I am sorry to hear of your loss. Times like this are hard but now is the time to thank the lord for her life and for yours. To know her was the greatest gift you’ll ever have, there are alot on earth that will never know what that means or what it is like. We are not put here for eternity but only for a for a few brief moments…
Take care brother…
Phil
I’m so sorry about the loss of your mom.
In the short time I have come to know you, it is obvious that you are a person who loves life. It is easy to see where that came from.
No earthly sweetness remains unmixed with grief. It is clear, to me anyway, that your family tradition is not throttling life, nor being throttled by its blows, but taking it on your shoulders for a terrific and thrilling ride.
I have come to a better understanding and appreciation of my own life by your sharing and self-revealing (which is the most any of us can do) of the most awkward and difficult circumstances in life. I’m sure I’m not alone. What a man you are! You’ve been a great example of courage and grace.
And if THAT is your family tradition, I see a happy future for you - one filled with hope and abundant life. I wish I could say more, but it would only be blather.
May God richly bless you with consolation during your time of grief.
May your mom’s memory be eternal!
Phil, I’m sorry to hear of your loss. You and your family are in my prayers.
DD
Well Phil you sure helped her put up a hell of a fight- what a lucky mom she was for having such a great son to be there with her through so much of that last journey.-Jules
" what the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly"-Richard Bach
PS- and thank you Phil- I just yesterday got the beautiful art piece you sent me. So beautiful…
Julianne,
THANKS!! For everything really. Glad you like the peice, I was hoping you would.
Phill
Phil,
I’m sorry to hear about your loss it’s kind of interesting that I come across this thread now since I lost my sister to cancer a year ago last week. It’s great that you helped your mom so much and she put up a hard long fight. I can relate to alot of the emotions that go along with treatments, checkups, hopes, and news whether good or bad. All I can say is remember the good times try not to dwell too much on the negatives and strive to allow this tough time to make you a better stronger person.
Peter
This is something I threw together to thank people whom have chimed in on an online guestbook in our hometown paper. I feel it fits here as well maybe even more so. You all dont Know how Much you mean/meant to ym mother and I.
Thanks,
Phill
We (My dad (Dave), brother (Robert), and myself (Phil) as well as my mom I am SURE ) just want you all to know how VERY much we appreciate the response you all have given in this online guest book, and elsewhere.
It is comforting to us that you all have our Wife/Mother and above all dearest friend, as well as us, in your thoughts and so close to your heart. Also that the resounding theme in the replies is one that we are stressing. Not one of mourning her death, though of course that exists as well, but more of an emphasis of celebrating her life. Remembering the time we all spent with her. Not just the good, but also the bad, and in-between.
You all know, as well as I. When looking back, many of the worst times end up being the best times. Those days we, she, they, bumped heads or screwed up. What seemed so BAD at the moment when reflected on after time, once we are able to see it in a complete context. Those are the times that made our relationship complete. The days we will NEVER forget. Being able to be down right MAD with one another. Swearing never to get over it. Then of course due to the love and life we chose share, we pressed on. Worked through one another?s faults and differences. This is something mom was a Champion at, both forgiving and dealing with us for our faults/mistakes, and yes her own , she was FAR from perfect herself admit it. There are a ton of times she just made me MAAAAAD, but in the end she would admit it. She would press the issue, force you to deal with her, accept her as she did us for her faults. In the end really its these faults, not the likenesses, that make us who we are. The things that people learn to love and have to accept and adapt to.
So lets not forget those traits/times, or any for that matter. Lets all just learn to better laugh, remember, and accept of Phyllis ( MOM) all those we choose to love. All the good, bad, and ugly. Now ?try? I said. Surely we will be far from perfect at this, or anything for that matter. I see no harm in trying and neither did Phyllis. This attempt was one in which mom held close to herself as a goal. Like all else she was FAR from perfect at it, but boy did she try, and got pretty darned good at it. I am sure she will love to see this trait spread to us. For us all to make an effort at this, and at times get a heck of a chuckle out of seeing us try.
OK, I got off an a tangent there. But, you?ll just have to deal with it. That?s one of my faults at times.
Once again THANK YOU all for your current and continued care, support, celebration of a Phyllis. A caring mother, Cherished wife, hard headed pain in the posterior, and above all dearest friend.
Dave, Rob, and Phil Stevens
Just a final little HORAHH here and thank you to all and everyone.
Saturday was the day. We were VERY successful in having the time we projected. Not a situation of sorrowful mourning but one of celebration of the time we had, memories we shared and how to keep those build on the and Man I will say it had a profound effect on many.
It was amazing at the people she touched in her passing and the way we through her set up this memorial gathering. It was almost joyfull. well as much so as such a day could be, Found many people from 20 years + turning up. and leaving them all rethinking things their relations of present and how to better them and also MANY stated they were going directly home to change their plans to a like engagement.
Once again thanks to all here and everything you were and are to my mother and I. Thanks for the support through the times and the reassurance that not only were you supporting us but in an odd way by us sharing we had a positive effect on you. Thanks well to everyone who touched us in any way good or bad, all of that comes together to sahpe us and make us who and what we are. Above all Thanks Mom for all you did in the past and I am positive will continue to do even now after your passing.
Phill