2 Weeks...

Well, it has been 2 weeks since my Mom died. The amount of friends and relatives that either stopped by, mailed a card, sent flowers, called, made food, or some other type of support was amazing. The funeral was beautiful if such a word could be used to describe such a situation ~ the music, laughter, memories, tears and song just really made it heartfelt. I provided the eulogy for my Mom and I think it was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. It doesn't seem possible that she is gone, I still catch myself wanting to call her on the phone to check on her, talk about my day, tell her something funny about the kids or just talk about nothing particular.

My brother and I have been working through all the details and it seems that I'll be likely moving back home later this year. This is actually something that makes me very happy and neither one of us wanted to give up the house which has been our home for 31 years.

Today, I buried my Mom's best friend, Phyliss. She had also had a heart attack on March 8th; but survived for a week before being taken of a respirator. I was asked to provide her eulogy which I did in honor of both her and my mother.

I am ready for March to be over. I do have a few things to share with you all:

Mom's Eulogy
Mom,
The past few days have been really hard. I miss you so much already and I know this is a pain that will never leave my heart. The other night I sat in your chair and I looked at old photos through my tears and smiled. I have talked with friends and family, reliving moments, sharing laughter and tears.

You always said you were your Daddy’s girl ~ how you loved helping him butcher hogs, riding the planting machine and taking him to the racetrack to watch the horses run. I remember stories of you and Emory creating mischief, digging sweet potatoes and catching field mice to scare your sisters. You told us of when you met our Daddy when you were 15 years old and how much you loved him. You married shortly after graduating high school and lived happily together for 33 years. As you said, you didn’t always have much, but you always had each other.

Dad and you worked side by side on that farm. In the spring you tended hotbeds and plowed the field, planted your seeds and later went to market and lived by the harvest of your hard work. I remember you saying that a verse you saw was your favorite, “Who plants a seed beneath the sod and waits to see believes in God”.

You raised Charles and me with a tight rein you used to say. We always knew you loved us growing up, even when we made you mad. I read in your yearbook that you were known for your quick temper. I am glad some things never change. You were my best friend. We could disagree and argue but at the end, we always stuck together.

You loved being a Grandma to all 5 grandchildren: CJ, Jessica, Becky, Brianna and Raymond. I’ve heard you say you enjoyed being a Grandma because you had time to enjoy them. I remember asking you to be there when I brought my children into this world and how you were right beside me waiting to hold them in your arms.

You loved camping with Charles and Michelle, George and me and the whole family. I nicknamed you “Hobo Helen” because you always had your bags ready to go and lined up down the sidewalk. The yearbook said your favorite song was “Don’t Fence Me In” and it was appropriate. You never let the grass grow under your feet.

Thank you Mom for being a wonderful Mom. You never let us do without and always taught us right from wrong. We didn’t always listen to you but you loved us anyway. You loved being with friends and family ~ playing cards, having dinner on the holidays and enjoying a good conversation usually about the old days. Someone wrote to me the other day “Mothers maybe gone from our sight, but never from our hearts and memories”. I know you will stay in mine.

When I found you this past Sunday, I knew you had gone to a better place; you weren’t hurting and tired anymore. We have gone to see Daddy together for 31 years. Sometimes you held my hand, sometimes I held yours and sometimes we walked side by side. Today I’m walking with you one last time, but I’ll be following you and it will be the hardest. But I know you want to be with Daddy; a day never went by that you haven’t missed him. I know if I’m very still and listen very hard as we carry you over to the garden, I’ll hear you saying, “Hi Sweetheart, I’m so glad we’re together again”.

Love you Mom.

The video tribute that Charles and I had made for Mom can be viewed at the following link. It is permanent and can be visited as frequently as you like. http://videos.lifetributes.com/57815#

Loss Mom

On March 8, 2009, Helen Marie Boyer. Beloved wife of 33 years to the late Raymond I. Boyer; loving mother of Charles Raymond Boyer and Carol Marie Boyer-Crosby; cherished grandmother of Charles Raymond, Jessica Marie, Rebecca Marie, Brianna Nicole and Raymond Wesley. Dear sister of Henrietta Bernice Wolfe and the late Virginia June Warfel, George Elbridge, Charles Emory, Karl Wesley, Myrtle, and Emma Zepp. Helen was born in Odenton, Maryland to the late John Wesley and Grace Helen Zepp. She graduated from Arundel High School in 1945. During her years of employment, Helen and her late husband operated a family farm located in Severn, Maryland. She also was a school bus driver and a Cafeteria Manager at Harman's Elementary School. Helen was a member of the Ladies Auxillary at Post 276 and AARP. In her spare time, she greatly enjoyed attending church, camping, gardening, and reading.

Snow Icecream Recipe (Yummy)

Yesterday, Ray and I went to our local Giant foodcenter and when we turned into the spices/baking aisle I had said to him, "We gotta get our ingredients for Snow Icecream since it is going to snow tonight and tomorrow."

A gentleman there who had overheard me just had to ask, "What do you need for snow icecream?"

Of course, Ray being Ray promptly responded with, "Well SNOW of course! What do you think you make Snow Icecream with, huh?" Ray is autistic and if you know anything about autistic children; it is that they will tell you what is on their mind with no hesitation.

Okay, story time of over...... Now onto our desert!

Snow icecream has been a tradition that has been passed down in my family for generations. My Granny (grandmother), made it for me when I was a little girl and she said her grandmother used to make it for her when she was a little girl. So that means that it goes back to my Great-great-grandmother and possibly further than that! Now the tradition continues with my own children who absolutely love this treat.

Ingredients:

• Snow (Of course! What do you think you make Snow Icecream with, huh????? - Ray)
• Sugar
• Salt
• Vanilla Extract
• Condensed Sweetened Cream (I prefer Eagle Brand)

Start with a huge pot of snow (none of the yellow kind so be careful out there) and start adding the cream until when stirred it starts to form a cream colored ice. Add vanilla (I prefer a lot since this really gives a good taste to your final product) a scoop or two of sugar and a pinch of salt. Whip the ingredients together until your icecream is ready and enjoy! Every year our family looks forward to a good snowfall so this treat can be enjoyed. In fact, the kids are already asking if we can make another batch later tonight and it doesn't require any pulling of my arm!

Enjoy!

My Long Overdue Update

I'm so sorry about not having posted for so long but I can't say that the stitching needles have been busy. I haven't had a stitching finish since my reindeer finish in the beginning of January but I'm hoping to make up for all the lost time in March. There is several little projects which are "thisclose" to being done ~ I just need to finish them. When I do, I can guarantee you will be the first to know!

The great news is that I'm going to my first stitching retreat in May over my birthday weekend! I am so excited because I have wanted to attend this for 3 years and now it is finally going to happen. It started out that the family was going camping down in Frontier town and I would go by myself to Salty Yarns every day for the retreat. Then during one of my conversations with Beth from my Heirloom Stitchers group, we started discussing that maybe she could go and stay with a friend that lives down that way. Next thing I knew, Sue V from Newport News was emailing me to see if her and her BFF, Laura, could crash the retreat. My answer...... YES! I now get to have my 37th birthday in Ocean City with a good friend I have made in the last year and the chance to get to finally meet 2 more friends that I have made in stitching. What better way to start another year!

Ray and Becky both did very well in school this quarter. Becky made honor roll and Ray has been selected for the Advanced Math classes for his grade. I was supposed to read today at the school for their Dr. Suess Birthday celebration (Happy 105th birthday Dr. Suess!) but the nor'easter changed the plans. This morning we awoke to a beautiful winter wonderland outside.