heavy hearts...

It is with a heavy heart that I sit here typing about my mother-in-law, who has since gone to be with Jesus.  It has been a whirlwind of a Christmas season that is meant to celebrate the birth of our savior, yet instead of celebrating our joyous traditions honoring our savior we spent those days honoring an amazing woman, Susan. We are all broken, broken-hearted and just broken.  Broken with one phone call in the candy aisle at Publix.  Broken, while holding my sobbing husband and knowing there was nothing I could do.  Broken, telling Ansley that Grandma was now in Heaven and that we would not being seeing her again.  Broken, when she asked why everyone was sad.  I told her, "well baby, we all just miss Grandma a lot" to which she responds, "but Grandma is with Jesus and Aunt Shelly." Sigh. Yes baby, she is and yes baby, you get it.  If we could all have that child-like faith!

Susan passed away on the 18th of December and was placed to rest in Atlanta on the 22nd of December.  Christmas will never be the same, and yet, neither will our lives.  If I've learned anything over the past three years it is that you never get over the loss of a loved one.  Really, how could you?  These loved ones shaped who we are.  The gave hugs, that no one else could, made you laugh when no one else could, and shared a bond that no one else can ever again share with you.  They shaped you.  How you look at the world and other people.  My mother-in-law was a very sweet and quiet lady.  Never meeting an enemy.  She had enormous pride for her family, and grandchildren.  She was an amazing cook, baker, gardener, crocheter, mom, wife, grandma, and mother in law.  Whatever she did, she did it with her full heart. From my perspective, however, her one crowning achievement, that I get to love everyday, would be her son.   During her funeral, I had the honor to call Freddy my husband.  I was in awe by the grace and strength it took to speak his mother's eulogy, not only was he graceful but so were his words.  Her legacy is Freddy: a kind, sweet, gentle, loving, compassionate, man, father, and husband.  Thank you, Susan for raising such a man of integrity, that in itself shows your own.  We love you!

Without further adieu, Freddy's eulogy for his mother Susan:

The one defining memory of my mom is not a major event or story.  Simply put, it is the way she smelled when she hugged me after I got home from school and she got off work.  No major event, but something that is distinctly her and something that cannot be replicated.  It’s simple, yet wonderful.  I guarantee that each of you also has a distinct Susan memory and that none of those memories were negative.  That’s who she was, quiet and caring.  Quiet and caring, those traits have now been passed down through at least two generations.  This is exactly the point.  My mom lives on through, us, her children and grandchildren.  We are a part of her and she is a part of us.  And now she is a part of the Father.  Let her live on through you as well, through the simple memories created and many lives that were touched.