How do you say "Good Bye"?

I have been blessed to have not only a wonderful mother, but a dear mother-in-law. I am so thankful that my mother is still alive, but my sweet mother-in-law left us Tuesday morning, very peacefully, at the age ot 92.


She was a part of the "Greatest Generation" having watched her husband go off to WWII for four years in the Pacific.
I wish you could have known her.....

She was a wonderful gardener - her green thumb was reknown!

She gave me these hydrangeas which will probably be deep blue by next week.
These hostas came from her yard and they have multiplied so much that I can't even count them.

She gave me these shasta daisies from our pastor - we think they were holy, and that's why they are so beautiful! They'll be in full bloom in another two weeks.

She was a beautiful artist...these are just a few of her many paintings.

She was a talented seamstress and quilter...just one of many quilts that she made

She was a sports nut.....especially for Kentucky basketball!
She was an avid bridge player and an amazing crossword puzzle worker!


I wish you could have known her.


In some ways we were very different, but in some ways we were two "peas in a pod". In fact, her daughter said that her mom and I were more alike than she and her mom.


She taught me so many things.....like cake decorating. (We started a business - I baked the multi-layer wedding cakes and she decorated them. I told the story of one of our wedding cakes sliding into the spare tire in the trunk as we were en route to a wedding at a very nice country club. No problem, we traveled with extra icing!)


...and quilting...I pieced together a quilt and she quilted it, and now her grandchildren and great-grandchildren enjoy it on picnics.


...and doll making....We made exquisite cloth dolls (from an old antique pattern that she had) with bonnets and southern clothing and actually sold them in a major department store in our city, as well as some small shops.


....and gardening....She taught me gardening by example. She gave me cuttings and I watched her prepare a "dollar" hole for a "nickel" plant. We joked that she could put a plant in concrete and it would grow.


She gave me grace and love.......
She walked with me through a very difficult time in our lives and never let go of my hand.

I wish you could have known her.

This painting of hers is probably our favorite. It sums up her life. She loved the Lord, she loved her family, and she loved her neighbor - as herself.



This quilt will lay across her casket tomorrow at noon. It was made by her grandmother for Aline's wedding day. Ironically, tomorrow would have been her 72nd wedding anniversary. How wonderful to know she is in Heaven and she has already seen her beloved husband.
I wish you could have known her. You would have liked her. Everybody did.
May you be so blessed to have people like Aline in your lives. May you be reminded to love them well. Blessings.......Linda