Pika, so sorry to hear about your mom. I know that words can't heal anything; all I can say is that I hope you find a sort of solice in remembering the times, and conversations you shared with your mother. Stay close to the people you love... you're in my thoughts!

OMG, I'm so sorry, pika. Bless your heart, sweetie. My heart aches for you.

Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Everything remains as it was. The old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no sorrow in your tone. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without effort Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is unbroken continuity. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before. How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting, when we meet again. Your mother is gone in body only and nothing else my dear, the pain of a loved ones passing is thankfully only painful for the ones left behind. Your mother has gone on to be free of pain, heartache, and sadness. I know this time for you and your family must be the hardest you have ever faced....take heart my friend you are not alone!!! XOXOXO

A friend of my dad, Bill Hebrock, is on the Board of Trustees at Tallahassee Community College and he is setting up a scholarship at the school in my mom's name. It was wonderful of him to do something like that for us. My mom's obituary was in the paper today. There's also going to be an obituary in the Iowa Press Citizen for her family there. http://www.legacy.com/tallahassee/DeathNotices.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=17717288

Ramp up your prayers for Pika, People! Louder & more frequent, please & tanky.