Its Monday, December 19...Mom was asleep most of the day. When she was awake she did recognize us and talked to us with very few words. While she had her eyes closed I read to her all of the amazing posts from the blog today! Thank you all for your kind and loving words to my mom. Although many of your postings brought tears to my eyes and lumps in my throat, many stories made me laugh too. Reading them aloud to her with family sitting nearby (even the hospice nurse at her bedside) is almost therapeutic for me. It heals my soul telling my mom how very loved she is, how inspiring she is to others and how much joy she has brought to your lives.
Back in 2005 for Christmas my mom gave me a Mother's Legacy book. It is a journal where she wrote pages and pages about her life memories. On the last page the book asks, "What advice about life do you want others to remember?" Here is her answer...
"I guess my advice would be, treat others with the same care and respect that you wish to be treated. Another good one is its not whether we win or lose its how we play the game."
She always played with love abounding...and she will win her reward in heaven! A crown of grace and glory.
I love you mom!
Thank you for sharing these sweet memories. Today I told my daughter how your mother illustrated the Bible verse Philippians 4:5-6 to a small women's group using a heart shaped doily. I now have my own heart-shaped doily and can recite the verse thanks to your mom. May the peace of God be with you and your family.
ReplyDeleteI waited up in hopes of finding some bit of news from you Mandy. I want you to know what a wonderful friend you mom has been to me. My life was indeed made better by having known her. My dad always said that when his time on earth was done, he wanted to know that it made a difference that he was here. It has made such a huge difference to the lives of so many that your mother was placed here by God to touch the lives of those who might not have otherwise been so blessed.. Thank you Kathy for who you are and for loving us all do well. I love you my Friend. Jan Tani
ReplyDeleteI'm still in disbelief and check here in hopes for some improvement. I remember just seeing your mom and dad last October introducing them to my daughter. Your mom is a special woman and please tell her that we love her very much! Please also give your dad a hug from us too. Thank you Mandy for keeping us posted.
ReplyDeleteLots of love,
Mandie & family.
Mandy, you too are your Mom's legacy. When I visited in Nov and spent time watching you and how you interacted with your Dad, Mom, and your two precious children - I saw how much you are like your Mom. You too are a giver, a servant, a gentle spirit. A version of your Mom. I'm just sorry I didn't get to spend time with Bryan too but I'm glad I met him.
ReplyDeleteI too, have been reading the comments and I realize how very much I missed out on over the years Kathy and I weren't in touch. Yet, it is amazing to me how much we squeezed into less than two years of being reunited. A daily phone call (sometimes two or three recently) was a moment of unconditional love that your Mom was able to give. I miss our calls but the memories of each conversation and the brief visits in April and November will be what will sustain me. I will remember every word of advice she shared and especially the loving words of encouragement along with all the cards she wrote to me.
I will always love your Mom, you, your family, and your Dad. Take care of each other. With lots and lots of love - Dyanne
I very proud of you cousin. Thank you for sharing all this with us that can't be there. Your mom is an amazing person and I can see you have many of the qualities she has. I have so many great memories growing up, spending time with your family. Eating dinner at your house.I remember one time seeing which one of the boys could eat the most tacos. I think Byron won, eating about 16 of them. Those are some of the best times in my life.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that they come up to visit me up here in Oregon. For them to take the time to come so far north to spend time with Jan and I meant so much to us. Those are the kind of people they are. They are so willing to help or give you the advice to help yourselves. She will always be in my heart and Uncle Rick, I still remember the advice you gave about money, I have tried to pass that on to my daughter, Taylor.
Love you all very much!
Aaron
Kathy - I remember you most as a little girl in 2nd grade. You were kind and giving even then. You were my first friend when I moved from Massachusetts and didn't know anyone in Miss Junek's class. When I told you that my parents promised my brother and I that we could have a dog and a cat when we moved to California you had a remedy for that. You had puppies at home. So Patches (nee Nolan)became a beloved family member as I was growing up. I just learned about your health challenges yesterday and I want you to know you are still in my heart after 60 years even though our paths diverged somewhere along the way. With Love and Prayers, Dianne (Sipple) Samples
ReplyDeleteThis blog has been such a blessing to me. Your Mom's greatest legacy may be you, Amanda. You are wonderfully thoughtful, and approach life with grace! I barely have met Kathy, but I am learning that I see her in you. I continue in prayer for you and your Dad and all the family. God is giving you His grace to bring strength to your family.
ReplyDeleteCookie
Kathy ~ I was saddened to hear about the very difficult times that you and your family are going through.
ReplyDeleteMandy says that you are a fighter. Thinking of the Nolan tribe from back-in-the-day, I’m not surprised.
I don’t remember a time when there wasn’t a Nolan in my life… you will always be in my heart. Sue Gomes Cheatham
Hi
ReplyDeleteI thought I would take a moment and apologize to Tony since through all of this I had forgotten about him and how he too must be suffering. Please let him know his Mom was very proud of him and all he has accomplished in his life. She spoke about him a lot during my visit in November and shared much of where and what he had done since I last saw him when he was about 5 or 6. She wished I could have seen him again but our timing was just off. Since you have been doing all of the all of the postings and providing all of the updates Mandy, I simply forgot to ask if he and his family had arrived safely. Please know each of you will continue to be in my prayers and your Mom especially. Love, Dyanne
Hi Mandy, it's good of you to keep us informed about Kathy's condition. Please convey our love and best wishes to her. Kathy has always been and remains a kind, considerate, and a terrific person. It was always a pleasure to see her and Ricky when they visited Honolulu. All of you are in our hearts and prayers. Sincerely Dorothy (Honey) Higa.
ReplyDeleteMandy, I,m sitting here trying to think of what to say that would bring comfort and encouragement to all of you. Just know that I love you and pray that God will wrap you in his arms and give you his Peace. I still believe in miracles, and that the greatest miracle is that we get to live together with Jesus for eternity. I have questioned why Good people also suffer. But I know there is no more suffering in Heaven. A scripture that has helped me is Isaiah 57:1&2, The good men perish;the godly die before their time,and no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to realize that God is taking them away from evil days ahead. For the godly who die shall rest in peace. Kathy and Rick, you have always been there for me. I love you like my second parents. If there is anything I can do, please let me know. Your brother Bill P.S. See you in Heaven
ReplyDeleteDear Tani family,
ReplyDeleteLots of good memories today in thinking of you... and you are in my thoughts alot. Sending you our love.
God's grace and peace to you all.
Love Linda, and Al too.
Hi Auntie,
ReplyDeleteIt's me again! I am so happy you have had this time with your family, it sounds very special. I know you would trade these moments for healthy ones here on earth in a heart beat, but unfortunately when we are healthy, we don't appreciate it the same. I hope I can learn to see everyday as a true blessing while I am here. I do thank God for all the trials and tribulations he allows me to go through....because I know it's just his way of keeping me focused on him and him making sure I stay on the path to spend eternity with him. I love him for that, but I pray I can keep God in my sights when I am at my lowest, for I know he will pull me back up again in his time. I love you and I hope you are comfortable and enjoying the your time with family and friends.
Love, Shan
Dear Tani Family, please accept our deepest and heart-felt condolences on your loss of Kathy. While we are saddened and grieved we are also happy for Kathy who is now freed from her temporal body that recently had been causing her so much pain and grief. We are also happy that Kathy has now been able to say Happy Birthday to Jesus in person -- how cool is that!
ReplyDeleteWe continue to hold up the Tani family in our prayers and hope that you can find some solace in these events.
Love and prayers, Gil & Mary...