~May Feature~

Mafalda Dawson Aman

1910 - 2002

In Memory of My Mother
Mafalda Dawson Aman

My Mother is not with us anymore. She went to Heaven in 2002. I miss her very much. I wish I could say these words below to her now, but instead I am honoring her memory with the words below, written by Jimmy Dean.

For the words below are just how I felt about my Mother.
Joe Aman, a son that was honored to have such a wonderful Mother.

“I.O.U.
Written By: Jimmy Dean

You know most people look through their wallet or their pocket books and, way down at the bottom, past the credit cards and baby pictures, green stamps, and so on, you usually find a little 'old piece of dog-eared poetry.

I was cleaning out my wallet the other day and ran across a whole bunch of I.O.U's, some of 'em thirty-five years overdue. And you know the funny thing, all these I.O.U's are owed to one person and I kinda felt like that maybe now would be a pretty good time for an accountin'.

Mom, I sure hope you're listenin'.

Mama, my sweet lady, I.O.U. for so many things.....
A lot of services, like nightwatchman for instance.....
Lyin' awake nights, listenin' for coughs and cries and creakin'
floorboards........, and me comin' in too late.
Boy, you had the eye of an eagle and the roar of a lion,
But you always had a heart as big as a house.

I.O.U. for services like, uh, short order cook, chef, baker.....
For makin' sirloin out o' hamburger an' turkey out o' tuna fish,
And big ol' strappin' boys out of leftovers.

I.O.U. for cleanin' services,
The daily scrubbing of face and ears....all work done by hand.
And for the frequent dustin' of a small boy's pants
To try to make sure that you led a spotless life.
And for washin' and ironin' that no laundry could ever do.
Foy dryin' the tears of childhood
And ironin' out the problems of growin' up.

I.O.U. for services as a bodyguard,
For protectin' me from the terrors of thunderstorms and nightmares
Hah, And too many green apples.

And Lord knows, I.O.U. for medical attention,
For nursing me through measles, mumps, bruises,
Bumps, splinters and spring fever.
Oh-oh, let's not forget medical advice....important things like,
"If you keep on scratching that, it'll never get well" or
"If you cross your eyes, they're gonna stick like that".
And probably the most important advice of all,
"Boy, you be sure you got on clean underwear, in case you're in an accident".

And I.O.U. for veterinarian services,
For feeding every lost dog that I dragged home at the end of the rope,
And for healing the pains of puppy love.

And I.O.U. for entertainment.....
Entertainment that kept the household goin' through some pretty rough times.....
And for wonderful productions at Christmas, the Fourth of July, Birthdays.....
And for making make-believe come true.....
And you did it all on such a limited budget.

I.O.U. for construction work, for building kites and confidence, hopes and dreams an'.....
Somehow you made them all touch the sky.....
And for cementin' together a family
So it would stand the worst kind of shocks and blows.....
And for layin' down a good strong foundation to build a life on.

I.O.U. for carrier charges.....
For carryin' me on your books for the necessities of life
That a growin' boy somehow, well, they just gotta have.
Things like........., a pair of high top boots,
With a little pocket on the side for a jack-knife.

And one thing, Mom, I'll never forget....
When there were two pieces of pie and three hungry people.....
I notice that you were always the one who decided, well, I'm not really that hungry anyhow.

These are just a few of the things for which payment is long overdue..
The person that I owe 'em to worked very, very cheap....
She managed by simply doin' without a whole lot o' things that she needed herself....
My I.O.U's add up to more than I could ever hope to repay,
But you know the nicest thing about it all....
That I know, that she had marked the entire bill 'Paid In Full'
For just one kiss and four little words....Mom, I Love You!

Sadie Tyner White

March 9, 1922 - August 3, 1998

“We Miss You”

A date that's full of sadness
has returned to us once more,
to mark the day you left us,
yet still we miss you more.
So much in life has altered,
So much in life is new,
but wherever life may lead us,
we will always think of you.

In our home we have a picture,
of a face more precious than gold,
to us who loved and lost you,
your memory will never grow old.

We often feel you near us,
We often speak your name,
But all we have left of you,
Is your picture in a frame.
A date that's full of sadness,
Has returned to us once more,
To mark the day you left us,
Yet still we miss you more.
So much in life has altered,
So much in life is new,
but wherever life may lead me,
and in everything I do,
Part of me will always long for yesterday and you.
We remember your birthday with love and tears;
Wishing God could have spared you for a few more years.
Missing you each and every day,
in our hearts your memory will always stay.

Another year has passed away,
But memories of you are here to stay,
although we can't see you,
we are never far apart,

You are with us all of time,
Deep down in our hearts
Daughter: Lynne Melby

In loving Memory of My Mama
Josephine Emily Knight Belote

What makes good mothers? It is a pertinent question whose answer cannot be contained within a few words. Mothers comprise of a bundle of emotions that sometimes defy reason. So this goes out to all the mothers who have kept awake all night with their sick toddlers in their arms, constantly uttering those compassionate words, "It's OK honey, Mommy's here."

For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who don't.

For those who show up at work with milk stains on their dress and diapers in their handbags.

For those mothers who cannot restrain tears from trickling down their cheeks when they hold their babies for the first time in their arms; and for the mothers who give birth to babies they'll never see.

For the mothers who gave homes to babies and gifted them a family.

For the mothers who yell at their kids who clamour for ice cream before dinner.

For the mothers who defy all odds just to watch her kid perform and repeat to themselves
"That's my child!!"

For all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year, and then read it again. "Just one more time."

For the mothers who taught their children to tie the shoelaces even before they started going to school.

For the mothers who incontinently turn their heads when they hear the word "Mom",
even though they know that their kids are nowhere around.

For the mothers who silently shed tears for their children who have gone astray.

For all those mothers whose heart aches to watch her son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time.

For all the mothers of the victims of all these school shootings, and the mothers of those who were involved in the shooting.

For the mothers of the Survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, clinging to their child who just arrived from school safely.

So, this is meant for all the young and aged mothers, working mothers and housewives, married mothers and the single mothers, those with money and without and for those without whom life would have been insufferable. Wish you a very Happy Mother's Day!!

Daughter: Yvonne Annette Belote

Dear Pastor Pat,

God Bless you and your family. I am a First Sergeant stationed in Korea. God has been there for me always.

The past few years I have been going through trials and tribulations but thanks to the prayers of a righteous woman I have made it thus far. I am trying to get back to that place I once was with God. I am still going through a even difficult trial and I would like the prayers of all the Saints.

I do not have pictures of the women that are very special and have made a great difference in my life but here is the list that I would like for you to add. They are

Joy Clark (wife);
Rogel Green (mother);
Dorothy Hudson (grandmother);
Lawanda Clark (my first wife).

Please add them for mother’s day.

Thank you very much
Harry E. Clark

Pat here is a short pieced on my Mom.
Thanks Heather

My Mom BESSIE has gone to be with the Lord, she passed into Gods arms in August 1974.

Mom was so very young when she went home, only 49. I miss her so much even now, she was my best friend. I can remember

Mom did everything, she took care of us kids, (5 of us), she made some of our clothes, worked out of the home, and she was amazing.

It was hard going through life without her, I was in my mid twenties, but my sister was only 11, it was especially hard for her.

I have so many good memories, they will have to do till I see Mom again.

Roget Green In Honor of Her Mother
Dorothy Wright. She is 80 years old.