Mom

This morning we learned that JP's mother passed away at home in her sleep last night. She would have turned 89 in another month. She had been in failing health for quite some time, but was being cared for by JP's sister.

I sat down this afternoon to look through old pictures with the girls and talk about memories of Grandma M. It made me realize that I have been a part of her family for almost as long as I haven't! I must admit that I was a bit speechless when she tearfully told me, soon after JP and I announced our engagement, "You are JUST the person we prayed for for our son!"

Mom was quite the pioneer! As a young and single, Mennonite lady, she went out West and worked for the actress, Joan Blondell. I've heard the story told that she met a gentleman in the kitchen one day, whom she assumed was the gardener, and struck up a conversation. Only later did she discover she was really speaking to Humphrey Bogart!

After marrying JP's father, the two of them travelled far and wide, ministering in Spanish to Hispanic populations in Chicago, Indiana, Oregon, Texas and Virginia. She spoke fluent Spanish, and was conversing in it just last weekend.



My children are her 2 youngest grandchildren (by a good stretch...the next oldest graduated from High School this year!). In fact, she has a number of great-grandchildren too: 7 (I think), and 4 more on the way. Unfortunately, her health was declining by the time my children joined the family, and my girls never had the pleasure of sampling Mom's cooking. Although I have gotten the recipes from her, and I can make a very good semblance of them, I still have never had tamales or arros con pollos as delicious as those she made.



We are sad to have lost Mom on this earth, but grateful that she is no longer suffering. Adios Mom, te quiero!