2nd Christmas without Mom

A second Christmas without you Mom, I have the last card you sent me in 2006 on my mantel next to your picture and your wind up Santa that plays "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". But I am sure you can see all that. I have even saved some of the last dish towels that I wanted for Christmas that year. You were reluctant to buy them as a gift but that is what I wanted and you came through. I try in my heart to be happy with my memories of you and try to smile when I think of you. Tears and missing you just make my thoughts of you painful but a smile and a memory of a happy time with you brings you back to me. Memories of you are starting to bring me peace and comfort just knowing how lucky I was to have such a special mother. So MERRY CHRISTMAS Mom ( I know you loved this season) and even though you are gone from this earth I know our souls will be close to each other enjoying the lights, the food and family. You and Gram will be in control up there and at some mall in Heaven shopping knowing exactly who would love what. Send your blessings to all of us this Christmas, and I think now you are with us all at the same time. You would have loved that when you were here. To be able to go to each of your childrens homes on Christmas day would have been impossible, but this year we will all be expecting you. Merry Christmas Mom and to all are family who are no longer here with us, to my wonderful brothers and sisters and thier families who bring a lot of fun and happy memories (somtimes odd and amusing) . Best wishes for 2009, MERRY CHRISTMAS, I love you all, Gail

December 13,2008

It has now been 17 months of heartbreak for us and our 2nd Christmas without Mom here. I am not sure that it is easier this year than last but I do know that Mom is just as close to my heart than ever. I miss her so much as I know you all do. As always more of Mom's teachings come back to me and lately it is to create memories for my children and grandchildren. I have such nice memories of Grandma Potter, Gram and Gramps, Uncle Lefty, Pops and all who passed on. I want our kids to have those same great feelings when they think of me when I have gone to be with Mom. I hold my memories very close to me and curse my mind for not always co operating with me and bring those thoughts and pictures to me a bit more clearly. Ahh the joy of getting older. Please know that I think of all of you with love and wish for your memories to all CLEAR be good ones.
Merry Christmas, Love Connie

November 13, 2008

It has been 16 months and I still think of Mom everyday. Actually several times a day. She is missed just as much today as the day she died. How funny that the little things I or one of you do remind me so much of Mom. I love it. And even though some of those things annoyed us at one time or another it is very comforting to see they are still with us in one or more of her off spring. I Love and Miss You Mom, Connie

Halloween

Thought I'd add the picture of Joan carving pumpkins with us a few years ago. Denise & Richard

Pictures added by Connie

Hi All,
I wanted to share some pictures that Richard had and let me bring home to copy. I notice that I added Gail and Pop twice, sorry about that. Hard to believe that tomorrow will be 15 months since Mom Left us. As I look at all the pictures it brings back fond memories of a much simpler and carefree time in our lives. I hope that our children will look back on their lives and have just as many fond memories. Enjoy the pictures.
Love, Connie

Terry & Claudia Hobson, Gail & Connie, Pop & Gail

Terry, Dianne, Gail & Connie, Gram & Grandma Potter, Terry & Gail, Gail, Richard

Butch, Mom & Jack, Richard & Mom waiting to board ship, Rich, Denise & Mom on ship, Connie & Mom in Victoria, Gram, Mom, Kevin & Dad in Seattle

Richard & Gail, Conni, Gail & Dianne, Richard & Tara, Mom, Gramps, Harold & Gram

Dianne & Richard, Gail 1st Communion, Tara, Gail, Harold at Halloween

old pictures

From a Granddaughters view

I have great memories of Mimi. Most of them are so funny!

My Grandmother was the funniest, warmest person in the world! I remember sitting on her belly on the couch while she laid there, so I could pluck the hairs on her chin. There was a time that she pretended to be drunk and was kissing me and tickling and falling on me. I remember one time we were stopped for the Mystic bridge and I got stung by a bee in the car, and she called the police officer directing traffic over to look at my finger! I was so mortified!

Just thinking about her, makes me remember more and more. I could go on forever.
Mom just told me tonight that I am rough like Mimi was when I tickle her, and that made me proud! It is an honor to be like her. Part of me wants to have a daughter so I can name her Joan Elizabeth, but the other part does not want to bring a child into this world that would not be able to meet the most perfect Grandmother! I would feel like that child had missed out.

But I'm lucky that she gave me a wonderful Mother, and the best Aunts and Uncles! I feel we are all truly blessed with the family she raised and loved!

Dyann

Connies' Challenge

Gosh, I have soo many memories, I'm not sure where to start. I remember living in Milldale,waiting for Gail to be born and Mom deciding to let Richard name the new baby.
He chose Clementine Hortense (truly believing no girl would come into this world with that name waiting for her)he settled on Gail because I couldn't say Pamela.
Even in Milldale Mom sewed and I think thats where she first developed her sewing skills.Although she never mastered button holes , Richard quickly baled her out as he was a master of button holes.
I remember playing monopoly with Mom ,Uncle Butch and Richard and having Charleston chews and penny candy on saturday nights.
How 'bout the many pictures she had done of us oldest to youngest sitting on an Ironing board.

I remember Mom going to work at Ivers Paint,walking to and from unless it was rainy. She taught us how to cook and we would start supper,take the frozen clothes off the line although she always cautioned us to take them off before it got too late. They smelled great and I think that's why I love the smell of clothes line dried clothing today.

Holidays were always special. We baked dozens of cookies,made millions of meatballs for lasagna on Christmas eve and had a blast doing the Easter baskets.

Christmas was a little touchy the year Harold decided not to wait to be born. Poor Connie got left out of the Santa frenzy because I forgot where some stuff was hidden. Mom had left notes for everyone and had stayed up all night to finish a beautiful wool cape she was making for Gram for Christmas.

I can go on and on but to me ,Mom was my mentor, a strong ,independent woman. Giving ,loving , non judgemental (most of the time) with incredibly strong family values. She taught each of us that family was the most important thing in life. She often told me that she would never trade any of us,she loved us equally and she adored each and every grandchild and great grandchild.

Next time,I'll share about all her trips.
Dianne

Connies' Challenge ,Response from Gail

Connie, I guess those Barbie doll clothes were alot easier than our outfits. Moms' chores were endless. I wonder how she did it all. I always loved the frozen clothes in the winter,bringing them in stiff and letting them thaw. I mentioned to her once about a poor person at the laundry drying her clothes and Mom told me "poor people don't dry their clothes in a machine ". I laughed and had to agree.
Also,Thanksgiving in Cheshire really brings back some memories. Pops at the head of the table, the old dining set w/buffet ,lace table clothes and a fine smelling house. Black olives,stuffed celery, a Silver christmas tree (Santa sleeping on the couch) waiting for Pops to come home from work. Great memories and Great parents.

CHALLENGE

I want to challenge everyone to see how many memories we can come up with about Mom. I will start. The earliest memory I have is Mom ironing in Mildale. I remember the ironing board being set up all the time and Mom at it. Not sure if it was because we always needed our clothes ironed or if she was sewing for us and had it set up to press as she sewed. Which brings me to her sewing. She made the most beautiful dresses for us. I fondly remember the dresses having layers to them. I think they were called tulips? Maybe Dianne can correct me on that. At Easter she always made our dresses and then we would go shopping for new shoes, hats, gloves and little purses. We sure looked good when Dad took us to see Nona and the Aunts. And all the mittens she knit for us. Our hands were always kept warm thanks to Mom. I especially loved it when she knit my Barbie clothes. I had the best Barbie clothes on the block. The little skating outfits with angora trim were my favorite. I do wish I had learned to knit better but at least I did learn how to sew.
I also remember her canning and freezing fruits and veggies all the time. I loved sticking my finger in the hot wax and watch it harden. Cheap fun. Those veggies and fruits were so "YUMMY" come winter. Especially those peaches.
I will not go on although I could because I want to read what you all have to share. I am counting on you ALL to jog my memory with your stories.

Thanks, Connie

Kids today

Just wanted to show everyone the current "flowers" in Mimi's Garden. My how you've grown!!!
Denise

what a cutie

more oldies

old pictures

Don't weep at my grave,
For I am not there,
I've a date with a butterfly
To dance in the air.
I'll be singing in the sunshine,
Wild and free,
Playing tag with the wind,
While I'm waiting for thee.


This poem reminds me of when Mom, Gail and I went down to the beach near Mom's house and we acted like little kids playing on the playground equipment and the beach. What fools we were and what fun we had. Connie

13 months

If roses grow in Heaven Lord
Please pick a bunch for me.
Place them in my Mother's arms
and tell her they're from me.
Tell her I love her and miss her,
and when she turns to smile,
Place a kiss upon her cheek
and hold her for a while.
Because remembering her is easy,
I do it everyday,
But there is an ache within my heart
That will never go away.

32 year anniversary

Lets remember Pops and keep him in our prayers today. He died 32 years ago on Aug. 11th. We Miss you just as much today as we did the day you left us. I am sure he is enjoying his love of gardening and fishing up there and putting an abundant amount of veggies and fish on the Lords table. We all miss raiding the garden. Love you (Dad) Pops

I just want to say thank you to Mom for raising good strong children who have turned into good strong adults. Because of her I have have values and morals that I hope I have passed onto my children. I am able to live the life I do so far from home and without a husband at my beckon call, Although he should be. So Mom, THANK YOU!! You did a great job. Connie

Joan knitting - You hardly ever saw her without needles in her hands.

Mothers Day 2007
Joan with Red Hat friend

Hi, I just had to share pictures of Ryan's graduation on May 21, 2008. He was just so happy to finally have gotten his Bachelor's degree. It took him a while but he made it. He got it in Business Management from St. Leo University. He didn't want to "walk" but I'm glad he changed his mind. I think that it will be something he'll always remember instead of getting a diploma in the mail. Posted by proud parents Richard & Denise.