23 Comments
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Raptor's avatar

I loved that story. Truly. Thank you for sharing it. You mom is a beauty. Her smile! I'm so glad her life is filled with love and that you celebrate it. The groundhog rarely gets it right. God always does.

Words Beyond Me-Janice Powell's avatar

Her smile always seemed to curl up around her ears. 😁

Raptor's avatar

That is a pleasant description.

Juliann's avatar

She is a beautiful lady!

Juliann's avatar

That is an awesome story of love and God’s grace. Thank you! I was reminded of my love story. I met a wonderful boy on April 28, 1963. A blind date. We became husband and wife on June 23, 1963. “When you know, you know”. We had 49.5 blessed years together. He is in heaven waiting for me.

Susan Banks's avatar

God Bless you Julianne!!!

Words Beyond Me-Janice Powell's avatar

How beautiful. When you get there, it will be in the blink of an eye. And he will have just begun to sing.

Holly's avatar

What a beautiful story! Thank you for sharing. Happy Groundhog Day! And thank you for your perfectly chosen Bible Verses on C and C!

Words Beyond Me-Janice Powell's avatar

Hi Holly! Thanks for coming over to my stack. I appreciate it.

Brandon is not your bro's avatar

Beautiful story , thank u Janice ❤️

Shellie Willmering's avatar

What a beautiful, beautiful story. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. You know, it's hard typing this with tears in my eyes, but I feel them as happy tears for lives lived fully and beautifully. Now, if Punxsutawney Phil will avoid his shadow a little more often.

Laura Kasner's avatar

Happy tears Janice. Thank you for sharing that beautiful story. 😘❤️

Reasonable Horses's avatar

Oh my goodness, Janet. That's so sweet. Loved the list of 60's memories. Ups and downs, count it all joy. Happy Groundhog Day!

Leah Proffitt's avatar

A beautiful love story !

Kelliann's avatar

Sweet! Thank you for the smile today😊

PamelaZelie's avatar

Beautiful!

We all need loving families. Those of us who’ve been blessed with such possess a priceless gift.

Susan Banks's avatar

Thank you so much Janice for sharing this beautiful love story of your family and all the ups and downs you and your family endured. That was such a a life similar to mine and my upbringing. I had to smile when you wrote how funny your Dad was! I was one of 5, no twins though. My dad was a comedian but also a mean man, who was very strict. I remember so many new gadgets being introduced my whole life but the best was the dishwasher. I had washed dishes since I was 8. My sister didn't clean them like I did, so I got the job.

I love how you tied in Groundhog Day!! Your Mom was a amazing mother!! So sorry for the loss of your Dad. I know you remember every second of those difficult times. The fact that she got married again is amazing. So many windows don't find love again, but I'm so glad she did. Is your Mom still alive? You are such a a great Writer, and as I was reading this, I thought, I need Janice to write one for me! This past 7 years would make such an interesting book! Going through it all alone, knocking fear down everyday, believing and having the Faith to know God is real, and he heard my cries. God Bless you Janice. Thank you for sharing this beautiful life of yours in such a great way!!

Susan

Words Beyond Me-Janice Powell's avatar

Susan, thank you for sharing that and for your kind words. Mom passed away in June of 2020 after a broken hip she did not recover from. Thankfully we were able to bring her home from the hospital to spend her last 11 days with her family. Her second husband had passed away in early 2018 which necessitated moving her to Oklahoma with me. It was a blessing, as well as a growing experience, for me to facilitate her care. Most of the story is on here in some different posts, but behind a paywall. In a nutshell, there was one brother who fought me for guardianship, emotionally abused Mom, and tried desperately to get his hands on her money. But the Lord led us through and we know we did the best we could for her. Thanks for reading - Janice

PS: WRITE YOUR STORY. :)

Susan Banks's avatar

I don’t know why family members do that to their parents! That is awful that he abused her! My first job at 15 was in a Nursing Home. I would see so many get broken hips and they always came back and so confused. Basically mind was just gone! I’m an analytical person and I always tried to figure it out. It was the anesthesia. They couldn’t snap out of it! I was sitting outside today telling my Mom and Dad how much I miss them. I said at 15 I couldn’t stand them and now at 65 I wish they were still here. My mom died when I was 36 and she was 63. My Dad lived 13 miserable years after. He chained all the doors and died inside and was there for 2 weeks before my brother found him! I left NC to take care of him in Fla. but he kicked me out! That was after I cleaned his home from too top to bottom!! He was getting dementia. He even changed the locks! lol How do you like Oklahoma? I didn’t know that’s where you were! I’ve never been there.

Words Beyond Me-Janice Powell's avatar

As for my brother, he is a narcissist. That pretty much explains all of his behavior.

Words Beyond Me-Janice Powell's avatar

Mom already had some dementia, so the anesthesia, plus a resistant infection, just sent her over the edge mentally and physically. I'm sorry about the loss of your mom so young and for the tragedy with your dad. We've lived in Oklahoma since 1985 and all our kids were born here, so it is definitely home. Pretty conservative and we live just close enough to town that I can go to the store nearly every day and then go back to get what I forgot, but far enough out to where I can see woods when I look out the front windows. Best of both worlds!