Grief and Love

Grief is the price you pay for having loved

My mother's shoes

These are the shoes that she wore to my wedding. I have them now.

Four years on, November 6th, 2011

Fleeting Fall       AML 2011

It is 4 years since Noemia passed on to the next life. She is not physically present and yet I sense her presence. She is with me in spirit to guide me and always love me. I really miss her. I remember so many wonderful moments together. I am very grateful that I had such a wonderful mother. I think of her everyday.

In Memory - A Prayer

I am grateful for the gift of her life, and the good memories which enable me to recall the blessings of her life. May the love and kindness with which she touched my life help me to share these qualities with others. May God's compassion shelter her soul and sustain my life. May her virtues be reflected in my life. Amen

1966 TABORA, Villa Noemia.

My Beautiful Mother

She gave me a beautiful childhood

Birthday #83 on September 30th, 2011

Watercolor by Noemia

WISH YOU WERE HERE TO CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY WITH US

I miss you everyday. 4 years later, it is still hard without you. The day I miss you most in the year is your birthday. I am so glad that for so many years I came home to celebrate with you. It was a long way but a true journey of love. Your birthday was always so joyful, with a house full of family and friends, of love, laughter and food. Nobody was invited but all were drawn in to celebrate their special relationship with you on your special day.

GOA 1994 - Wonderful Memories

A rarity, Noemia agreeing to have her picture taken and smiling for it.

This was a very happy occasion. All her children, their spouses and grandchildren were in Calangute. We had a grand party for all our relatives. She always organized wonderful family gatherings.

I think of her everday

I wonder what she was thinking about? She looks very natural and so beautiful, as she always did.

Naomi Nazareth blooms in SOCAL for Royal wedding day april 29, 2011

she loved princess diana and would have been happy to see her boys so grown up

Three years on, still grieving

Noemia gave me and all her loved ones a warmth that flowed into our souls. It was a fulfilling, essential relationship.  When we lost this 3 years ago,  a light shut off in our hearts. 

Remembrance - Noemia 82nd birthday 9-30-2010

Naomi Nazareth Sweet Pea growing in California 2010

Sweet Summer Days

by Dennis Caraher

The summer sun is nearly done
Frost will follow soon
Asters and chrysanthemums
Light up the afternoon

The dew is on long after dawn
Mornings are a haze
One swallow's song is holding on
In these fading sweet summer days.

We flew across the ocean
Some fell into the sea
God will choose what we will lose
Though we may disagree

We come here to be mended
That we may find our way
We pray that there's redemption
In these fading sweet summer days

Summer months comfort us
The sun comes with sustenance
We live for its lingering light

Days slip away from us
Katydids and crickets hush
We drift into lengthening night.

We were once our children
Too soon they will be us
All they ask, a simple task:
"Remember how it was".

We hold them close, we let them go
We watch them fly away
And if we trust, they'll come to us
In these fading sweet summer days

Stars they are innumerable
We'll never know them all
But nature's not immutable
Every star will fall

And one day, I'll return to thee
And all that will remain
Is the beauty and the certainty
of these fading sweet summer days 

"Sweet Summer Days" by Dennis Caraher. © Dennis Caraher, 2010.

Second Anniversary - Nov 6th 2009

There are only two lasting bequests we can leave our offspring:

One is roots,

the other is wings.

Thank you Mum for these and all your everlasting gifts.

We all miss you so much.

x Yve

81st Birthday Tribute

UNTETHERED
Like a helium balloon floating in space
busy, then in a moment of quiet,
I don't where I am
My world has lost its gravity
There is no force drawing me back
Comfortable mother earth is faraway
Being grounded no longer possible
It has been two years but the longing is still as strong
If it was possible to pick up the phone and hear her say "Hallo Darling"
My feet might touch the ground

I miss her enthusiasm and love

Memorial

London, England
November 2008

One Year Death Anniversary Coming Up

My dearest Mum,

I miss you very, very much. The pain of losing you will always be with me. I so much want to pick the phone up and hear your wonderful voice. You gave me so much love, beauty, caring, thoughtfulness and understanding. Everything I needed to learn for my good life, I learned from you. You were the best mother and my greatest teacher for the things that really matter. You will always live in my heart, enriching my life.

Thank you for all you gave me and everybody in your circle of love. When I count my blessings, I still count you twice. I wish you were here.

Your loving daughter,

Splash

October 30^th, 2008

80th Birthday note from MYN

Photo from birthday last year (2007, September 38th)

30th September 2008 Hi All, Mum would have been 80 years old today. I am not sure she would have been that thrilled! Wein the family have all had a sad time over the last few days as we remember how much she loved us and all the people around her... and how we miss her soooo much. Everyone gathered at her place on her birthday for the traditional celebration. She never invited anyone, but always had enough food. She received so many cards every year from all around the world, and us siblings would have a competition to see who had sent the most beautiful words. This birthday is particularly hard as it is another "first" without my lovely Mum. It seems so recently that she was here for her birthday. Has a year really gone by? Its hard to believe when you look at the pictures I have attached. We knew she was really ill, but it seems unreal that she only had six weeks left. She even found the strength to finish a nightdress she was making for my sister and she gave me a bottle of "Beautiful" perfume. I know that she has left me forever, but I wish I could have just one brief phone call with her, so I can hear her say "hello darling..." Happy Birthday Mum. I know how lucky I am to have had such a wonderful mother who showered me with love from the day I was born. I miss her so much. X Regards,

Naomi Nazareth Sweet Pea

If any of you missed the BBC Gardeners World programme featuring the winning "Naomi Nazareth Sweet Pea",

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXE2VJzitao is the short version with just Mums flower.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD3A9wxiE9M&NR=1 is the slightly longer version which shows just why Naomi Nazareth won

Noemia's Art ~ Apples 2007

My mother was painting until the end of her life. She used to make cards for me to send to others. Luckily I kept most of them for myself. I also have numerous cards made by her, that she wrote in and sent to me. These are very precious. She wrote beautiful letters in her unique, beautiful handwriting. I love reading them. How lucky is that, to have personal handmade cards with handwritten letters, full of love, in the 21st century.

Passion Flower

This flower is blooming here now and every time I see one I think of my mother. When I was a little girl we always admired passion flowers. She taught me to take the time to appreciate beautiful blooms. In your busy life don't forget to smell the flowers and drink in their beauty.

The healing process

Sweet Pea, Lathyrus odoratus 'Naomi Nazareth', is selected as a beauty and featured in BBC's Gardeners World on August 15th 2008

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardenersworld/

Featured plants:

Acorus calamus, Sweet Flag, Agapanthus 'Windsor Castle', African Blue Lily, Ammi majus, Queen Anne's Lace, Astelia chathamica, Silver Spear, Cautleya spicata, Arun Flame, Cyperus longus, Sweet Galingale, Dryopteris filix-mas, Male Fern, Echinacea purpurea 'Rubinstern', Coneflower, Eucomis bicolor, Pineapple Lily, Gardenia jasminoides 'Kleim's Hardy', Cape Jasmine, Houttuynia cordata, Vietnamese Mint, Lathyrus odoratus 'Alan Titchmarsh', Sweet Pea, Lathyrus odoratus 'Geoff Hamilton', Sweet Pea, Lathyrus odoratus 'Monty Don', Sweet Pea, Lathyrus odoratus 'Naomi Nazareth', Sweet Pea, Lathyrus odoratus 'Percy Thrower', Sweet Pea, Lobelia tupa, Devil's Tobacco, Lotus Berthelotii, Parrot's Bill, Monarda 'Gardenview Scarlet', Bergamot, Monarda 'Neon', Bergamot, Monarda 'Purple Ann', Bergamot, Watsonia angusta, Bugle Lily, Watsonia 'Tresco Dwarf Pink', Bugle Lily

See previous entry on this blog for the Naomi Nazareth history