Mother’s Day Album of Mothers

Mother’s Day, May 14, 2023.
I’m sitting next to my mother’s bed; she is dying. I love you, mom.

Hospice and mom’s care team are guiding my family through mom’s final journey on this earth. It is a time to reflect on her strengths, remember her antics and recall a story or two.

Mother’s Day 2005

Eighteen years ago, I had 4 teenaged boys at home AND I totally forgot to send my mother a Mother’s Day gift. Yes, I was busy with my oldest graduating from high school, planning the first Eagle Scout Award ceremony of our family, volunteering, gardening, chauffering and rebuilding our house. (We had a functioning kitchen complete with plywood floors, mish-mash recycled cabinets and a garage shelf as a work space.)

Even though I was well aware that my mother’s Love Language was Receiving Gifts, I simply forgot.

On Mother’s Day, I called her on the phone and explained my obvious error. I promised that I would make it up to her. Once a month for the next year, I would sent her a belated Mother’s Day gift.

Album of Mothers

The Mother’s Day Album of Mothers was a perfect combination of  surprising mom each month, honoring the women in our lives and creating a lasting keepsake. A few days after Mother’s Day, I mailed a small, navy blue 5 x 7 scrapbook album to mom. The clear pockets were ready to receive each month’s gift of a new page.

Instead of a Table of contents, I fashioned a listing of my mother’s mothers (that I knew at that time). Each pocket page held a photograph featuring one of my mother’s mothers.

My Mother

Marilynn (Gentzkow) Norenberg and me, Fargo ND, 1959

My Mother’s Mother

Gentzkow Family (location and date unknown): Frank Sr., Frank Jr., Kathryn, David, Loretta, Marilynn, Gert (Rector)

My Mother’s Mother’s Mother

Rector Family, Harper County OK, about 1915¹Rector Family circa 1915. Original owned by the late Mildred Rector Johnson. Photographic copy made by Karrie Blees, June 1987.
Mildred, Gillison, Dorithy, Pettris (Garnett) and F. Gert Rector

The List of  Mothers Known Today

• Florence Gertrude “Gert” (Rector) Gentzkow
• Mae Pettris “Pettris” (Garnett) Rector
• Dolly (Pile) Garnett
• Elizabeth Ann (Flowers) Pile
• Juriah (Cox) Flowers
• Keziah (Lee) Cox
• Anne “Nancy” (Nowell/Noel) Lee

May 16, 2023
I’m sitting next to my mom’s bed; she’s gone from this earth. I love you, mom

SOURCES

• 1
  Rector Family circa 1915. Original owned by the late Mildred Rector Johnson. Photographic copy made by Karrie Blees, June 1987.