Our Tribute to Mom

This was written by Molly, Haley, Marylou, and Ellie for their mom.
It was then read at Susie's funeral by the girls.

Mom,
Oh how you loved us.

We knew you loved us
As we see your sweet, tender smile as we look at our baby pictures.

As you taught us how to love each other, to forgive one another, and be kind to our sisters.

As you drove us to practices, recitals, friend’s houses, and school. You NEVER EVER missed a game or performance.

We knew you loved us during our younger years, in a house without air-conditioning, you were patient with our whining and fighting, you made us popsicles and found places for us to go and cool off.

As you taught us early on how to save our money and spend it wisely, only to see the countless times we chose to spend it on rocks, dollar store items, and candy because they were important to us, and you
didn’t say a word.

As we plowed through what we would later call our “ugly years” without realizing the fashion “no no’s” we were committing, but it didn’t matter to us what anyone thought because we knew we were beautiful to you.

We knew you loved us when as we reached the appropriate age you took each of us away for a special weekend with just you to be able to talk and ask questions about sex. No other mom we know has ever done that.

As you walked with us through our teen years, continually showing us how much you loved us even when we cared most about ourselves. You constantly pursued us, even when we pushed you away.

As we started dating, you guided us by encouraging us to communicate our feelings, to be honest about who we are, and to wait for a man who would love us as Dad loves you.

We knew you loved us as we made selfish and shameful choices. You taught us humility to ask for forgiveness and then to accept God’s grace, despite our many imperfections.

We knew you loved us as we pursued our dreams and goals, sometimes changing our minds every six weeks. You were always the first to share in our excitement and take action on our behalf.

We knew you loved us as you agreed to step back into the working world, after being our stay-at-home mom for 18 years. You showed your strength and love by putting the family’s needs above your personal desires.

So Mom, thank you for…

Always fighting for us when we were too weak or scared to fight for ourselves,

Thank you for making church a priority every Sunday,

Thank you for encouraging Godly friendships,

Thank you for teaching us, by example, what unconditional love and forgiveness look like,

Thank you for making our house a home, a warm and inviting place to be for all who entered,

Thank you for teaching us to be young ladies, even though it took one of us (Haley) a little longer to catch on then the rest of us,

Thank you for choosing to trust us, but also teaching us how to earn your trust after we had lost it,

Thank you for disciplining us,

Thank you for praying that we would get caught when we made bad choices… we know God heard every one of those prayers. But in the occasional event that we didn’t get caught, we eventually confessed to you and Dad because we knew that no matter what we’d done, we couldn’t lose your love,

Thank you for praying for our husbands since the day we were born,

Thank you for the many memories and traditions that we will continue to carry on in Minnesota,

Thank you for allowing us to see you and dad argue and then resolve your arguments,

Thank you for running our MANY errands,

Thank you for changing our diapers, doing our laundry, packing our school lunches, washing the constant flow of dirty dishes, bandaging our wounds and kissing our “ouchies”, staying home with us when we were sick and holding our hair back,

Thank you for honoring your commitment to your marriage for the past 28 years,

Thank you for teaching us what it means to serve in our community and church,

Thank you for choosing such an honorable and loving husband and father for us. We know the faith and
unconditional love for God that you and Dad have shared and that we now hold as our own, will continue to carry us through this hard time.
We are surrounding each other and especially Dad, loving him on your behalf.

You are an irreplaceable part of our family and we feel your absence but we will find joy as we recount the many memories we have of you in the days and years to come. Your grand-children will know who you are because your husband, daughters, and those who love you, will make sure they know who Q was and how much we miss her. And we will think of you as we raise them in the same wise and loving way you’ve raised us. You were the best mom a child could ever want.

We know this parting is only temporary and we wait longingly and with great hope to see you again soon.

We love you, Mom.

Love,
Molly, Haley, Mary Lou, and Ellie