A birthday message

Today would have been my mother's 75th birthday and I wish I could wish her a happy birthday.

Grief is a strange thing. Over the past 9 years it has been like the waves on the beach. Sometimes the occasional gentle wave and other times like a freak tidal wave crashing over me. 

I still catch myself thinking about picking up the phone and calling her to tell her something. Then I remember.

But, I am grateful for my faith and testimony of the plan of salvation which lets me know that all is as it should be. She had completed her earthly mission and it was her time to return. Her life had been one filled with trials, more physical and emotional pain than anyone would imagine because she never complained.

At the end she said she was ready to go 

"I have had a good life"

She knew the secret of gratitude.

Today I will celebrate her life here on earth. I will celebrate this wonderful woman who taught me about patience, about enduring trials of every kind with a faithful heart and cheerful demeanour. She taught me the value of a good sense of humour and of looking outward to others and forward with hope.

 Although she was small in stature, she was a spiritual giant.

She had soft and gentle hands and a gentle manner, and I grieve for my children who have missed out on her hugs and her fruitbuns. They have to settle for my memories of her for now.

She was diagnosed with cancer in the same week that we moved out to Australia, 

these photos were taken on our last visit to her before we left and although they were snappy snaps, they are treasures.

 I love this last one of Bestemor with our Little Possum. 

She must have wondered about seeing her grow up.

I hope that my mother gets to look in on us occasionally. I hope I am making her proud.

I will see her again, of that I am sure. In the meantime I shall continue to miss her but cherishing wonderful memories.

Norma and Cuddles - a mission memory

I only spent one Christmas in the mission field.

My companion at the time was Elizabeth Gaye Reid - my 4th companion. Kind hearted and funny, ardent dr Who fan and talented artist who introduced me to tacos which are surely a celestial food!

 We served in the East Grinstead ward which had both the London temple and Scientology headquarters in our area -  it made for an interesting mix.

The London Temple visitor's centre holds many fond memories, most of them connected to elder and sister Roundy who served their mission there, and became our honourary grandparents. Feeding us dinners (dinner appointments were few and far between in that ward), entertaining us with amusing anecdotes and encouraging us through the challenging times.

For Christmas they gave us teddy bears (on the floor in this picture) which we named "Norma" (yellow bear, mine) and "Cuddles" (blue, sister Reid's) in memory of the Roundy's. 

Sadly sister Reid was not well, and ended up getting an early release from her mission. As her parting gift, she made me my very own cartoon/mission chronicle that I treasure to this day:

Vale Beth Reid