Hello all!
Just a quick word to let you know that while we are all so very sad, we are okay. God is good, all the time, and even in our sadness and pain, we see glimpses of his grace and mercy.
My dad will be in Yuma, Arizona until the autopsy is finished. My Aunt Marva is flying to Arizona tomorrow morning so daddy doesn't have to be by himself. She will ride back to Arkansas with him. He was told the autopsy could possibly be finished by Monday. At this point, we have no idea as far as the day for a visitation or funeral, but I know that everything will be in Stuttgart through Turpin.
I don't know who all reads this blog, but I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to hear any special memories that ANY of the readers have of my mom. Please, comment or email me. Honestly, it would mean the world to me, and I will share them with my daddy later. I know he would love it, too. If you don't know how to comment, go to this previous post (read to the end) and hopefully you can figure it out. My email is leahsmith8980@yahoo.com.
We will keep you posted as we know more. Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Memories of My Mom
Posted by Leah at 10:23 PM
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12 comments:
Hey Leah! I've been praying for your family and I hope that your Dad makes it back safe and sound from AZ. I think maybe I might your mom at your wedding, but I don't remember. I know she was a wonderful woman and is so happy and healthy in Heaven! Mom and I will definitely be at the funeral and please let me know if you need anything!
Love ya,
Taylor
I am so sad to learn of the news that Janice has passed. I had been watching the blog as close as I could and when I returned from vaction today, it was the first web site I brought up. The trip was so full of hope. She will be greatly missed and I will continue to keep the family in my prayers.
Joe Whitman
What a great lady she was! I felt privileged to be sort of a surrogate mom while you were in Springdale and hope you know I still feel that way. I was able to be around her a few times while you were living here and she always had a smile on her face that was absolutely contagious. I know that she is healthy now and has no more pain. If there is anything you need please don't hesitate to call! Love ya,
Joyce
Leah-
I was so sad to hear about your mom. What a wonderful woman she was! I have the greatest memories of swimming at yall's pool and spending the night all the time. I remember one time i got homesick and your mom let me sleep with her in her bed. She was always like a second mom to me. She was always so happy and fun to be around! We will miss her so much!
Love,
Blaine
Well, my favorite memory was of Roger singing and Janice playing the piano. Roger sounds like Willie Nelson and I loved to hear him sing. Also, I loved them to sang together.
Janice just kept on trying to play in the absence of our regular pianoist...even with her oxygen machine attached. One time, maybe at Christmas, she sang in the choir. The last time she and Roger sang I knew it took all the effort she could muster to have the energy to do it. I loved her determination to continue to serve the Lord no matter what.
I made a special connection to Janice because I had seen my brother, about her age, battle cancer in 2001. He too was a singer and serving the Lord. As I've posted before, I had to wonder what the Lord needed him and now her in heaven, but, of course, He knows best.
Once Janice sent me the sweetest card after something I had been responsible for in church telling me how much she appreciated what had been done. Things like that mean so much...just the little things.
Today at church we had a special prayer at the alter for Roger and the family.
You girls should know that Janice was loved at FBC and we will continue to love on Roger as he deals with this loss. Understand that there are not very many in the church that "deal" with computer websites, so that's one of the reasons there aren't many responses from church members.
Eveyone is praying for you all here in Marianna. Please post details as soon as you know them.
Sue Moore
My memories of Janice, I have so many happy memories of Janice. I loved to hear her and Roger sing. That would always bring a smile to my face. As a transplanted citizen of Stuttgart I first met Janice at church and when looking at the people in church I really wanted to get to know Janice. I guess if I had to pick a really fond memory it would be the one of Janice chasing Eric around the parking lot at Park Ave to give him a kiss before sending him off to church camp. She made the move to Stuttgart so much better for me. Please know that Roger is in Lewis and my prayers and that we will miss her so much. Thank you for doing this blog it helped me feel a part of her life.
Hi Leah! I am so sorry to hear about your Mom,I know she is in peace now and is watching over all of those beautiful babies everyday!
I have a memory of your mom, it was the first time I met her at Parkway Place with Judy. She was visiting Little Rock and she had the boys and Jackson was just a little thing,but boy could he move!She just ran and ran after him, they looked like ping pong balls bouncing back and forth from big pool to baby pool and enjoyed every minute of it.
She was a great friend and a wonderful grandma. We are so blessed to have her in Heaven watching over us and taking care of us from the Highest! I loved her for her spirit and heart,something she has graciously shared with her girls.
I am here if there is ever anything I can do to help any of ya'll.
Love,
Jeannie Mitts
Leah, Kara and Rodger,
I'm writing with such a heavy and sad heart, but the strength that you all have shown is an example for all of us who love you. Most of us, if we are lucky, have only a handful of really true friends. Your Mom was in that handful for me and I am honored to have been her friend. We could always just pick up where we left off no matter how long it had been. I will truelly miss her. Our prayers continue for you all!
Love,
Judy
Wow. Leah, Mr. Roger, Kara and the rest of the fam, we are so deeply saddened for your loss right now. I keep going over it in my head, but all I keep coming back to is that, we are sad, but Ms. Janice is not sad right now. Nor is she struggling for breath anymore. We are sad because we are losing a great friend, but she is joyous and completely healed right now in heaven with our savior. She never wanted us to be sad for her. Everytime we would visit, she was SO positive and upbeat. Even in the hospital in Little Rock, she was always smiling and putting on a brave face.
I have so many great memories of Ms. Janice, but the thing that I will carry with me is that she always brightened my day. Even as sick as she was, she always wanted to know how I was and what was going on with me. I loved spending time with her and will truly miss her (as will the rest of my family.) Please let us know what we can do to help.
Well...my favorite memories of Mrs. Janice...are how she always welcomed me into her home and what a wonderful cook she was. She and Mr. Roger always sent me home with some home grown tomatoes!! My favorite! And one summer when Leah had been away at Church Camp, I was following her and Mr. Roger to LR Airport so when I got to their house I was starving! She told me she had my favorite…a cheese and mayo sandwich…yum! Then, as I was following them to LR my air conditioner went out…I thought I was going to have a heat stroke! So Mrs. Janice and Mr. Roger pull over and ask me why my hair is flying all around…I tell them about my AC and I had to roll my windows down in the 110 degree weather and Mrs. Janice says, “Girl, get in this car and you can ride with us to the airport.” She took care of everyone! And how she loved to lay out at the pool. I always thought she was such a cool mom for that. I remember going to the pool in LR with her, Leah and Aunt Judy and the kids. So much fun! Oh…and how Leah always had the BEST scarves that Mrs. Janice had made for her. And I always knew she accepted me for me...never judgmental...always supportive...always gave the perfect advice. I felt like Mrs. Janice was my second mom. I know she is singing a beautiful song in Heaven right now and I know she will be missed here on Earth! My love and prayers to all of her family!
Roger,Kara,and Leah,
We are so sadden by the loss of Janice. Janice was a special person me (Angie) and my family. She will be missed soooo much. I just couldn't believe it when Kara called me Friday night.
If there is anything we can do for ya'll. Please let me know. Janice was a wonderful, loving, and full of love for the Lord. I know she is in her glorifed body with the Lord today. She is not having any troubles anymore. I will miss talking to her and sharing special moments about my kids with her.
Love ya'll lots and forever,
Mark,Angie,Amanda,and Jacob Davis
I didn't know your mother, but had direct evidence of her values. Only faith and family can assuage the anguish of losing one so close, but that doesn't make random internet tributes worthless.
Grief at her passing
Memories of a loved one
Joy, she is with Him!
Andrew Bratcher
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