Letter to My Children (February 14, 2018)

Dear Jonathan, Sarah, Josh, and Christina,

     Happy Valentines Day, my beloved children. Dad gave me roses yesterday. So much beauty in flowers. Looked through a bunch of our albums yesterday, finding some pictures of your dear old friend Liz, that I wanted to send her. So much beauty in our family albums! Documented by hundreds (literally!) of old photos. The wonderful family we had, fun, work, laughter, work...lol. Farm & family life. Look behind these flowers, do you see Christina's little tea set (oh the fun dress up tea parties you had!)? Do you see my grandmothers Christmas cactus? As a little girl, it was in the upstairs window at Gramma Almeter's. Then my mom took it, the move apparently upset it, and we had a Duce of a time getting it to bloom. However, the week after mom died, it bloomed all over!
     See the wood outside? Yup, your mom still loves a cozy fire, recall when your Grampa Beck put one in for us at the old yellow house? We loved putting our feet up on the hearth and talking, snuggling by the fire. So you are very fortunate and blessed kids. You were given so much. Don’t throw us away anymore. It's wrong. It has hurt so many of us. Come back to us; we love you always and forever.

Xo, Your own Mom