This was my grandmother.

This was my grandmother.

She was energetic, bounding

She laid in the garden in summertime

Soaked up the sun

Fell in love with roses and raspberries

And forgave them both their thorns.

She laughed loud and boldly

Climbed trees to hang ropes

Told me to swing, swing

Until I plain forgot the feeling of ground

She noticed what people wanted

She gave them just the same

Everything she had was for giving

Up to and including her heart.

She took care of me when I was sick

Made me soup, drew baths

Threw me out in the sunshine

Because she knew it wouldn't kill me.

She spread joy like wildflowers

Sprawl across a garden, unbidden

She planted, and she planted, and she planted

Didn't care if some got trampled

Or some got picked

There was always more to offer.

She was beautiful.

When I was little,

She would throw back her head

And she would laugh

And she would proclaim, "You are a riot!"

And in retrospect I understand this to mean

"Kid, you are ridiculous!"

But at the time, it made me queen of my universe

The bubble of air in her red Jimmy

The etch-a-sketch on her keychain my crown

I can hear her voice, her laugh

I love them both very much

I can feel her hugging me Thanksgiving night

I can see the flowers she brought me

And when I water them, which I will

I'll keep in mind that she wouldn't want us crying

She would yell at us now to see

(And I can hear her doing it tonight)

The tears, the heartache

They had no place in her life

She always said to keep going

She would say it to us now

Stop crying, stop mourning

My death barely stung

But I'll also keep in mind

That she'd forgive us all the crying.

She'd think we're being silly

But love us all the same.

--post by Jennifer Marsh

Important in life

I believe when an important person in one’s life passes on, it is an important time to reflect on what really is important in life. In American society we rush from this appointment to another, many strive to climb the corporate ladder, but ultimately, when ones arrives at the age where one looks back and reflects on what is really important in life nobody and I mean nobody in their right mind is going to reflect with any sense of emotion about the many corporate meetings they were in or the one great sale they made. Life is made, for me at least, of the small unassuming things in life such as enjoying time with ones nieces and nephews, children, grandchildren, sisters and brothers, parents and of course friends. When one makes these a priority one really has ones priorities straight. Liz was one who had her life’s priorities straight. As I look at the world with all the problems it is heartwarming to be able to look at those individuals, such as Liz, who put a smile on the world and are such an opposing force against the negativity we read in the headlines of our newspapers. Her life confirmed LIFE. She was kind, generous, and honest, nobody would say she was not FUN, She was loving, adventurous, thoughtful, passionate, clever and intelligent. The list goes on and on.

I would like to like to compliment her by way of her two sons, Kurt and Todd, and to give you an example that underscores what I just said. Seven years ago my sister, Kathleen, held a 40th birthday party for my brother-in-law, Mario. Sno, Liz, Kurt and Todd attended along with some of their family members. Another person who attended was a friend of my sister, who brought her daughter, who was suffering from cerebral palsy. I sat and watched as Todd and Kurt were introduced to this young woman who had cerebral palsy. As they were introduced they both decided she needed a hug and both said, “You look like you could use a hug.” They both hugged her and as they did this young woman’s face lit up. Her sons did not do this because of their DNA. They watched their mother and learned what really is important in life - kindness, gentleness and consideration of others. I often think of her son’s actions. Thank you Liz for setting such a good example an example that will last with me for the rest of my life.

--post by Doug Stevens

Photos

post by Kathleen

Apt job description

Adventuress of Life

––post by Anonymous

Thinking of Lizzy

Lizzy's eyes smile
Catch her gaze and you know
Anything can be adventure
'Why are we waiting? Let's go!'

Lizzy shares joy
It's plain silly to resist
Everyone is welcome here
Regret is only from what was missed

Lizzy's soul sings
Your heart hears her refrain
Let her melody lead your step
Through God's grace it will sustain

--post by Steve Wagner

To Lizzy

To Lizzie

What is one life in a sea of many?
It is the tender hand cultivating the young flower.
It is the strong arm pulling the weed.
It is the colors and wafts that reel the senses.
Planting you firmly in our memory.
What is one life in a sea of many?
It is wife, mother, grandma, sister, friend.
It is the hearts drawn toward the one.
It is the ebb and flow of daily delight
That pull us toward you so.
How can we describe you?
What can we say?
What words can give rise to the song of the heart?
With you love is rooted, grounded
Beautiful, abundant
An ever aspiring melody.
What is one life in a sea of many?
It is you.....
Farewell but never goodbye
Wonderful Lizzie

--post by Michelle Marsh

Thoughts directed to Betty

With Betty went a little of my heart along with our special memories growing up together. When you have a special friend of 60 years, there is this special block of memories that you share. I will miss her but she is heaven getting reacquainted with Cricket.

As sad as this is, there are some thoughts directed to Betty: Betty, since you are in heaven, if you happen to see Sr. Mary Claudia, would you kindly ask her for forgiveness for our awful 8th grade behavior. Secondly, would you mind fessing up to both sets of parents regarding our fibbing when we told them we were going to dances at St. Martin's but actually we were headed to the All-City dances. I never did understand why they thought Catholic boys were safer than others. One more thing, if you run into those two obnoxious boys that we left at Pt Defiance, ask them how they got from Pt. Defiance to their home in Puyallup at 2am?

Good bye dear friend, I will safeguard all those childhood memories-both good and bad. Love, Monica

--post by Monica Shull

A Liz's-garden story

I would like to tell a Liz's-garden story. Liz has always had the most creative gardens, but one of them was particularly beautiful with flowers blooming in artistic array. When one would drive into Liz and Sno's yard it was such a delight to see the scatter.

Well, one beautiful day, I was driving by and there was a mature lady and her daughter walking down the sidewalk. They saw the flowers, deterred from their focus, ran over and stole one flower after another, even pulling up the bulbs as they jerked them out.

So, I quickly pulled in and ran into the house and said, "Liz, some woman is stealing your beautiful flowers. Do you want me to catch her?" She said, "What?" then she laughed and said, in her direct fun way, "No, of course not. That's why I put them there...for people to enjoy!"

(You taught us many lessons of love, Liz)

--post by Faith Mischel