Jeanette Mickelsen Hill was born June 4, 1942 in "Uncle Joe and Aut Julia's" house. (No they weren't really relatives, but they were like family to her family growing up.) We are lucky enough to have our family history written up thanks to Aunt Arlene and Uncle Ted. It is too long to include here, but I think I will read Grandma Jeanette's history for bed tonight.
My mom was such a special person. She was funny, considerate, loving, faithful, compassionate, understanding, patient, strong woman that I hardly know where to begin.
I have repressed a lot of my teenage years and in the process have forgotten so many memories of my mom, but I have all these fleeting images that I see of her. Like coming home up the back step into the living room. It seemed she always had a smile on her face coming home. (It didn't always last depending on the state of the house when she got home. ) I love the sound of her laugh which she was always doing. I loved that I went to school with her. It gave me the extra time before and after school with her chatting about our day, political events, things going on in my or her life, etc. She used to drive me an hour each way to dance class. I remember that we frequently stopped at Taco Bell and we would each get a taco and share a nacho. I will cherish those small extra moments I had with her. She really lived her life as an example to everyone. I could go on an on about all the lessons she taught me but this post would never end. I will be eternally grateful that she was the best model of living the gospel that I have ever met. She made everyone of her kids feel like they were her favorite. Some of my favorite memories are when she would take us out to toilet paper during our sleepover parties. She was definitely the life of the party. I also remember her picking up me and some friends from a party one weekend. We were taking Tara home and she wouldn't stop talking. Mom kept threatening to leave her and finally started to pull away. Tara jumped in front of the car. Mom slowly (like 1 mile an hour) pulled forward and bumped Tara with the car. Tara fell on the hood of the car so my mom wouldn't leave her. Tara was laughing thinking she had outsmarted my mom. Instead my mom pulled backward making Tara roll off the front of the car. One of the boys in the car kept looking at my mom like she was crazy. The rest of us were laughing including Tara. We finally got Tara in the car and after dropping everyone off my mom said, "I hope you weren't planning on dating that guy because I ruined those chances." I wouldn't have given up that memory for a date with any guy. Even after all these years I still think about her all the time and see so much of her in myself and my kids. Happy Birthday Mom! Love you! Feel free to share you favorite memory of my mom.
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14 comments:
oh i LOVED your mom! she was a teacher of mine at church for awhile. she was always happy and smiling and i am so grateful for the wonderful person she was and the great daughter she raised :)
That's a special post. Even though I never met your Mom, I know she was a wonderful person because YOU are a wonderful person. Those memories you have are so special.
I too loved your mom. I LOVED the sleep overs at your house because she would take us toilet papering, and I remember always feeling like I was wanted to be there.
I hope that you are doing well, and thank you so much for being you, and for letting me know you are there when not everyone gets it.
OMG. Where to BEGIN on the wonderful memories of your mom?! Teaching us the "Charleston" as we wore those giant pillow cases in the Robert Taylor talent show. Or just sitting around talking to us like we weren't 5th graders, but instead young ladies with whom she'd LOVE to spend the afternoon. She always had a knack for making everyone feel special. I am eternally blessed for having known her!
You must be a lot like your mom and at a very young age. You have always been someone that makes everyone feel welcome, wanted, and loved. I am sure your girls will say such wonderful things about you one day.
Your mom taught me so many lessons also. She was my first grade teacher, I know - still to this day - I was infact her favorite. I tested that theory twice with her once talking out of turn and the next by walking across the room while she was talking - both times I got detention! I didn't know why she didn't let me get off just because she liked me the best! It was then that she introduced me to you. We were such good friends through elem. school your mom was always so gracious and kind to me. She was so loving. I remember her taking us to go to the Boulder City movie theatre to watch Ghost Busters 2 and leaving us there. I thought that was the coolest thing, that she trusted you enough, we were only like in the 5th grade. I love that everything to her was a teaching opportunity. Kurt climbing out their bedroom window was her teaching us right from wrong. She was hysterical! I loved her. I think about her often and could continue to go on and on the memories that I have of her and your family.I will wrap it up or I could go all day. except...I love that she had no fear she seemed to exemplify strenght. And I LOVED the way she would answer the phone. Her voice always sounded so sweet "HEELLOO", I try to mimic that even today. I would laugh because she would be yelling at the boys the phone would ring, her tone would change and then she would hand the phone off and pick back up once the phone call had ended. Amazing! I look forward to seeing her again.
Where to begin? Your Mom {my second mother} has always held a special place in my heart {and not just because she used to run me over with the car and things like that}. I think half of why I wanted to hang out at your house was to be around your mom--I loved her so! We never had a dull moment when we were together-did we????
If I have to choose just one thing to share it would be the first time I saw your mother without her wig on {mopping the kitchen floor}. My jaw dropped and your mother said {direct quote}"What's the matter? You've never seen a bald head before?" She then proceeded to finish mopping the floor with a smirk on her face.
I never knew what crazy/fun thing she would come up with next!! She had such a zest for life and she saw the humor in everything. Your mother smiled through adversity. She truly taught everyone around her how to be happy amidst the storm. She had such a tremendous impact on my life and I will NEVER forget her.
I am also one of the many who love your Mom. I was lucky enough to have her as my 1st grade teacher, too. My favorite was when she took me to McDonalds for a happy meal, since I was student of the week or month or something. Then she drove her car to the gate by the playground so all the other kids could see us eating in her car & get horribly jealous. One time I anonymously put yellow daffodils in my favorite white purse, filled it with water, then put it on her desk without her looking. The water went all over her papers, and she flipped out demanding to know who did it. NO WAY did I say it was me because I didn't want her mad at me! :) I knew she loved me, too. I also felt like her favorite. What a gift! Happy Birthay Mrs. Hill.
~Holly Bidwell~
Greta...I can't believe how much you look like your mom. Though I don't think I ever met your mom I remember a bit of the pain you went through when she died. When I look back now I really can't believe what a strong person you were for experiencing it with such ease. I know you probably shed a lot of unseen tears but you really held yourself together. Probably just another one of those amazing traits you got from your mother!
Thank you for sharing Greta! We never get these glimpses of your mom out of Tim. The picture was wonderful...I was able to show the boys what Grandma looked like. Can't wait to meet her...although I am sure we know each other already :)
Your mom was the best! Always so positive and cheery. The thing I remember the most was her laugh. It was so contageous. Not long after we moved to Henderson, we were at your house and Jordan who was about 2 at the time was playing with the dog, Junior and her asking your mom why Junior had 5 legs. Your mom laughed so hard- almost as hard as she did the day the neighbor shot the hole in your dad's toupe.
And I also remember the words she used to tell me quite often "Because we're family and families love each other".
And she truly did love her family, all of us unconditionally.
Wow! I am typing while sobbing. I don't know where to start. The licorice fights that would leave us all with huge welts. most parents take it easy on the kids, not Aunt Jeanette, the bigger the welt the better.
Her impression of Yoda with her bald head and stringy hair. Classic.
The way she could kneel down with her feet straight out to the side. BTW she totally taught Ashlee in heaven how to do that and that is how she sits.
The only mom i know that could guzzle a 2 liter mountain dew.
Staying up late talking with all the aunties and thinking we were so cool.
Most of all, I know that you are the person you are today because of her. You are such an amazing mom and wife and I am so proud of you. You have the unique ability to touch peoples lives the way your mom did. I love you GHHHHHHHH. More than my luggage.
I wish I had had more time to spend with your mom, but I'm really glad that we were able to see her as many weekends as we did after we moved to Utah. The things I remember most were her laugh (and she was always laughing) and how happy she made everyone around her. I loved seeing my mom with her, because they were always smiling together. I love that you have that same ready smile and generosity of spirit too!
What a special post. I loved reading your memories of your mother. You have your mom's smile...loved the pic of her...and now I can see you got your fun, happy, bubbly personality also from her.
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