I tried posting yesterday as I read your posts for my mother, but I just couldn't at the time. I did check for new posts hourly and have read each one. What a wonderful tribute to Mom, comfort to my family and I, and testimony to His unbound Love for us all.
Mom endured decades of suffering from severe diabetes -- especially over the last several years. She was on peritoneal dialysis almost around the clock, was able to sleep very little, had profuse diarrhea, constant leg cramps, and much more, all while meticulously managing wildly swinging blood sugars that have ranged from a low of 17 to a high of 1400. But despite all of this, she drew tremendous strength from all of you and felt she was allowed to stay, despite her suffering, for a purpose. She praised God nearly every time I spoke with her through the years about how He has allowed her to share with you, support and encourage you when needed, and to be loved by you. God works through us when we let Him and Mom was happiest when she felt His presence helping others through her. She expressed absolute glee when sharing some of her moments with you. Here is an example from an email on my birthday in 2002:
Okay, MedProf:
You'll need to log on later to FR to acknowledge the Birthday Wishes piling up!!
( Hahahahahaha - you now are a celebrity!! )
You missed yesterday The Music War - -
and the Biscuit War I initiated...:))) you will love all the graphics of the weapons we employed - -
Angelique in Arizona and a good friend - and I - were hurling them at one another with Freepers in Texas told not to stand up and get hit.
SAMwolf in Oregon backed me up with his Super-Duper Biscuit Launcher from Portland, Oregon, and others participated.
Wove in an old cheese joke, too, from past threads which is interjected now and then; and fruitcakes for missiles razorback-bert makes at his Freeper Island still as a sideline. (He is an oil/gas well man like COB1 is) Understand he has a contract with the government to furnish them to use as land mines.
No one has more fun than I do with these great persons! And so many are staunch Christians . . .
Happy Birthday again, Steve.
Love,
Mom
I've known Mom for 52 years. Even through difficult times as my brother and sister and I grew up, Mom always made the most of the situation and has always reached out to others. For example, when we were stationed at Eielson AFB in Alaska, we were on a very tight budget (even hunted moose, bear, etc. to eat, not for sport), yet she invited young servicemen without families to our home for a meal and penny ante poker during the holidays to help them through the loneliness of being so far from their homes. She taught me to revel in Florida sunsets, to not be able to pick only one weed from the yard (an addiction), appreciate music (The Lion Sleeps Tonight was our favorite together), and so much more. Above all, she taught me respect for others, honor, patriotism, and to love the Lord.
I've put a brief bit of video of Mom online. It was taken in the early '60s while we were stationed at Eielson AFB in Alaska. Mom is in the black top and red skirt. The video starts out with a few shots of moose near the house. Then mom and a friend are putting up a flower box in front of our quarters (she loved flowers even then!). Finally, she loved to coax our dog Striker to slide down the slide out back.
Thank each and every one of you. May God richly bless you.
I miss you Mom, and I love you.
Steve Martin
Son of LadyX
