from

Gleisberg Girls

From Elizabeth Lee:

I miss my Mom. Finding the words to truly express the gifts she provided while she was with us and the power of her love that lives beyond her physical passing is near to impossible. I will still try to succinctly and passionately relay her magnificence. As I formulated my thoughts to write this I decided to write about Mom’s final two days. There were so many events that unfolded during those two days of important spiritual meaning that in sharing them I hope it will strengthen the readers faith in the idea that there is a power greater then ours in the universe and that fate and destiny do exist.

In preparing to write this I found so many beautiful words (not my own) to express some of my feelings. We all know this but let me reiterate: There is no greater love than a mothers love!

My Mother's Love

Her love was like an island
In life's ocean, vast and wide
A peaceful, quiet shelter
From the wind, the rain, the tide.
It was bound on the north by Hope,
By Patience on the West,
By tender Counsel on the South
And on the East by Rest.
Above it like a beacon light
Shine Faith, and Truth, and Prayer;
And thro' the changing scenes of life
I found a haven there.

Continue reading Elizabeth’s beautiful tribute to her mother by clicking here

From Ashley:

No words can describe how much I miss my Grandmother, Mimi. She was a young woman and everything happened too quickly the day she left us. I remember waking up when my Aunt Cathy told me she had fallen. It wasn't until after the ambulance arrived and I saw my cousin, Cassie, crying that I realized this was really happening. I keep asking myself why?

Mimi was courageous, strong, young and vibrant. She was caring, loving and the best Grandma I knew. I miss her and love her sooooo much.

I will never forget our great times we spent together like all of the holidays and family gatherings. I never thought that last Christmas, New Years, family reunion or my last birthday would be the last with her. I never thought the last time we went swimming or sang together, talked on the phone, rode in the car or all those day to day things we did would be our last .I never would have thought that when I went to bed that night it would be the last time she would ever tuck me in again and kiss me goodnight.

Is totally unbelievable. She was laughing and having such a great time with all of us the night before. She was just fine. This is so unexpected and I don't understand how this happened so quickly. It has made such a huge impact on our lives.

All of this year has been an eye opener to all that can go wrong with our losing Pepper, Poppy and now Mimi. Mimi would want all of us to be having a good time so I am dedicating this song to everyone who reads this. Mimi would have wanted us to hear these words and really think about our lives.

I love you Mimi!
Ashley

Live It

Well you can
Live it hard and live it fast
Live it slow and make it last
Live it like you did yesterday
Or live it in a brand new way
Live it bold or live it shy
Live it any way you like
Just live it man

Well you can
Live it up or live it down
In a country or in a town
Live it way out on the coast
Or live it where you like it most
Live it in the northern lights
Live it where the seagulls fly
Just live it man

Don’t you know they were all running
Slowing out of time
You’ve got yours
And I got mine
Don’t you know that love is all we
Really need to do
So love the ones
That love you too

Well you can
Live it right there in your house
With your family on the couch
Walk in singing in your door
Kids are dancing on the floor
Wake the neighbors in the night
Live it anyway you like
Just live it man

Don’t you know they were all running
Slowing out of time
You’ve got yours
And I got mine
Don’t you know that love is all we
Really need to do
So love the ones
That love you too

Well you can live it nobody will
Live it like you can’t stand still
Live it like its your last chance
Live it like its your last dance
Live it anyway you can
Live it like you give a damn
Just live it man
Before you die

From Cathy:

Dear Mom,

I never dreamed you be gone so soon especially so soon after Andy passed away. At the drop of a tear you were gone. You and I became so much closer during Andrews's illness. We spent nearly 10 hours every day by his side at the hospital, our "second" home. I wish it could have been different and Andy's illness wasn't so prolonged. I admire your decision to bring him home while he passed gracefully surrounded by those he loved. Thanks for helping me to be strong during through all those tough times. It was hard on both of us but we were there for him like you were always there for me. Thank you for all the years of unconditional love and for practicing "tough love" before it was ever came into style.

I know you were excited about attending the Kathy Mattea concert with the rest of the family. You had taken me so many times to the annual Fanfair event in Nashville so I could get my "Mattea" fix. Because of your support I got to meet and get to know Kathy. You had planned a magical night for the entire family (12 of us) to get together near your old hometown in Georgia and see her perform. You passed away unexpectedly just a few days before. We attended anyway. We knew you would want that and that you would be there in spirit. She dedicated the song "Time Passes By" to you and afterwards we met and talked with her about how much you were missed. Kathy complimented your strength and for being so high spirited. She said she would always admire your courage.

You were a very, very special Mom to be the Mom of a special needs person like me. You did everything right.

Mom you are missed. You taught me well. I know I will be all right because I know you will be watching over me.

Thank you for all the beautiful memories.

I love you so much.

Cathy

Time Passes By

Dreams drift away like leaves on the water
They roll down the river and slip out of sight
Too many times we do what we ought to
Put off till tomorrow what we'd really rather do tonight
And later realize

Time passes by people pass on
At the drop of a tear they're gone
Let's do what we dare do what we like
And love while we're here before time passes by

Thoughts are like pennies we keep in out pockets
They're never worth nothing till we give them away
Love's like a promise in an unopened letter
Where nights full of pleasure seldom see the light of day
When life gets in the way

Time passes by people pass on...
Time passes by people pass on...

From Cindy:

Dear Mom,

I feel like I'm back in Europe and you are so far away at home in Shalimar.  I so wish that were true. Like then, I can't call you whenever I want. I can't go see you and give you a hug. So many times, already, I've wanted to reach for the phone to tell you about a joy in our lives like a great report card for Katie or a victory on the court for Cassie or to ask your opinion on a decision I had to make. You've been the loudest and most frequent cheerleader for me and for my children.  We all love you.

Although I told you when you were here with us, I want to publicly thank you for so many things:

Thank you for a wonderful life.  Thank you for raising me as part of a loving, compassionate family where everyone was devoted to one another and to the family as a whole. 

Thank you for reading Beezus and Ramona, Ellen Tebbits, and The World's Greatest Fairytales to Lee, Cathy and I as we all cuddled on the twin bed together.  You shared your passion for reading and I caught that passion and it has served me well.

Thank you for finding humor in my actions when you could have been angry.  I was always inquisitive as a child and I distinctly remember my attempt to make green die from acorns that fell from the oak tree in our front yard.  I placed all the acorns in a bowl with enough water to make them float and hid it the bowl in the hall closet.  I promptly forgot about the whole project until you discovered it, complete with mold, worms and other organic creations. The water was just dirty....not green like I had hoped. Rather than be mad about the smell and the mess, you introduced me to food coloring as an inexpensive and easy way to make green water.

Thank you for sharing your joy of music. Back before portable CD players and even portable transistor radios, we had music on every road trip. You'd sing silly songs with us, show us the hand motions that went with the songs and listen to us croon way off-key and loudly.  But, looked like you enjoyed every minute of it. 

Thank you for teaching me to dance.  Long before I ever thought about cuddling up next to a boy to dance, you showed me how to hold my arms, shift my balance from foot to foot and glide across the floor in synch with my partner.  You helped me figure out the beat to each type of music and move my body in time with the beat. Because of your patience and enthusiasm, I was never embarrassed at a school dance or social functions as I grew older. My only regret is that you were such a good partner that I've never found a man who could lead as well. 

You shared the same passion for dancing with your grandchildren. Just last winter, we spent a wonderful afternoon by the player piano and you showed Cassie how to polka.  You even got Andy up and moving to the music. It was a beautiful experience I will never forget. Just last August; we went dancing at the VFW in Daleville. I've seldom seen you happier.

Thank you for being the "Popsicle Lady". You made Jell-O Popsicles and sold them to make spending money to do fun things with us.  All the kids in the neighborhood were crazy about those Popsicles and jealous because Lee, Cathy and I got ours for free.  It was one of the things you did that made us leaders amongst the kids at McCoy.

Thank you for setting me up for success by stressing the importance of education.  I never even considered going to work after high school without going to college. Through education, my life has been easier financially and physically.  I appreciate you teaching me to love learning.  Now that I'm retired from the Army, I plan to become a teacher and share that passion with tomorrow's officers, nurses, lawyers and computer technicians.  Please know that, when I'm finally in a classroom, you will be there with me.

Thank you for the thought you always put into our gifts. As we have aged, I've tried to provide grander, more luxurious gifts to everyone. You always gave us things that had far more value than money. Some of the simplest gifts touched me the most.  The year after I bought a bread maker, knowing my passion for bread, you gave me a basket full of mixes.  You knew me well enough to know that, although I loved making the bread, I was too disorganized most of the time to remember to buy the supplies.  When I complained about my can-opener, you gave me a new one just like yours. When Dad was stationed in Goose Bay, Labrador and had to be away for my 8th or 9th birthday, you gave me a wallet with a picture of him in it.  Just last year, you gave Lee and I a movie from our childhood that has never been released on VHS or DVD.  You always worked your magic to touch our hearts with your simple gifts.

Thank you for showing me the value of money, the rewards for working hard and selflessness.  I remember one year you worked three jobs. You were an Avon lady; you delivered Yellow Pages, and worked in a telephone service center.  You used the money you earned to send Lee to cheerleader camp at Rollins College, me to Girl Scout Camp and Cathy to Camp Challenge.  That one-week of my childhood has always been special and made most memorable by the sacrifice you made to enable me to go.

Thank you for helping me to not miss home so much during my first summer off at college. The other students and I had an informal contest to see who got the most mail from home. When I told you about it, you started sending me one or two cards EVERY day. They were funny cards, mostly with Ziggy on them, and, in them, you told me about your day or told me a joke, and stuck in a piece of gum or a cartoon clipping. I won the contest hands-down because of you. The best prize though was knowing how much you loved me and feeling so much more blessed than my classmates because of your devotion.

Thank you for supporting my career.  Throughout too much of it, I was single and alone or a single parent.  In both those roles, I needed someone to come to wherever I was stationed and help me when the job demanded so much time that I couldn't care for my home, my children, my pets or even myself.  You always came.  You frequently told me how proud you were of my accomplishments in the Army.  You were proud of my service and my following in the military family tradition. I took pride in your pride.  I am so grateful that I was able to have you by my side at my retirement ceremony and luncheon.  I want to thank you for all you did to make that day so very special.  

Thank you for being the world's best grandmother.  I know it sounds cliché but I don't know anyone that is better in that role than you were. You didn't spoil your grandchildren but they all know how much you loved them.  Like Lee, Cathy and I, you showed them love with the right balance of discipline and latitude.  You taught them to make a mess in the kitchen at a very early age.  You taught them to sing the same silly songs you taught me.  You invented the Great Pumpkin "candy for gifts" idea so Lee and I could take some of the Halloween sweets from the girls without them feeling cheated.  You arranged for Santa Claus to pay them a personal visit at your house.  You drove two hours each way in the same day to attend a 30-minute presentation on "Grandparent's Day" or a play at the girls' schools or to see a soccer or basketball game.    

I could go on and on with pleasant memories you have filled my life with but I won't.  Instead, I want to close by thanking you for raising me in Christianity. You sent me to Sunday School as a child, attended services on special occasions, but the best thing you did was pray with me each night.  When I finally lived close enough to you, you came to visit me in Enterprise and attended my church, sharing a hymnal with me or the girls and showing the joy you had in your heart when we sang the old time gospel hymns. During my darkest times, you reminded me that it's often hard to understand why God lets bad things happen to good people. You let me know that it's normal to be angry but, in the end, it's the free will of others that allows them to hurt us and our own free will that makes us who we are.  Throughout your life, you exercised your free will and made choices that molded your character and, thus, molded mine.  You were a woman of grand independence and I admired you.  

Mom, you always hated to say good-bye even we'd plan to see each other again in a week or two. Every time we drove away from your house, rain or shine, hot or cold, you’d stand in the driveway and wave to us.  Others at the house would join you or not, but you ALWAYS stood there to see us off. It's time for us to see you off. We don't want to but God has called you home, to his house, to a place of honor and glory and happiness beyond any joy you can find on earth. I know I will see you again and, since you like old movies and musicals, until I can hug you again, I say, "Happy Trails".

Love.....always,

Cindy

From Katie:

Hey everyone! I just wanted to write to you all and thank you for everything you have done to help me and my family through these hard times. Everyday I think about what has happened, but I try to keep good thoughts. I got my report card today and I got all A's. My violin lessons are getting tricky , but I am sticking with it. I saw Taz recently. He has been staying with my dad so the big dogs here don't pick on him. Believe it or not he is growing hair and using his bad leg more and more each day. With a stool he can jump on my bed. Now he plays everyday not just once a week.I am signing up for a bunch of church activities. I wasn't going to go to winter retreat because I can't ski any more , but I can sled. Also, it is not Germany just Tennessee. I can probably re-pick it up.Anyway, thank you all once again. I could not get though this without you.
Love,
Katie