Remembering Mom

On January 8th, 2009, my Mom, Caroline Woodward went home to be with Christ, experiencing life eternal, at peace with God in a realm where there are no tears and no pain. Ellie and Carly, see picture taken at Thanksgiving, are going to miss their grandma and Monique and I will miss Mom. Erin and Damon, not pictured, have many wonderful memories of Grandma's porch, doll houses, toys and games too. 

I was blessed by God's nudging to go visit Mom in So. Calif. just before she died. I just sensed that I needed to go see her, as brothers Tom and Jim were sharing of her declining health and attitude towards living. You know those sensing we get when God speaks; well this time I responded and was able to comfort Mom at her bedside, along with my brothers. There are so many times when I have brushed off God's promptings and not taken action on His leading. How about you? 

What a wonderful mother I had here on earth! My mom served her husband and three boys to the fullest, giving us her best in the kitchen, in the yard, on the playground, on camping trips, with family holiday gatherings, with homework, with the ironing of our shirts, and on and on the list goes. We were pretty spoiled men under her care. 

I'll never forget May day. Did you celebrate May day? We did with Mom. On May day Mom would make small flower baskets for the neighbor ladies and use her boys as the ultra-secret deliverers of the beautiful baskets of love and joy. We would run to the neighbors doorsteps, ring the door bell and then run and hide in the bushes. Mom made many ladies smile on May day as they discovered their flower baskets on the front porch. 

She guided her boys, Vic, Tom and Jim, through Cub Scouts, Indian Guides, sports teams and practically anything we wanted to be involved in or didn't want to be involved in, Ha! Ha! I'll never forget the time she took me to swim lessons against my will. She was bound and determined to get me the basic swimming skills I needed so as not to drown in the neighborhood pools. Man, I was resistant to her efforts. I threw quite a few tantrums at the swim lessons, which must have embarrassed her. Nonetheless, she pressed on and I finally succumbed. Thanks to Mom and her persistence, I can swim. 

Our family vacations were always extra special thanks to Mom's packing and organizing efforts for all of us. She made sure we stayed active; taking us on hikes, horseback rides, bike rides and explorations of the park. Mom wasn't about to let us sit around on our duff's when there were places to see and things to do on a trip. 

Mom was a teacher and a teacher of her boys. She taught us so many things, some of my favorites, NOT!, were ironing, trimming the ivy, raking the leaves, making the bed, folding my clothes and organizing in general. Ugh! I think one of the things most treasured by all of us was a life walk of "sticking to it", "not giving up" and "doing your best". She modeled this to the end of her life. When would call her to talk to her the last few years I'd ask, "how are you doing Mom, she would respond, "This getting old business is no fun, but I'm doing the best that I can". It had to be tough for Mom to sit in her chair most of the day in her later years. You see, she was a "getter done" gal. We love her for that attitude and I pray that I will embrace it more and more in the days ahead. I pray that I am giving that attitude away to my children too. Thanks MOM!

Mom's pie crusts were "to die for", not to mention her wonderful pies, and had quite the reputation for excellence in the neighborhood. She would make pie crusts upon requests for most anyone. She had the knack to make an extra flaky crust that made an incredible lemon meringue pie. Her lemon meringue pie was my favorite. 

I'll not forget the many backyard basketball games I had with friends during my college years and Mom's open offer to fix lunches for the guys. Here is my friend Carl "Cooz" Couser's recollection of Mom.

" Woody, I have awesome memories of your Mom treating me like the 4th Woody brother during my freshman year at Whittier College; when we met on Daryl Nicholson's frosh hoop team. Mama Woody haircuts and stuffing me with food; like your house was a daily buffet, all the while you and me were in the back yard beating each other up on the court." 

I love you Mom for loving me and showing me how to love others with a giving serving heart.

We are gathering the extended family and friends to celebrate Mom's life with a memorial service to be held at Plymouth Congregational Church in Whittier, CA on Sat. Jan. 17th at 2:30 p.m. Please join us if you are in the area. 

Blessings.

Vic and family