Wednesday, December 21, 2005

A Poem for Mom

Mom? Can You Hear Me?
Angela Jackson Dick

When I lay myself down at night
As my head hits the pillow and my eyes close
I say my prayers and thoughts usually turn to you
Wondering if I did everything right that day

All the things you taught me
Praying I had I learned what I should
You were my rock, my anchor
The one person I could always count on

Some days, I feel aimlessly lost
Missing something, missing someone
Then I look into the mirror and I find...
It's you, Mom, and you're staring back at me!

More and more, as the years pass
The slightest motions, the words I utter
They remind me so much of you
Cut from the same mold, I'd say!

Yet, in the quiet of the night
Tears well and I remember your touch
Your laughter, the tunes you would sing
The tapping of your fingernails, for whatever reason

I go back to those simpler times...
Times I could do anything because you believed in me
Yet, certain, if I failed, you'd still love me
Can you hear my whispers in the night?

Mom? Mom? Can you hear me?
You are my guiding light, I honor and cherish your memory
Painfully missing you is forever and please know...
Being a child of yours was truly my gift from God!

When I was little and I cried
You lovingly held me, and let the last tear fall
When I would scrape my knee
You'd bandage it up and say "be careful"

When my birthday was horrible, you smiled
And promised the next would be perfect
When I would lose my temper,
You had a way to calm me down

When my friends left me behind,
You gave me ice cream and said "they'll come around"
When I had a nightmare
You'd tuck me in your bed and reassure me you'd never let harm find me

When my first crush liked another,
You made me see it was his loss
Every single Christmas morning,
You made it one I would always remember

When I was overly dramatic about something,
Sweetly you said, "This too shall pass"
When I broke your heart with disappointment
You came to me and said, "I still love you"

I know that you think that I forgot all this,
And take all you sacrificed for granted,
But that's just not true
At times I'm stubborn, just like you,
But never doubt for half a second that I love you

I’m now grown up,
And have to bandage my own daughters’ knees
Oh, the many things you taught me
You'll always be the best mother
And I'll always be your baby girl
Mom? Can you hear me?

Monday, November 14, 2005

I Dreamed About Mama Last Night

Artist/Band: Hank Williams, Jr.
Lyrics for Song: I Dreamed About Mama Last Night

(I've just been to heaven with someone so true I dreamed about mama last night
She read me the Bible like she used to do I dreamed about mama last night)
She never closed her eyes to sleep till we were all in bed
And on party nights till we came home she often sat and read
We little thought about it then for we were young and gay
Just how much mama worried when we children were away
We only knew she never slept then when we were out at night
That she waited just to know that we'd all come home all right
Why sometimes when we'd stay away until one or two or three
It seemed to us that mama heard the turning of the key
For always when we'd step aside she'd call and we'd reply
But we were all too young back then to understand the reason why
Until the last one had returned she'd always keep a light
For mama couldn't sleep until she kissed us all goodnight
She had to know that we were safe before she went to rest
For she seemed to fear the world might harm the ones she loved the best
And once she told me when you're grown to women and to men
Perhaps I'll sleep the whole night through I may be different then
And so it seemed that night and day we knew a mother's care
That always when we got back home we'd find her waitin' there
Then came the night that we were called together round her bed
The children're all with you now the kindly doctor said
And in her eyes there gleamed again that old time tender light
That told that she's just been waitin' to know that we were all right
She smiled that old familiar smile and prayed to God to keep
Her children safe from harm throughout the years and then she went to sleep
(My dream is a treasure that I'll always keep I dreamed about mama last night)

Monday, October 17, 2005

A Tribute to My Daughter - from Norma Brookshier
page 2

Sunday, October 16, 2005

You're Still Here

The music you're currently hearing is a song I thought fit this website well. I tried to find "The Rose" and "Why Me Lord", some of her favorite songs, but they we're on the site. Here are the lyrics to this one...


Artist: Faith Hill
Song: You're Still Here

Thought I saw you today
You were standing in the sun then you turned away
And I know it couldn't be
But my heart believed
Oh it seems like there's something everyday
How could you be so far away
When you're still here
When I need you you're not hard to find
You're still here
I can see you in my baby's eyes
And I laugh and cry
You're still here

I had a dream last night
That you came to me on silver wings
And I flew away with you on a painted sky
And I woke up wondering what was real
Is what you see and touch or what you feel
'Cause you're still here
Oh you're everywhere we've ever been
You're still here

I heard you in a strangers laugh
And I hung around to hear him laugh again
Just once again
Thought I saw you today
You were standing in the sun then you turned away

Sunday, June 26, 2005

A Small Tribute to My Parents

Dad and Mom going to the prom in 1965. Check out that car!!!
Christmas 1965 - I love this picture. They are so young and so cute! Nice sweater, Dad;)
Mom and Dad goofing around. This picture is what I see when I remember them together.

Friday, May 27, 2005

From Teresa

I used to spend a week or two with Aunt Jeannie & Uncle Rick in the summer since I was little. I was the oldest niece, so I got alot of love from the Aunts! Even after they had their own kids I still came to stay with them for a week in the summer. One summer in particular, she saved my life. I was 13 years old, standing at a fork in the road. I had already been through alot and I could have very well went the wrong direction with not much guidance from two confused divorced parents. She saw me standing there and snatched me up just in time and took me down the right side of the road. She took me into her home, with three children of her own and she showed me how a loving family related to each other and how people react to each other when they truly care. I didn't realize it at the time because I was a scared, confused, selfish, angry teenager. Sometimes I got angry with her because she was trying to protect me and I had never experienced that before. Instead of yelling and the show of tempers (like I was used to), we wrote letters to each other when we had problems. I had a hard time with confrontation. I love her more than anything and I give her alot of credit (and Uncle Rick) for my turning out to be a half-way decent human being. We had our trials and tribulations but they showed me how to handle them with love. The last time I saw her, Doug and I went to visit them in Louisiana, I didn't know it would be the last time, she seemed to be feeling really good but as we started home, we got a block from their house and I just started to cry and couldn't stop. Doug asked me why I was crying and I didn't know. I never really had a chance to thank her. She saved me with her great big heart and I will always love her.

Teresa Wright
1981 - Family Christmas photo

Because she lived with us for 2 years, Teresa is a sister to us. Thanks for sharing your story. I love you!
1958 - The Teter Family in Michigan
Charlie (my grandpa), Norma (my grandma), Lorretta, Jeannie, Carol, Charlene (Chard), and Beverly

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Poem from Aunt Bev

My Tribute to my Sister Jeannie

My sister is an angel and is so close to me,
We look alike and talk alike, and that's special you see.
I know that she is with me as I go through every day,
And I know that she is with you, too, wherever you may be

She was a kind and loving soul and still is today
We’ve learned a lot and loved a lot which was her special way
Although she was so ill, she was always there for others
To help them have a better day, but never was a bother.

She is missed so much by everyone but remains close in our hearts
To guide us and protect us even though we are apart
I know she's in good company in the great beyond
Cause many I have loved and lost are with her each and everyone

By: Bev Folkes

From Aunt Bev

I am the youngest of the girls. Jeannie was my big sister. She loved unconditionally. I lived with her and Rick when she was pregnant with Keri and I was pregnant with Melissa. We had so much fun and I learned a lot about mothering from her. We got very close and we talked often. I was there when she had her first surgery and we talked and cried through all the rest. I still have every card and letter she sent me. I was going to go help her with but she passed the morning I arrived. I feel so blessed to have been there. They raised three beautiful kids and she would be proud of them, not to mention her grandkids which are beautiful as well. Dixie was a godsend to the family and we love her alot .She fits in just like a glove. I miss Jeannie everyday and talk to her often.I miss her with all my heart.But I truely believe she is still here for all of us.
Aunt Bevie Frog

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

Poem given to me by Aunt Chard
This is an oil painting Albert Griffin had painted of Mom in Japan. She was about 15.

Sunday, May 22, 2005

5 Sisters - Lorretta - 10, Jeannie - 8, Carol - 6, Charlene - 4, Beverly - 2

From Aunt Chard

Aunt Chard (Charlene) was one of my Mom's younger sisters, the fourth of five daughters. She posted this as a comment, but I decided to headline it so it wouldn't be missed by anyone. Thanks, Aunt Char!

Jeannie was a special soul who would be there at the drop of a hat no matter what it took. I miss her every second of every day. We would talk on the phone 10 times a day, every day. I was the little sister that knew nothing of life. I valued her opinion more than anything. There was NOTHING we couldn't talk about. The best times ,the worst times, my mentor, confidant, my sister. I love you and miss you. Your children are beautiful and would make you so proud. Your husband, their father, the greatest partner you could ever have, all a living legacy of your loving and living.

Thursday, May 12, 2005

No One'll Ever Love Me

If you know me at all, you know I have a song for EVERYTHING! If I get even the slightest reminder of a moment in my life that was meaningful, I'll break into a song about it. It drives Ryan crazy:-) Songs have always helped me express emotions I can't find my own words for. I guess it's because the love of music, especially country, is in my blood.

This particular song was brought to my attention by Keri. It brought her to tears driving in her car the first time she heard it. Thanks for sharing it, big sis. It's an amazing song that portrays exactly the kind of Mom ours was. It REALLY takes me back. Have a listen and you'll see...

Click on the link below, then on the blue musical note... you might also want to grab a kleenex... or 5
http://members.aol.com/cyberlyric/rebecca.html#one

Angie
A Beautiful Woman

Happy Birthday, Mom

Today my Mom would have been 57. Instead, she's forever 44. I was 17 when she died. I just couldn't comprehend how "superwoman" could be conquered. I spent many years in denial. It wasn't until I was a year and a half into therapy that I began to understand the depth of losing a mother, especially at that pivotal age. I was told early on by many people that time would make it easier. NOT true. My life has a huge hole in it. I still have moments when I completely break down sobbing because the sadness of missing her overwhelms me. I still get angry, too, thinking of what she's missing. Especially now that I'm a mother myself. I wish more than anything that she could have seen her children grow into adulthood. I wish she could hold her grandchildren and they could know her. She would have been an awesome Grandma. Now, I'm sure she's the best guardian angel ever;-) I also wish she could know Ryan. I wish he could see for himself what a ball of positive energy she was.

It baffles me that she has been gone almost 13 years. How is that possible? I can still hear her voice, feel her touch, and remember her smell. For whatever reason God called her to heaven, I know she's happy there. I know she's watching and taking care of us still. I take comfort in that. And the fact that we'll be together one day...for eternity...never having to say "goodbye" again.

I remember her last birthday. She was laying on the couch not feeling well. We baked her favorite Angel Food cake with marshmallow icing. I gave her a bottle of her favorite purfume, Red. I think Keri gave her a tape of "Beauty and the Beast". She loved that song. I don't remember what else she got. I do remember, though, that she was just happy we were all there couchside. I remember hoping when she blew out her candles that her wish would come true. Maybe it did, maybe it didn't. Mine didn't.

Anyway, I'd love for everyone to contribute to this website, for ourselves, other women, and her grandchildren. She deserves a tribute. The people of this world would be blessed to know of her. She was, in my eyes, the most wonderful woman who ever walked this earth. She touched many, many people. Cancer sucks! And if this website gets awareness out there and saves only one life...it is worth it. I feel this is something she would be proud of.

I love you, Mom
Angie