We are blessed and lucky to have such a fantastic and loving Mom/Wife/Grandmother

From Richard:

"I really fell in love with you when you were telling me about Sweetie the Cow eating the wires on the tractor and you started blushing. I love you for all the ways that you have always loved and cared for all of us. When I was battling through the Ménière's and just literally trying to survive and keep working for the family, you were and always are there loving and supporting all of us in such a positive and wonderful way. You are an incredible, God given, wife and mother and I could not love you more."

From Rebekah:

"Drawing hot baths with candles and cups of tea if I was feeling down. I remember how even though we were barely scraping by, (you) would treat us to Chinese dinner specials at Peking Kitchen on payday. I remember how (you) would decorate a Christmas tree upstairs when we lived at Grandma and Grandpa's. That week long camping trip we took to Yakima, Leavenworth and Winthrop. Even when we didn't have much money (you) made it stretch and made things fun. I remember (you) making a replica of the inner ear using household objects like the trampoline for the ear drum... I also have fond memories of thumbing through old cake decorating books to choose what shape we wanted our birthday cakes."

From Nathan:

"I have fond memories of (being) taken out of school on our birthday. Or Friday night movies. (You) have always put so much effort into everything related to family. I remember doing the Top Secret's during the homeschooling years. Or acting out Bible stories as a little kid. She let us be kids and always showed us she cared with actions and words. I definitely remember a lot of those (cake books too). She's the best mom."

From Sam:

"Mom, you are such an amazing, thoughtful, and caring person. In all the time I have spent on this Earth, I have never felt anything but love from you. Even when I don't see things your way, or don't understand, I know deep down that you care about all of us and always try and do the right thing. I still think about:"

• "The times you'd wait with me for the school bus at the apartments in Centralia."
• "Vacations, especially the one to Winthrop. There was that one time when you took us to the rest stop and wanted us to camp out there. I remember all of us being a little creeped out, but you still tried to be spontaneous with us and it's that thought I remember looking back on it."
• "Taking me to Oakview after it burned and being there to cry with me because you knew I didn't like Washington Elementary as much. Looking back I know it was best but you taking the time to just be with me and talk to me about it was special."