Thursday, November 29, 2012

O-bla-di, o-bla-da, life goes on, brah!... La la how the life goes on... O-bla-di, o-bla-da, life goes on, brah!... Lala how the life goes on. ~ The Beatles

A while back, my friend Linda sent balm in the form of a note.  She wrote, "I felt like the world had gone out of kilter when my mother died."  


Out of kilter. Yeah, that's how I've felt. I miss my mom.


I'm not going to pretend everything was hearts and roses between us. It wasn't, but still...

She'd sometimes, in an angry tone, tell me I looked just like her mother.

Sometimes on bad days she thought I was her mother.

 Mothers and daughters. *Sigh*

For my part, I didn't make it easy on her in my teen years, spitefully ringing Hell's bells.

But God...slipped in, changing the tone, changing history, changing everything. We learn to honor and bless. We did our best, she and I.  Grace. 

My own girl will be here in a few weeks with her fat and sassy baby girl.  Mothers and daughters.  It is good.  La la how the life goes on...



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24 comments:

  1. KimNovember 29, 2012 at 8:40 PM

    Out of kilter.....I suppose many understand exactly what you mean. Praying for you and wishing you many sweet memories with your girls in the next few weeks to come. Just so you know....you have helped me and many more I am sure, while we have been out of kilter on more than one occasion. Grace indeed.

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  2. JodiNovember 29, 2012 at 8:42 PM

    Thank you kindly, Kim.

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  3. amyNovember 29, 2012 at 9:07 PM

    oh yes. this is so good. i love you. have an amazing time with those kids. my sister is coming back from nz in two days. {maybe they will be on the same plane?} :) haven't we already been through this?

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  4. It's Just DottieNovember 29, 2012 at 9:09 PM

    Sweet wishes,hugs and kisses to you. Dottie

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  5. JodiNovember 29, 2012 at 9:09 PM

    Amy, I can't wait to hear about your trip to NZ. I do hope you get there.

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  6. KitNovember 29, 2012 at 9:47 PM

    oh Jodi, it's great to hear your thoughts again. I am so glad that our Father brought grace to your lives. You have been in my prayers lots of times in the last weeks. SOO glad you are going to have your daughter and granddaughter to hug and smooch and squeeze very soon.

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  7. Thickethouse.wordpressNovember 30, 2012 at 12:03 AM

    It took me two years to really recover from the worst of grieving after my mother's death and it overlapped into the beginning of Paul's Alzheimer's.....So deal kindly with yourself...That out of kilter feeling is the normal one, I think...What a blessing that you were able to find Grace in your relationship and I'm sure you have lots of great memories. And how wonderful that your daughter and granddaughter are coming to visit.....I probably won't see my Emily, Sofia and Clara until March. This time is a good time for a family to come together.....Keeping you all in my prayers.

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  8. monixNovember 30, 2012 at 2:52 AM

    What better medicine for healing hurts and grief than to be with your lovely daughter and grandaughter. Have a wonderful time together.

    Maureen xx

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  9. NancyNovember 30, 2012 at 9:24 AM

    I read this on my phone last night and tried to comment but, alas, I'm not nearly as tech-savvy as I like to think I am.

    This post just drips grace, Jodi. Drink up the gift of your baby girl. And her baby girl.

    Love you. xoxox

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  10. Come Away With MeNovember 30, 2012 at 11:50 PM

    It's so good to see you back here Jodi. O-bla-di, o-bla-da! So much life, so many memories; I'm glad God stepped in.

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  11. LeslieDecember 1, 2012 at 9:21 AM

    grace and peace to you, friend.

    this brought tears to my eyes...

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  12. Kim HylandDecember 1, 2012 at 10:03 AM

    Love this, Jodi. But I'm sorry for your loss. I thank God for love and grace . . especially when it comes to moms and daughters. XO

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  13. Quotidian LifeDecember 1, 2012 at 11:56 AM

    Jodi, thank you for these thoughts. My mother is still living but these thoughts on mothers and daughters (my oldest is coming for Christmas too) resonated with me. I've read your post twice now, at two different times, and I think I'll save it--and and ask God to fill me with his love and grace in the coming days.

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  14. tamarahillmurphy.comDecember 1, 2012 at 5:46 PM

    I'm so grateful to visit you today, Jodi! May God bless you and your grieving heart this season.

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  15. SusanDecember 3, 2012 at 1:14 AM

    Glad to see a post from you - Also so thankful for the love and grace of God. Have a wonderful visit with your family. What a blessing to have them close by for a bit.

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  16. MelissaDecember 3, 2012 at 9:24 AM

    True and open-hearted words plus beautiful pictures. Thank you, Dearest Jodi. This visit has blessed me, and challenged me to walk in love and grace and honesty. And, for icing on the cake, the pictures from your home are delicious!

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  17. Southern GalDecember 3, 2012 at 8:15 PM

    Ah, you've said it well, Jodi. Mothers and daughters don't realize how much they need each other sometimes. I remember when my grandmother died. My mama mourned so. Sometimes she would just let the tears flow and say, "I want my mama." It broke my heart because I know how much I need my mama in my life. Blessings to you, sweet friend.

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  18. OliviaDecember 4, 2012 at 9:48 AM

    Beautiful! Each word and picture... your house looks most wonderfully comfortable and festive. Makes me want to visit. ;)

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  19. AqeelaDecember 4, 2012 at 6:27 PM

    'But God slipped in, changing the tone' - i love that, its so true, before i became Muslim i didn't believe in God and then when I realised he is there, he definitely changed the tone of my life.
    Loved reading your post title too, you must smile thinking how everyone who read that probably sang it in their heads and smiled too. xx

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  20. Janie FoxDecember 5, 2012 at 12:11 PM

    Praying for you and your daughter and the sweet baby. Life is grand even when it is bumpy. I still have my mom and I feel blessed. My daughters are some of my favorite people.
    On another note.I wanna Christmas tour of your house. Your pics are teasers and I just know I would love it there!

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  21. AnonymousDecember 8, 2012 at 8:53 AM

    Love how you put all this, Jodi.
    Love how grace coaxes us to yield to love, and Somehow the door stays open and then we can grieve without bitter regrets.
    It's still hard, but it's beautiful and sacred and in the end less of a loss. Thank you for yielding (and for encouraging me to do the same.) Life does "go on" in your relationships with your children and theirs and we lucky few.

    Joan<3

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  22. angelinaDecember 8, 2012 at 10:52 AM

    enjoy that daughter of yours.
    i am finally reunited with mine :)
    happy holidays to you and yours jodi, i sent you an email, did you receive?
    angela

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  23. angelinaDecember 17, 2012 at 8:28 PM

    Did my comment go thru? Contraptions! Did you get the second email? ;)

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  24. Connie SmileyFebruary 4, 2013 at 2:34 PM

    Oh, how wonderful! It's so true, how God changes everything.

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