Mother’s Day 2009
This is my mother’s first earthly mother’s day with one of her sons re-united with her on the other side of the veil. She often spoke of her love for her boys, and how special they were to her. I hope this is a happy Mother’s Day for them!
One of my earliest recollections of my mother is her rocking me to sleep. I must have been about three years old because we were still living in Cypress. She was singing Old Aunt Mariah - Back and forth, back and forth, singing the same words until, I am sure, I fell asleep.
"Old Aunt Maria, jumped in the fi-ah,
Fire so hot, she jumped in the pot,
Pot so black, she jumped in the crack,
Crack so deep, she jumped in the creek,
Creek was so shallow, she jumped in the tallow,
Tallow so soft, she jumped in the loft,
Loft was so high, she jumped in the sky,
Sky so blue, she jumped in the canoe,
Canoe was so rotten, she jumped in the cotton,
Cotton so white she stay there all night,
and that was the end of Old Aunt Maria who jumped in the fi-ah."
REPEAT
Another memory is that of going to the Los Angeles Temple to be sealed. I remember Henri, Chris and I waiting in the Youth Room while Mom, Dad and Robert received their endowments. I remember the Sister attending us. I remember walking the temple grounds while we were waiting. I remember being escorted into the Sealing Room and kneeling down at the altar. I placed my right hand on the collection of the right hands of my family. I remember feeling something special. I do not remember any of the other particulars of that day. Mom faithfully trusted that being sealed for eternity, through covenant with Heavenly Father, meant our family would enjoy a family connection beyond the grave. She treasured the promise of being with her good husband and her four sons forever. I am confident she was full of joy and smiles on that sacred day. Mom loves her family!
While growing up, on occasion we had Family Home Evening. This was, I am sure, a challenging effort for Mom. She wanted her sons to grow up knowing and loving God. During FHE there were times when Henri, Chris, and I were not on our best behavior. If you can imagine such a thing, we boys would start cutting up, using sarcastic humor, trying to outdo one another! One can only imagine the feelings of a mother’s heart as she was striving to follow the encouragements of our Church leaders and her sons were frustrating her efforts. Regardless of how futile it may have seemed at times to her, all of her sons have grown up to love the Lord.
Dorothy Sue Hathcock Jensen loved America! In one conversation we discussed our family’s European heritage (Welsh, Danish, and even Native American - Cherokee). It seems I was rather excited about the Vikings and had some comments about that. As I was going on she taught me, that first and foremost we are Americans!
Mom, thank you for the gift of life! It is a gift of great worth! Your carrying me those nine months, going through labor and delivery to bring me into the world – how can I ever say enough good about you? Next to that I suppose I am most grateful for your love of God, your faith in His word, your willingness to walk down His paths. I remember more than once your tears flowing as you were touched by the Spirit. I remember your example of faith when you gave up cigarette smoking, telling the missionaries they did not need to take your cigarettes that night because you trusted that if "not smoking" was a commandment from God, then He would take away any urges that might lead you to smoke. Indeed He did. Thank you for your great example of faith.
Your love of the Gospel and your willingness to share it with those around you is one of your great legacies. Sharing the good news that Jesus Christ came to redeem all mankind and that through His atoning sacrifice families can be together forever is a great work! As you know, several of your granddaughters feel similarly and they are great missionaries too. Thanks for providing such a legacy!
Remember we love you and are most grateful for the inheritance you have given us – and pray this day you will feel our love and appreciation. May this day, above all others, lead you to exclaim as did John to the Saints of an earlier day: I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
This is my mother’s first earthly mother’s day with one of her sons re-united with her on the other side of the veil. She often spoke of her love for her boys, and how special they were to her. I hope this is a happy Mother’s Day for them!
One of my earliest recollections of my mother is her rocking me to sleep. I must have been about three years old because we were still living in Cypress. She was singing Old Aunt Mariah - Back and forth, back and forth, singing the same words until, I am sure, I fell asleep.
"Old Aunt Maria, jumped in the fi-ah,
Fire so hot, she jumped in the pot,
Pot so black, she jumped in the crack,
Crack so deep, she jumped in the creek,
Creek was so shallow, she jumped in the tallow,
Tallow so soft, she jumped in the loft,
Loft was so high, she jumped in the sky,
Sky so blue, she jumped in the canoe,
Canoe was so rotten, she jumped in the cotton,
Cotton so white she stay there all night,
and that was the end of Old Aunt Maria who jumped in the fi-ah."
REPEAT
Another memory is that of going to the Los Angeles Temple to be sealed. I remember Henri, Chris and I waiting in the Youth Room while Mom, Dad and Robert received their endowments. I remember the Sister attending us. I remember walking the temple grounds while we were waiting. I remember being escorted into the Sealing Room and kneeling down at the altar. I placed my right hand on the collection of the right hands of my family. I remember feeling something special. I do not remember any of the other particulars of that day. Mom faithfully trusted that being sealed for eternity, through covenant with Heavenly Father, meant our family would enjoy a family connection beyond the grave. She treasured the promise of being with her good husband and her four sons forever. I am confident she was full of joy and smiles on that sacred day. Mom loves her family!While growing up, on occasion we had Family Home Evening. This was, I am sure, a challenging effort for Mom. She wanted her sons to grow up knowing and loving God. During FHE there were times when Henri, Chris, and I were not on our best behavior. If you can imagine such a thing, we boys would start cutting up, using sarcastic humor, trying to outdo one another! One can only imagine the feelings of a mother’s heart as she was striving to follow the encouragements of our Church leaders and her sons were frustrating her efforts. Regardless of how futile it may have seemed at times to her, all of her sons have grown up to love the Lord.
Dorothy Sue Hathcock Jensen loved America! In one conversation we discussed our family’s European heritage (Welsh, Danish, and even Native American - Cherokee). It seems I was rather excited about the Vikings and had some comments about that. As I was going on she taught me, that first and foremost we are Americans!Mom, thank you for the gift of life! It is a gift of great worth! Your carrying me those nine months, going through labor and delivery to bring me into the world – how can I ever say enough good about you? Next to that I suppose I am most grateful for your love of God, your faith in His word, your willingness to walk down His paths. I remember more than once your tears flowing as you were touched by the Spirit. I remember your example of faith when you gave up cigarette smoking, telling the missionaries they did not need to take your cigarettes that night because you trusted that if "not smoking" was a commandment from God, then He would take away any urges that might lead you to smoke. Indeed He did. Thank you for your great example of faith.
Your love of the Gospel and your willingness to share it with those around you is one of your great legacies. Sharing the good news that Jesus Christ came to redeem all mankind and that through His atoning sacrifice families can be together forever is a great work! As you know, several of your granddaughters feel similarly and they are great missionaries too. Thanks for providing such a legacy!
Remember we love you and are most grateful for the inheritance you have given us – and pray this day you will feel our love and appreciation. May this day, above all others, lead you to exclaim as did John to the Saints of an earlier day: I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
