Friday, January 11, 2013

Because of Who You Are



Well, it's a new year and I have already broken a resolution. That was to blog once a week. Not for your sake but, for mine. I feel I have always strggled to put how I feel into words and I want to work at more and more.
This is a blog I really didn't think I would be doing.
A blog in memory of someone.
Someone dear.
Someone close.
Someone who's not with us here on earth anymore.
Someone who gave me the greatest gift besides Jesus I have ever recieved, My husband.
That someone is Dorothy Hanselman.
My husbands mom. My Mom in law.
I remember the first time I met her. She was a teacher of Missionettes at our church. And we were at a weekend away and there was a silly fashion show and I was picked to be the silly model ( imagine that!) I believe I was about 10 years old maybe. And I wore her dress and they were all laughing as they made me up into this model and I walked out and posed as everyone laughed and someone described my outfit.
. The Hanselmans attended the same church as we did and I always knew all of them.I was more friends with Ray's younger brother and sister because of our ages but, I knew Ray a little bit.
But, things change and kids grow up.
Fast forward about 6 years and Ray and Jana are a couple now.
On Friday nights the Hanselmans always and I do mean always had steak and fried potatoes. Well, that was our date night and sometimes we would go out to eat but, mostly we would go to their house and eat steak! And I remember eating my salad and it would have things in it that I didn't like. For example...tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, etc. I pretty much used to eat lettuce and croutons back then. How silly.
But, she noticed that I picked those things out of my salad.
So, she started doing the salad like a salad bar.
One big bowl for lettuce and a lazy susan type of things for all the different vegetables. And you know what? She did that just for me. And she continued that until now. Once I told her , I like everything in the salads now but, she just kept on just in case one of the Grandkids didn't like something.
That's how she was. If she knew you liked something or didn't, she did what she could to make your life easier about it.
I could go on and on with many examples.
She was a lady who was always smiling and giggling though, life had thrown her quite a few curve balls and pain.
Every important event in all our lives, she has been there. And every important day in her life, we were with her too.
She and I even gave birth on the same day with a few years in between. That was a special bond.
Last year on her birthday, we have her a little Wizard of Oz Birthday dinner. It was my grandaughters idea. Since Grandmas name was Dorothy.
We had no idea that just a few months later she wouldn't be here anymore.
On December 18th, at 9:58 in the morning she left here. She left all the pains and worries and hurt here. She entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As we all gathered around her. I cried hearing Ray say...it's okay Mom, we're okay...go on to be with Jesus and see Dad. She had such a love for her husband George and living the last 15 years without him has been hard.
She loved her family more than life itself.
We were never together that she wasn't bragging on what someone else in the family was doing.
She didn't like facebook.
We were never together that she didn't have something to say about that also.
He hee....I have to make sure I added that.
She was one of the most healthy and clean and modest ladies I have ever known.
She made the yummiest pot roast with carrots and potatoes.
She had a green thumb.
She loved taking pictures of her family.
She loved her church and teaching Sunday School.
She was a voluteer at our hospital.
 She was a pink lady and a cuddler for the preemie babies.
She lost a baby, Joseph, over 40 years ago and cuddling those babies was a special part of her heart.
This Christmas was special. But, she was missing and it just made it seem almost unreal.
And this next year ahead, all the firsts of her not being here will be hard.
But, I tell you this.
I know exactly where she is.
I know who she is worshipping!
I am thrilled for her!
I know she is reunited with so many loved ones.
About one week before she passed away. Ray was staying the night with her and he was playing music for her on the computer.
She asked him to play the worship song, BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE.
He did and he said he looked over on the couch. She was lying there on her back with her precious hands raised up worshipping Jesus.
That is one awesome memory for Ray and for all of us.
That's the song that was sung at her funeral.
I thank God for the life of Dorothy Winnie Haseltine Hanselman-York.
She lived 71 years here but, she lives on forever
in eternity with Jesus Christ!
I will see her again!
We will see her again!