Going through a mother’s treasures is bittersweet, isn’t it?  All the memories associated with the treasures that no one except a mother’s child can appreciate.  When my mother died 7 yrs. ago in AZ, my sister wanted to throw so many things out, and I’d haul them out and put them aside.  A lot I did finally let go of, but  I still packed up five large boxes and mailed them back here, and a couple boxes I left in the back of sis’s closet for when we drove out there again later in the year.  I had flown out there for the funeral, so couldn’t bring much home with me at the time.  But now I have many of her things around me here—-mostly angels, and she is always in my thoughts whenever I look at them. 

You asked about families showing love.  My mother was very strict when I was little.  She was loving, but stern, too.  I was mostly scared of her, because she spanked easily.  I didn’t like pain!!  Even as a teen.  I was 5′ 10″, and she was 5′ 2″, but still was wary of her slaps.  And that was back in the 40′s and 50′s when one would never consider talking back or sassing!  Once I was married, the relationship changed so completely.  I was now accepted as an adult,and privy to adult conversations.  Me, my sis, and Mother would have so much fun together.  My mother loved sarcasm and teasing, and we more than filled her desire for such!  When the three of us went on a cruise together when Mother was 80, the others at our dining table started calling us (Sis and me) the “rotten kids” after the first couple days.  But they knew how much love was behind the teasing and sarcasm.  And we were the “funnest” table around.  When the three of us went to Disney World in the late 90′s, we were called “The Golden Girls”, with Mother being Sophia—we were so much lke them!  I sometimes think we would have made a good comedy team! 

I find myself being a tease with my grands, too, and they love it—-I think.  lol

Thank you so very much for your prayers and condolences.  Jason and family are fortunate to have many of their siblings living in their area.  They are a very close extended family, since both Ken’s brother and his wife died within a couple years of each other when the  youngest were still small.  The oldest daughter pretty much took over raising the youngest siblings along with her own two children.  They have been through a lot, and will survive this, but it will take a long time, for sure!