SAYING GOODBYE.

This family lost the mother heart, the center, of their family. A remarkable woman. A woman that taught me the scriptures as a young woman. A woman that was an example to all of love and charity. A woman that had me try "Heidi milk" straight from their cow, whole wheat pancakes, homemade macaroni and cheese and ranch dressing not from the bottle. A woman that taught her daughters to cook a meal from scratch. A woman that hosted many cow patty fights at her home and fence painting opportunities and barn clean ups in order to have boys come ride motorcycles with us girls. A woman that invited anyone into her home with open arms. A woman that knew God and loved the scriptures. A woman that loved hosting family get togethers. A woman who tended her gardens and beautified all that she touched. A woman that wasn't afraid of hard work. A woman that knew hard work lead to great satisfaction. A woman that loved flowers and seeds and teaching about planting a seed. A woman that would sit at the kitchen table studying her scriptures while eating a bowl of cereal in the afternoon. A woman that shaped many young girls in the Napa Valley to be the women they are today. A woman that loved her family and friends with all her heart.

And she was loved by many. And she will forever be in my heart. And I will teach my daughter to cook from scratch in her honor and because I admired that in her. And I will cry today. Probably hard. Today we will say good-bye to Jeannie. And we will hug her husband a little tighter today. And her girls. And her grand kids. And be there for them when they need us. We will remember Jeannie today. We will celebrate her remarkable life. And we will whisper that we will join her on her journey some day and see her again in Heaven.