A post from Linda Anderson, DeDe’s mom. David, DeDe, Luke and Ryan died in a plane crash on July 7, 2011. Picture below is the four of them on a backpacking trip in 2007.
Mother’s Day has always been special to me and it is because of my children. To watch them grow from day one and meet the challenges in life and conquer their fears. The lessons they taught me, the joy, love and caring they shared is immeasurable. When God made mother’s he blessed the world! My beautiful daughter DeDe was born to be a mother, the most important factors in her life were her boys Luke and Ryan. She devoted her life to guiding them, pushing them ever so gently and supporting their efforts. Her ability to find the perfect father for their sons was an effort she pursued and achieved! He too saw the specialness of this woman, friend and love of his life.
My mother was special to me, besides a mother she was a friend, one that shared so many life experiences. I learned to cook, sew and yes clean from her. I learned about love and discipline, and I learned to go after what I wanted to achieve in my lifetime. I miss her and as she and I shared Mother’s Day and my Birthday once in awhile it made the day even more special.
Last year DeDe gave me a beautiful card on which she wrote that she had a great teacher in me as her mother. The verse was about all the nice things mothers do, helping with the hair for school pictures, being there on the special days, like school graduations or recitals that allows them to share, the planning for the wedding and then the wonderful day when she is there to assist you and share in the arrival of the new birth of their children. Then she hand wrote, “I chose this card because it says what I feel, but I really wanted to get the one that says a Good Mother lets her children lick the frosting from the beaters, but a really Good Mother unplugs the mixer first.”
I will have a wonderful Mother’s Day even though you my special DeDe will not be here physically, but the memories of the times we have shared, the joy you gave me in choosing me for you mother, and the heart full to overflowing with Pride at the lovely woman, friend, daughter and mother you were.
I also want to acknowledge another terrific mother, my daughter-in-law Cheri, who has always shared her love and the love she has for my son Mitch. Together they are raising two children and are doing a great job, and should proudly embrace and give thanks for this wonderful opportunity to be a Mother and Father!
I love you all and am so proud to be your Mom!
Thank you for sharing your Mother’s Day thoughts. Dede was one of the best, and I’m sure she learned it from her mother. You will never stop loving her, being proud of her or missing her, because that’s what Moms do. Happy Mother’s Day to you.
Linda, thank you so much for sharing yourself with us, and for unplugging the mixer. There’s this funny thing in my life, which I may have mentioned before, but DeDe recently taught me how to crack eggs by hitting them together. With this technique you never get shells in your eggs. I eat tons of eggs so it has had a significant impact on my mornings. I treasure that she taught me that, and I think of her every morning, about how my life is improved because of something she taught me, in a very motherly way.
Love David
linda,
i sent you extra love on sunday.
thank you for the post. strangely enough, i had bought my mom the card that dede liked about the beater! when i saw it i got a great laugh and wanted to give that to my mom. maybe dede was working through me when i selected it.
xoxoox