Maria Garza

I am starting this blog with a sad (yet blessed) note this morning. A worker in our park passed away last Saturday morning. It may sstrange that I would start my blog by the passing of a maintenance worker, but Maria was a very special lady. She and her husband were the children of migrant workers and grew up going North for the growing season every year to earn money for the family. Every family member worked and contributed. Maria was a lady who always had a beautiful smile, a warm hello, and was willing to listen. She and her sister-in-law, Maricela, worked here in the park keeping it sclean and neat. They also worked very hard in the summer keeping the grounds neat, clearing out the lake, what ever was needed and did so without a complaint. The girls also worked on week-ends cleaning trailers here in the park and other parks for extra money. Mary's husband, Lupe, power washed trailers and worked part time  in the park. Together, as parents who wanted better for  their children, they found the means for all 3 of their their children to attend college and get degrees.  Less than a year ago Maria was diagnosed with cancer on her tongue - after further testing it was found that she had cancer elsewhere in her body. Because Maria and Lupe not have insurance, money was raised for her surgery and further treatments by park residents churches, and on face book. Maria had surgery and was just ready to start chemo treatment, when Lupe suffered a heart attack and passed away. Because of their love for their children, she had much family support and started treatments. When it became apparent that the Cancer was terminal Maria stopped treatment and was put into hospice at her daughter's home. Last week our park manager visited with her at which time Maria told her that Lupe was coming soon to get her. She was a wonderful Christian and showed it everyday at her job. It is with great sadness her passing has brought to all of those who loved and knew her, but also a blessing to know that Lupe did indeed come to lead lead her home to the eternal life. Maria (or Mary as we all called her), you will always be in our hearts. She once gave me a very beautiful, colorful Mexican purse to use when  for my keys, phone, coffee cup, whatever when I went to the hall.  Everyday I still use it and think of her with fond memories. We are now just waiting for news of the celebration of her life.

This blog is late this week as Fred and I were both under the weather - really down and out. We both had serious sinus infections - he went to the doctor on Friday for a shot and medication. Me, being who I am, decided to just let my body heal itself. We did almost nothing most of Friday (we did not do our food distribution because of the rain which caused mud issues in the colonias). Again Saturday was spent under a quilt in a chair in the living room, dozing off and on, and watching TV, doing some Bible reading if we could stay alert. Fred was improving, as I was getting worse, a sore throat now appeared for me. Sunday was one of a very few Sundays in many years that we did not attend church. I finally broke down and began taking an antibiotic as my throat was already raw with pain most of the time. Fred fixed me h a hot toddy Sunday night, and I woke up today with NO sore throat.
He claims it was the hot toddy - I believe the antibiotics kicked in - and prayer did certainly do the trick. When our girls were small the begged me not to tell Dad that they were sick - yep- the cure all in our family was his famous hot toddy. I am on the road to recovery and give God all the praise and glory for it (although Fred believes it was his  magic remedy).

I hope everyone Mother's Day was super special for all those mothers, grandmothers, step-mothers, foster mothers, adoptive mothers, mother's of fur babies, and all rest. Mine was super special, even through the illness, because Fred brought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers (he gotthose before he got sick) and all of my daughters called and visited with me. I often think of all the Mothers in the Bible and their feelings of joy and sorrow in raising their children through all of the series of rough times. Eve - the first mother, who had no one to depend on other than Adam, no mother or mid wife to help her through something that she probably did not know or understand, Hannah, who was barren for so long and so much wanted a child, Elizabeth, who at a very very old age bore John the Baptist, Moses' mother who gave him up to save his life, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, who knew she was blessed, and that she was raising Jesus to be be crucified. No matter what our children did growing up, we all know that we would do it over a hundred times just to be able to be called Mother by them, to be proud of them, and love them like a Mama lion. Not everyone was blessed to have a wonderful Mother, but no matter what the situation, she brought you into this world for a purpose - God knew you before you were born and meant for you to be born into whomever you are. No one was an accident or mistake - you were born for a purpose.