- When you feel beyond defeated and there is no way up, turn again to life...and smile.
- When you feel like you are just getting by or barely surviving, turn again to life...and smile.
- When you can't seem to get out of bed in the morning because the emotional pain is too much to bear, turn again to life...and smile.
- When you sit at home on a Monday night drinking wine and replaying every single detail of what has happened the past 6 months, turn again to life...and smile.
Just Yesterday
It seems like just yesterday you
yelled “Woo Hoo” across the street to give us all a big wave. I loved hearing that sound, but I loved it
even more when it was followed with you walking across the street with your
bright, happy smile to come chat…even if for just a few minutes.
It seems like just yesterday you
poured dish soap on the cement pad outside, followed with water so we could
play in the soap and bubbles! Oh, that
was so much fun. Little did I know, you
probably just wanted it (or us) cleaned!
It seems like just yesterday you
lined us all up along the cabinets in the kitchen to make sure we remembered
the rules and would follow them. I don’t
remember a single time you “yelled” at us…you just talked to us like your own.
It seems like just yesterday we
played “library” in your kitchen. We
were “old-school” and still had the paper checkout sheets. We had such fun writing the due dates on the
20 books each of us checked out.
It seems like just yesterday you
would yell, “HIT THE DECK!” With that, we all fell to the floor to be the first
to find whatever was dropped!
It seems like just yesterday I hid
from my Mom when she came to pick me up each day. I cried because I didn’t want to go
home. Mom could usually get me to come
if she said we were going to “Wally World” (aka Wal-Mart). But, I specifically remember a time that
didn’t even work and I cried, “but I don’t wanna go to Wally World! I wanna
stay here!” Now that my own kids do this, I understand the angst that causes
for a Mom, but also the comfort in knowing the kids are well taken care of.
It seems like just yesterday Angie
fell off the swing set and broke her arm.
I will never forget you getting out a cutting board to splint it, but I
was certain you were going to cut her arm off.
Of course, I should have known better – Mama Ell knew how to handle
EVERYTHING.
It seems like just yesterday you
called me “Re-Re” and Troy “Otto.” The
only problem was that I went home and told Mom you had a new name for
Troy. I couldn’t remember it, but I did
remember that was spelled the same backwards and forwards and was just o’s and
t’s. Instead of remembering “Otto,” we
thought you named him “Toot.” “Toot”
stuck from that day on…
It seems like just yesterday we
talked about having a “Mama Ell’s kids” reunion. We never did, but you should see the memories
flowing on our Facebook group right now!
It seems like just yesterday we
prayed at your house. Yes, prayed. I wish everyone had a Mama Ell – maybe this
world would be a kinder place.
It seems like just yesterday, all of
us kids piled into your vehicle (totally illegal these days) and went to the
Summer Reading program at the library!
It seems like just yesterday we
marched in the Kiddie Parade as “Ell’s Angels.”
What a sight that was!
It seems like just yesterday Angie,
Casey, and I would lay down at nap time on our individual mats and look under
the bed skirt and talk to each other.
You’d tell us to be quiet, but I’m pretty sure we never listened…and you
knew better anyway.
It seems like just yesterday you were
here with us…smiling, giving hugs, fixing all of our boo-boos (we had A LOT of
those), saying “Oh Roger” when he’d pull a funny stunt, hollering at Holly the
dog, teaching us cross-stitch, and setting such an amazing example - for us to
just love each other.
You see, Mama Ell, you touched so
many lives in such a positive and profound way.
You treated us with love and respect.
You helped raise us. To explain
you to someone who has never known you is almost impossible because there will
only ever be ONE Mama Ell. And, you were
simply the best. Your faith and love for
all, but especially Jesus, will never be forgotten and never taken for
granted. I only have regrets that I
didn’t see you more. But, here’s the
thing…
I told Leah last night that you
weren’t doing too well. She cried. She
cried hard.
Among many other memories, she said,
“So I won’t get to ride with her on the swing anymore and pretend we’re going
to different countries?” - No, Leah, you won’t, but what a great memory!
Today, I told Leah you went to
heaven. You know what she said (after shedding a few tears)?… “Can I go to her
funeral. I loved her.” - Yes, you can…
and me too, Leah, me too. What an impact
you made on a 7-year-old you maybe saw twice a year. But, that was just you – so incredibly
special!
Mama Ell - Thank you for making such
a huge impact in so many lives. Thank
you for showing grace every day. Thank
you for always loving me (and so many others).
You made a difference in my life and, for that, I will be forever
grateful. Most of all, please know how
special you were and how much I loved you.
Love, Your “Re-Re” -
Kari (Frerking) Woodard
Written: 2/26/18
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