The following is a repeat of last years post on this very day. I've made just a few changes that apply to today, like her age, but everything else is still the same.
Monica was my parents first child to be born…but also the first to die. She died on January 3rd, 1997 of lung cancer. She was 37 ½. Today she would be 50. She would probably do something crazy like run down the street in the rain (if there was any) rain, trip and fall, trash her leg (she did all this once) and then have a fit over the need for first aid. Her daughter Brittanie gave a wonderful tribute to her several Christmases ago and if you want take a minute and go here and read about her from her daughters perspective (warning-get a kleenex) http://nbakbeautifullife.blogspot.com/2006/12/that-holiday-feeling-for-some-reason_15.html#links
And her latestest post remebering her mom Beautiful Life: Happy 50th To My Mom
Oldest of 4 girls and two boys. She was an energetic, full of spunk, kind of kid. To me she was the one with the boyfriends. The one that lived to be social. She loved to dance. She loved to sing. She loved the young women in her ward. But most of all…she loved her man and her children! She thought her kids were the only kids that were in the room. She would sew and sew and make all kinds of things for her babies. She loved to be crafty. She would make stuff to sell and make extra money for Christmas. She saved and saved so she could buy herself a ticket to see Phantom of the Opera. She would start to tell you a funny story-usually about Stan and before she would get to the end she would be laughing so hard you couldn’t understand what she was saying…but you would be laughing equally as hard because she had a way of getting you involved in the story. She would tell equally funny stories on herself as well. One thing is for sure, where ever she was, that is where the laughter was.
As an adult Monica had numerous friends. In fact everyone she met-she considered a friend, whether they were 20 or 82-age didn't matter. She didn't waste time on others shortcomings, life was to short for that, she just loved people and they loved her back. If you were her friend you were her friend for life. Her funeral was standing room only at the stake center. I think every person she had ever known from grade school on up, was there, people we had long forgotten but had somehow learned of her passing and wanted to be there because she had touched their life in some way.
I think of Monica often, but today I think of her especially. I wonder what she would think of her daughters? I wonder what she would think of her only son-Joseph? I wonder what she would think of her grandbabies? And then I know!!! She would be amazed at the beauty of her girls! She would be thrilled with their life choices. She would remind them they were daughters of God who loves them by how she felt about herself. She would be in awe. And Joseph-she would think...this is Stan in miniature. This kid is so funny and goofy and smart and so reminds me of why I married his dad!
But....we cannot just give a sentence in a paragraph to what she would think of her grandbabies!!! She would eat them alive! She would start talking in their voices-like she did when her kids were little people! She would be sewing them dresses, making them things for their rooms, she would be spending her summers with them-nothing stopped her from going on a road trip. She would load up whoever was going in the car that was functioning the best and off they would go.
Oh there are many stories of Monica, and really you can't post about someone and give them justice in just a few short paragraphs...but this I know. She was my older sister, my friend, my confidante, my favorite comedian, life of the party, my teacher by example. Thinking of her does not bring sadness, only the fondest of memories, I love her and I miss her!
Happy Birthday Sis!
(A thank you goes out to my sister, Shaunna, for helping me with this post and providing the pictures)
This picture was taken just before all of her hair fell our from Chemo.
Thanksgiving Day 1996, it would be our last with her.....sniff
Her kids at her funeral
4 comments:
Thanks for this post Aunt Kimmie! My eyes are filled with tears - I loved what you wrote. I was just signing on to post a quick birthday tribute to her. I feel like I just want to copy and paste your post. It was beautiful. Love you!
Thanks Kim. You shared great memories and were able to remind us of the unique and wonderful things about Monica. Everyone that crossed her path was blessed and happier. There couldn't be a better mom or friend. She had a spark that is so rare, and so treasured. I wish I could love and enjoy people the way she did. I am so much better because of her. Thanks for remembering.
Yes, Kim, You did a wonderful job of telling about Monica. Dad and I still laugh and CRY when talking and thinking of her. It was fun to have Brit, Kelyn Kensi and Tessa come and go through some things that Shaunna and I had saved for them, they modeled her hats and were all so beautiful Hannah and Joseph stayed 2 nights and we loved cuddling with them. Thanks for the memories. If Monica is 50, does that mean I"m not 50 anymore? Mercy!!!
I read Brittanie's post about her mom and then hopped over to your post and now I just feel like I need to sit down and bawl for a minute. I didn't know Monica that well, but I do remember spending time with Brittanie at their house before Monica got sick and I loved being there and with her. Most of all I do love her daughter. I think Brittanie is so wonderful and I have no doubt that Monica would be so proud of her as well as all of their other kids. I have a very tender spot in my heart for all of the Kivett family. For all of the Theobold family for that matter. Thank you for such a tender and sweet post.
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