Monday, June 23, 2008

Always Thinking of Mom During Strawberry Season

I thought about you Mom and all the jam you used to make. Thank you for working so hard and making my childhood a fun and safe place to be. Most of that time you were very sick and could have died.
You ironed our collars and kept us so clean and combed. Sharon looks so cute in her littled pressed dressed for church.
Thank you for sewing pretty clothes for us and making sure we were startched and ready for school or church. You had a hemoglobin of only 6 when I was in grade school. Doctors thought you had lukemia. It took a long time for them to find out about your bleading ulcer. Thank you for loving us and working so hard even though you rarely felt good. Thank you for taking the time to read to us kids. You must have been very tired when this photo was taken. I love you Mom.
I thought of you Mom also, when I cleaned out my freezer the other day to make room for strawberry jam. You see it was a sinch for me. I just had to turn mine off and wipe it down.
You had to boil water and place the pan inside the frost covered shelves to speed the thawing process.
You didn't seem to mind. It took about three or four hours just to thaw that old style freezer. Thank you for inspiring me to be a good wife and mother and to take care of my home. I'm so thankful that God let you live to raise me and be my mother.
I always think of you Mom, when I make my own jam. Have a pleasant day. I'm glad I am your daughter. Love, Kathi

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God." Romans 8:28

25 comments:

Rose of Sharon said...

Oh......the memories! What great pictures you have Kathi! We were indeed blessed with a good mother. Our home was always cozy, warm and clean and full of love. It is sad how sick she got and how she must have been so concerned for us as she was going through it. I'm so thankful that she recovered from that.

I need to get my strawberries still. What I usually do is get them and prepare them and then freeze them. I make the jam when I am a little less stressed usually in August.

Have a great day!

Love, Sharon

Connie said...

I have fond memories of canning with my mom too...making jams and jellies and pouring the hot wax ring over the top. (don't ask me why we didn't use canning lids?)Unfortunately my girls have never made jam with me. I have only done minimal amounts of canning over the years. (mainly salsa and applesauce)
What a wonderful mother you had.

Elena said...

I love your blog. I just found it by browsing for blogs in Oregon. I just put a Stawberry Jam recipe in my latest post. God bless you!

Mrs. Fox said...

Beautiful.

luvmy4sons said...

What a sweet sweet mom you had...and what a sweet sweet daughter she raised. Can you send some of that yummy stuff my way!? LOL!

Deb said...

Hi Kathi, you had the best Mom. You know strawberry jam is a passion of mine, but I've never had it homemade. Maybe one day you can post the recipe, I would love to try it. Deb

Kelly said...

She is a true warrior.......really gives me a wake up ya know, you think yoou do pretty good til you read something like that, she must have been tired and not up to it, but stood strong.....what a blessing to have her for a Mom....

((hugs))
Kelly

Tanya said...

Hi Kathi, I haven't been to your site in a while. I love what you said about your mom. I remember Girl Scouts with my mom. That is so wonderful. I also understand the tiredness and low hemoglobin. God bless you and I hope you had a wonderful time making jam. Love Tanya

christa jean said...

Now all you need is some scones! ;)

Your post made me think of the days when I feel crummy and let it become a burden to my girls. And I am not chronically ill like some... thanks for tugging on my heart again.
Your mom is an example to us all of true selflessness.

Pearl said...

Ohh Kathi... this post to your Mom, and about her, is just beautiful and made me cry. Like your Mom was, I'm very ill, but unlike her, I'll not be recovering. I often wonder what unwritten legacy I am leaving for my sons. And I often ask God to help me be as good of a Mother to the boys as I can possibly be. I remember, as well, picking berries and making jam with my own Mom. Sweet memories forever pressed within my heart. I am so thankful that your Mom lived and is still with you today. What a gift that is for both of you!

Kathi, thanks for stopping by and reading about some of my Mom's jewelry and for leaving a kind comment. I appreciate that so much! I know busy days are ahead of you with Summer and Jam making! Do enjoy... God bless...

~hugs~
Pearl

cherished*vintage said...

Wow! What a beautiful harvest of strawberries. I'm sure your jam is extra yummy! I think I need to try and raise some our own strawberries for jam next year. I made a couple batches of freezer jam in April using California berries that aren't the greatest. I'm looking forward to making blackberry jelly in August now.
-Karoline

Jan Parrish said...

Kathi, what a wonderful tribute to your mom. Looks fabulous too. No wonder you are such a good homemaker, you had an excellent example!

Cottage Contessa said...

Oh sweet Kathi, what wonderful childhood memories you have of a devoted and loving family! I love reading your family posts, they are just awesome! Have a happy day sweetie!
Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)

Simply Heart And Home said...

Kathi,

What a lovely tribute to your mother. What a wonderful mother she was! My mother would make the best apricot jam that I've ever tasted. I've never canned anything myself. Maybe one day I will.

Blessings,

Gina

Michelle said...

Hi Kathi ~ Aw, what cute pictures and what a very special mom you have!

Hope your week is going well so far!

Blessings to you, my friend!
~Michelle

Scooterblu's Whimsy~Rhonda said...

Kathi, What a beautiful post! Your mom sounds like a remarkable lady! Have you ever made strawberry jam out of figs? It is really good too!

How were the two movies you saw? We haven't seen either, yet. But we did go to see Kung Fu Panda Friday night. It was pretty cute and funny. Even Ashley, (14), liked it!

Hugs, Rhonda :)

Anonymous said...

That was a very sweet post. I love how we take things we learned from our parents and pass them along to our children.
The strawberries look yummy.

pam said...

What a wonderful blessing to your mom. I remember my grandma making the strawberry jam in my life. And I so remember the hot water in a pan in the freezer to defrost it. Those strawberries look huge.

Paula said...

Wonderful post, Kathi... I think reminders of people we love are a special gift from God, don't you?

Charlotte said...

What a wonderful tribute to your mother. I remember my mother making jam and canning other things, especially tomatoes, and making cucumber pickles. I never really got into canning. Even after I was married my mother shared her canned foods with us. Your mother and I are from the same era. My daughter is 47. We had a sectional turquoise couch when we first got married that looked a lot like the one in your picture. Those days seem like so long ago. Your post brought back memories for me.
Hugs & blessings,
Charlotte

A Romantic Porch said...

What a darling and touching tribute to your mother. I hope she read it. xorachel

~~Deby said...

Kathi,
What a sweet tribute to our parents love and especially your moms...with my mom gone 2 years now, oh how I miss her.
I was out thrifting today and ran into a older lady from my church, she was with her daughter, about my age ????...when I left I sure felt the loss once again of not having my mom here...I wish I had said thank you to her more when she was alive...I ask Jesus to tell her things, don't know if it happens but I don't know what else to do...can't type much more...too many tears ...
Deby

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

This is a great post. I was so moved by your mom's perseverance through her pain.

In looking at the other comments, something clicked. Are you Sharon's sister? I've been enjoying her blog for a couple of weeks. So nice to make the connection.

Tracy P. said...

That's beautiful, but you know who the unsung hero is? Somebody had the wherewithal to take those pictures of your mom. Lucky you! Awesome tribute.

j said...

What a lovely post! And you are such a pretty lady Kathi. You and your mom look so much alike.

Jen

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