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Memorial Day Memories

Memorial Weekend holds a special place for most of us.  At one time or another, we have had a loved one, someone dear to us pass away and leave a void in our lives.  today we celebrate their lives by visiting their graves.  BBQ's have become a tradition which I think is great!

Today I want to celebrate the lives of 
my older brother and my parents!
These 2 telegrams dated 1955 will explain about my 
brother Floyd Langston Gividen.  
The telegrams were sent from my Dad to my Aunt.


 Date: Sept 25, 1955

Second telegram dated: October 22, 1955
Less than a month later.
Floyd was born with a heart defect which can be fixed now.  
But back in the '50s 
all my parents could do was watch him slowly die.  My mother told me that whenever she thought of Floyd, she pictured him as a man...  Except when she would visit his grave, 
then he was that tiny little helpless baby once again.

Today I also want to celebrate my parents.
This is a repost from last September...

An Amazing Love Story

The following true love story I am sharing with you is tender to my heart and one that I deeply cherish. I hope you will read as such.

Today (September 29, 2010) marks the 7th year anniversary  since both my parents passed away.  My Dad had been fighting cancer for several months.  Early in the morning on September 29, 2003, he was not doing well, Mom called the ambulance and just after arriving at the hospital, he had a massive heart attack and passed away.  When the nurse told my Mother that her husband of 55 years had just died, she said in a peaceful and calm way, “I’m going to miss that man.”  A few minutes later, she also had a massive heart attack and passed away.  I was already on my way to the hospital, so when I got there the news that came was unimaginable.  Two of the most important people in my life were no longer there…they had always been there, but now they were gone.



My family has always been close.  We visited my parents several times a week and my children usually spent Friday’s at their home helping them with chores and earning money.  They would spend the night and then Saturday morning, Dad and Mom would take my kids yard sale-ing and they would spend all the money they had earned! It was a wonderful relationship.

Two weeks after my parent’s funeral, the home they lived in, the same one that I had spent my entire childhood and teen age years in had been sold to total strangers. Within the next two weeks, everything had been sorted, divided among my siblings and I and the house was empty and no longer a place I could go for love and security.  Within a month’s time, I had so-to-speak become orphaned and homeless.
By now, you might be asking , ‘how can such a tragic event be an amazing love story’… I would like to share with you the rest of the story…

  • The day before passing away, my parents had celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary.  I have the card my Dad had given to my Mom on that occasion… the message he had written in it was so full of a deep and abiding love.  They had spent 55 years in the thick and thin of living life together, raising 6 children, burying  1 son, and so many of the day to day things that we all experience…they determined to love and serve.
  • They were both buried on what would have been my Dad’s 79th birthday.  He came into the world alone, but he left  79 years later with the woman he loved.
  • Whenever my Mom would leave for her annual visit to her sister that lived in another state my Dad’s comment was always the same…”There’s no life without the Wife.”  On the other hand, I had heard my Mom say on several occasions, “If Harold dies before I do, I’m just going to slip my hand in his hip pocket and tag along.



In a way, it is very romantic.  Two people so much in love both dying of a broken heart within 10 minutes of each other.  They were amazing parents…not perfect, but ‘they did their best and loved much.’ We all shared in that love so it was tragic to lose them both at the same time.  But, also consider the peace we feel knowing they are together and happy!
Thank you for taking time to share with me this important anniversary day!

Today our family is hoping it will stop raining long enough to have a BBQ and roast marshmallows....What are you doing to celebrate Memorial Weekend?




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26 comments:

  1. I cry when I read this each time. I have such a soft spot in my heart for them and I will always miss them.
    Thank you again for sharing this! :)

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  2. Holy cow. Now I've got tears running down my face. Wow. So much love in your family, and in the midst of that loss there was still so much togetherness.

    *Sniff* I need a tissue
    Sharon
    www.sharon-moms-madhouse.com

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  3. Becky Jane that is an absolutely beautiful loving story. It gave me goosebumps! We should all hope to find a love like your parents shared. What a wonderful legacy they've passed on to your family. I am confident that your parents are holding hands and smiling knowing that you are sharing their story with strangers (like me).

    Thank you so much...this post made me smile :-)

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  4. Celeste...hoping we can all continue on with the great legacy they gave us! You are such a cool niece!

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  5. x6 and Stacey...I think I went through several boxes of tissue when i wrote it!

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  6. Oh, Ms. Becky Jane....this is truly amazing!!! All the dates and times and...well, just WOW! I can't even begin to imagine the grief, but knowing they are together in heaven....what a blessing!!! Sooooooo glad we found each other in blog land! You are truly a blessing to me!!!

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  7. What a sweet story about your parents. I think that is so special when a couple passes away like that. It would have been sad for the other to be left behind.
    So sorry about your brother. That must have been so hard for them.

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  8. That is truly a love story. Thank you so much for sharing these special people with us. Hope you have a great day!

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  9. A Lovely and touching love story! and such a closely knitted family you are. Happy Memorial weekend to you.

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  10. What a sorrow to loose a baby so young. Your parents were incredible people.

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  11. Beautiful story. Thanks for sharing that! My kids and I went on the Duck tour of Boston today. And we visited the Museum of Science. Lots of fun!

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  12. Oh Becky, this is such a beautiful post. Thank you so much for sharing this. Your story brought tears to my eyes.

    Have a nice day!

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  13. Becky Jane, thank you for opening a bit of your heart and allowing us a look inside. Reading this beautiful love story between your parents helps to explain the gentle loving spirit I see in you. I feel absolutely honored to know this one small snapshot of a couple of amazing people, and look forward to getting to know you better:-)

    ~RJ, the HOPE Coach
    http://jrrsehopecoaching.com

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  14. What a blessing for me to read of such love and devotion. Though the loss was double for you how awesome it was that even in death their unity was not broken. You my friend were a blessed one to experience such love of a man and a woman. What an awesome testimony of true love! To experience this depth of love wow what an uncommon pearl to be found! Thanks for sharing Becky Jane....it graced my morning with a sweetness that only a love as your parents can impart into the heart of another! hugs

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  15. What a wonderful story of lives shared in love. Hope you were able to have your BBQ, we had ours inside because it was so hot!

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  16. Wow!!! Becky awesome post. Memories are truly a keepsake. Hope you had a wonderful weekend:)
    Many blessings,
    Barbara
    Espanol para Ninos

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  17. Beautiful!!! Thank you for sharing this, so beautiful! It must have been so hard for you yet somewhat touching. I'm speechless, really great! Thanks!

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  18. What an amazing love story for sure. I am so sorry that you lost both of your parents on the same day. However, it must bring you comfort to know that they are together in eternity. Thank you so much for sharing.

    visiting you from VoiceBoks!~Lisa
    I am all a twitter about life
    Find Me on Twitter

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  19. Thanks to all of you for your hugs and sweet comments...♥♥♥

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  20. What a lovely post! Such a beautiful love story, thanks for sharing and for helping me live memorial day from within.
    Hope you have a wonderful week
    Lolo

    Visiting from VB
    detodounlolo.blogspot.com

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  21. Oh, Becky. I'm in tears reading this! What a beautiful story of love and commitment. It is truly inspiring...date night!
    Gina from vB
    www.totallyfullofit.com

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  22. What a beautiful tribute to your parents! It truly is possible to die of a broken heart. Thank you for sharing this with us. It must have been hard.
    Nena @ Naturally Nena

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  23. What a beautiful and loving tribute.
    I've often told my children that if their father should pass through the veil before I do, that I hope to die instantly from grief and overwhelming joy, so that I can go back home with him.

    BTW - When and where was Bogie married? I ask, because his bride(actually mostly her dress), looks sooooo familiar. I saw several newly weds last June, at Bountiful, Draper, Salt Lake, and Jordan River.

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  24. I many have seen a couple in Denver too:-)

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  25. Isn't it wonderful to have a Godly heritage, Becky. I can tell, your parents were wonderful. I cannot imagine the agony they must have felt, having to watch their baby pass away. I know their faith in God kept them strong! Your family blesses me!
    ~Erin

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