Yesterday was my mother’s memorial service in Kansas. I chose not to make the trip. Instead we drove to Mt Rainier National Park and enjoyed a peaceful late summer day remembering how much Mother enjoyed exploring this beautiful country.

Mother suffered from Alzheimer’s for too many of her latter years. As my brother put it, “We lost a very special lady quite a few years back, and she was able to go to her eternal rest August 25, 2010.”

Thank you to the wonderful photographer who posted this picture on Webshots. It’s been a blessing to me this morning. (The picture is linked, so be sure to follow it back to see more of the photographer’s work.)

Generous. Warm. Loving. Gifted. Invariably kind. Always hospitable.

When I remember Mother, I think of wonderfully creative, yet homey, delights. Sugar Easter Egg Dioramas. Cupcake Easter baskets…frosted in white topped with green-tinted shredded coconut and tiny jelly bean eggs. Sugar ice cream cones turned upside-down, frosted green and decorated as edible Christmas trees. Light-as-air baked meringue cups filled with lemon custard. Homemade candles adorned with holly. Handmade felt angels lovingly embroidered to hang on the Christmas tree. Carefully sewn horse-heads to turn candy canes into stick horses. Tiny treasures to delight her children and grandchildren.

I can’t count the number of toys she created when my children were small…from a line of tiny dolls carefully stitched together to hang across the crib to the pterodactyl that guarded my pre-teen son’s room. Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls for my boy / girl twins. A stuffed leopard for my youngest daughter’s first birthday, eliciting a delighted cry of “Bup!”…a name the toy still carries.

Whether she worked in the kitchen to create a treat that would disappear in an instant, or with needle and thread to create a lasting memory, Mother always labored in love. We never doubted that we were precious. She had a gift for making everyone feel worthwhile and worthy, capable of conquering the world.

I have a good friend who had a wretched childhood. “Mother” is a dirty word for her. I mourn for her, for all the love and laughter she missed, for all the things she never experienced that I simply accepted as the way life works. I’ve always known that my parents were the best, but knowing my friend has given me a deeper appreciation of the wonderful couple who brought me into this world. Because of my parents I began my life blessed. Because of my mother I continue to believe I can accomplish anything.

Elizabeth Logan

Elizabeth T. Logan, 96, of Coffeyville, Kansas passed away Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at Windsor Place in Coffeyville.

She was born July 15, 1914 at Dustin, Oklahoma.  Elizabeth grew up in Fairland, OK where she attended school.  After graduating from Fairland High School she attended  and graduated Draughn Business College in Springfield, MO.

On May 25, 1933 she married Ernest Dale Logan at Springfield, MO.  Following their marriage they made their home in the Coffeyville area until 1957, making their home in New York, Pennsylvania, and Tulsa, OK before returning to Coffeyville in 1980.

Elizabeth was a member of the First Christian Church in Coffeyville, Church Women United, and Christian Women’s Fellowship.  She was a homemaker and enjoyed crocheting, quilting, making pine needle baskets and spending time with her family.

Survivors include four sons, Mike Logan and wife Judith of Helena, MT, Phil Logan and wife Beverly of Coca Beach, FL, Jerry Logan and wife Helen of Coffeyville, and John Logan and wife Lana of Branson, MO; one daughter, Debbie Mumford and husband Bill of Vancouver, WA; 20 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one son, Jimmie Dale Logan; and one great-grandson, Timmy Logan.

Services will be at 10:00 a.m., Monday, August 30, 2010 at the First Christian Church in Coffeyville with Rev. Clay Bramble officiating.  Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Coffeyville.

Friends may call on Sunday, August 29, 2010 from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville.  The family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

(writing credit to the staff at David W. Barnes Funeral Home)

Tell you what, when I’m rich and famous and live in such an idyllic spot, I’ll invite you over. ‘K?

Yesterday was my grandson’s 7th birthday. To celebrate, the family indulged in a day at the coast. Grandson had requested a visit to an aquarium, so we spent a delightful morning at the Seaside Aquarium. It’s a small operation, but a perfect introduction to marine life for young children. Grandson and his siblings marveled at the tanks of critters, squealed with delight at the opportunity to touch starfish and anemones in the “touch tanks” and…highlight of the day…forgot their dislike of all things slimy in their excitement to throw tidbits of raw fish to the seals! I don’t know how many times Dad and Grandpa went back to the window to buy more food for the seals, but the kidlets enjoyed tossing every slimy morsel they could get their fingers on. (Fortunately for moms and grammies who worry about such things, the aquarium also had easy-access hand washing available *lol*)

After the aquarium we made our way to Cannon Beach for a lovely picnic lunch, sand castles, kite flying, and frolicking in the warmest water I’ve ever experienced on the Oregon Coast *bliss*

And so…in honor of our day at the beach…I give you a lovely picture (which I did NOT take…click on it to follow it back to its source) of Haystack Rock, the defining feature of Cannon Beach: