person. Much love, hugs and kisses, Jill Winholt
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