My Momma was very generous, loving and caring . . . . 1st noted our "SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP" TRADITION days. . . . .

I lost my Daddy when Jim and I were pretty much just getting our little family started.  Daddy died at the age of 53 in 1970 when our second born was only 5 months old.  I tried to help fill the gap left by my father's passing for my Momma because she still had two preteens left at home to raise.  I made sure Momma had me at her beck-n-call whenever for whatever because I did not want her to be lonely.  In a way I believe that that is how and why my Momma became such a focal point for my children.  She was included in everything and she came willingly and contributed greatly.  I remember when our first born left for college.  I was so homesick for her and when I expressed it several times to Momma she said, "Then why don't we fly up and visit her?"  That was the start of a great yearly TRADITION of going to Utah and getting the college aged kids one new outfit for school every October. We named the trip "The Shop 'Til You Drop" trip.  It was continued for so many years that pretty soon Momma was including all the great-grand's who couldn't be left behind while their parents came with us.  So many, many fun memories or after shopping fashion shows.  Momma paid for the airfare, rental cars, hotel, food and new clothing for all school aged that attended each year.