Love Is... ~ My Precious Mother ~

She gave her all .....

Mary Caroline Neu Middaugh was a woman of many awesome talents. She could sew like no one else creating beautiful dresses/fashions for we girls & many others. Her hands were never idle. Those hot summery days where she packed a picnic lunch & we headed for the briars & brambles in search of that blackberry that only grows in WA ST. She baked the most delicious pies ... oh! how I wish my crust were like hers, so flaky & tender. The hours we picked fruits & berries for her to make those fabulous jams; no jelly tho. Her knitting us sweaters & crocheting beautiful doilies, cross-stitching many a Christmas gift, too. The rides out to Alexander Park to enjoy the teeter-totter & jungle gyms or swim in the river. The long hot summer eves that she made fresh lemonade & we sat on the porch or played in the street. Those tender moments of playing hide the thimble or a board game on those cold winter nights. How she would let us play 'beautician' & sit forever while we combed her hair. Her strength to hold our family together at all cost ... she scrubbed floors, baked, ironed, sewed & babysat for others. That aromatic fudge she made for Christmas filtering thru the house ... & the year I found her hiding place & we all ate it. Sore behinds, for sure!

Never once did her faith waiver thru thick or thin ... Mass was vital to her, her belief & trust in God was perfect.

Mother raised we 5 kids ~

rear l to r ~ Buck, Mary Donelda (Marydon), Carolyn
front ~ Colleen & Donna

Since she was not allowed to raise us as Catholics, as soon as she got divorced she took us to church & got us baptized.  I remember her telling me that she was so bothered by this.  I know her feeling strongly ... the bible says ...

When I tell you we 5 kids gave her fits, we did.  Mother stood firm, yet lovingly kept us in our place. She had 5 children that behaved without question. She could go shopping & people would always compliment her on how well behaved we all were.  We loved, obeyed & respected Mother. 

In life as we 5 moved along, we have all stumbled & have caused Mother many tears & pain. Some times Mother & I would talk about these moments. I still to this day do not understand lots of it, I was so far removed by distance. I think the saddest part of this is that Mother, the year before she went to join Jesus, said to me 'I think you'd all get along now if you tried'.

Hence, I reached out.

Despite what each of us has done, I know the tears that Mother shed then were in disappointment & hurt. That always bothered me.

My message is this ... you may have taken a stand on issues with what another has said or done & having witnessed the pain it caused Mother.  Before Mother passed, she allowed those issues to rest. I am glad that we had these conversations to know she was content.  So should you ... take the step to let issues rest.

I am not saying you must forget, but forgive/let go & reach out. Mother did.

Thank you for being the wonderful Mother you are to me. I miss you terribly & pray for you ... one day we will sit & chat again.

Your loving daughter ~

Visit our Love Is... ladies ~
Anne
Sherry
Tete