Remembering Someone Special

Now, you may think this is kind of unusual...and it may well be.  But I woke up thinking about this today and it was like I was being prompted to remember and honor this dear lady today, on what would be her 104th birthday.  She's been in heaven for at least 12 years or more, I'm not certain of the date, but it occurred to me today that if I don't remember her birthday, I'm not sure just who will.  Perhaps this will prompt some of the rest of her living extended family to pause and remember her today if they see this, but her own descendants have already all gone on to heaven as well.  She just had one daughter and one grandson, and they are both already in heaven, along with her husband and even her daughter's husband.  There is a great-granddaughter living somewhere, but she does not stay in communication with any of the family.

This is my husband's Aunt Dorothy.  She's holding our "Baby Elva" in this picture, which was taken back in August of 2010.  I'm pretty sure she passed away later that same year, I just don't remember the date.

Here she is presenting me with a gift at a Bridal Shower, way back in 1969. Look at our hairdos!  I know I had a little hairpiece in the top of my hair to give it all that height and "style".  The bouffant look was the style of the day. We actually almost look like mirror images in this picture, even though we are not blood related. LOL.

These were all of my husband's extended family who attended our wedding that summer of '69.

Aunt Dorothy is the first lady on the left on the front row.  Her daughter Janice is standing behind her, and her husband, "Uncle Van", is the second man from the left on the back row. Everyone in this picture, with the exception of my husband's brother Billy standing tall in the middle, are in heaven today. 

Just for the record they are as follows

First Row, L to R: Aunt Dorothy VanZant, "Nanny Pearl Martin", my mother in law Vivian Steiner, her sister Nellie Kirk, my father in law William Steiner.

Back row, L to R:  "Cousin Hoss (John) Driver", Uncle Wilbur "Van" Vanzant, Cousin Janice VanZant, cousin Jane Driver, Uncle Charles Kirk, Billy Steiner, "Cousin Helen Humphrey", Great Aunt Lydia, "Cousin Herman Humphrey". 

Here are the "Martin sisters" with their mother, "Nanny" Pearl Martin"

Dorothy, Nellie, Pearl, Daisy, and Vivian

And here the "Martin Sisters" are again.

Nellie, Dorothy, Daisy, and Vivian (my mother in law).

Aunt Dorothy was a character, to say the least. All of the "Martin sisters" were lively and full of fun, but Aunt Dorothy seemed to be the one who would get into the most "mischief" in life.  I wish you could hear the laughter of these women around the table as they told stories and talked about all of the things they did growing up and even into their young adulthood and beyond.  There was never a dull moment I am quite sure.

Yes, Aunt Dorothy was my mother in law's older sister and one of my hubby's "favorite Aunts" (they were all his favorites).  I think because her birthday is in September like mine, I always tend to remember her birthday.  And she was a "redhead", at least that's the color she chose...LOL. And I was also a redhead, although it's long faded now. So we had that in common.  

Since all her immediate relatives have passed on, I just figured someone needed to remember her today on her birthday. 

This was the last picture we have of Aunt Dorothy, sitting next to her sister Vivian, my mother in law, and it happens to be at a birthday party...so they are both wearing birthday hats.  The picture was taken at my parents' home on the occasion of our son's birthday.  So lots of memories are attached to this picture!

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Aunt Dorothy!  We love you!  You are not forgotten!!

Yes, so many loved ones have already gone on before us to heaven...and they will be there waiting for us on that day when we enter heaven's gates....so these verses in Hebrews 12 seem to be appropriate for this occasion today:

Hebrews 12:1-2

1"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, 

let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, 

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 

2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, 

who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, 

despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

So let us run the race with endurance...and one day we will be there with all the saints, rejoicing and celebrating with Jesus before the throne of God!

What a day, glorious day, that will be!!

Amen.

Thank you for going along with me on this little journey back in time today. I'm sure Aunt Dorothy would be very surprised to know so many now are thinking of her today!  God bless you all, and have a wonderful rest of your weekend!