MOTHERS DAY 2015

Sandra and Merle with gift from RM of Frontier
a double flowering plum tree
in memory of grandson Blaine

This was another busy week for us.  On Monday we had to empty everything out of the office to prepare for a new floor being laid on Tuesday.  Clare helped get the desk unit apart and into the kitchen before Steve from the Floor Store arrived in the morning.  We were quite anxious to see what condition the floor was in as there were bumps here and there under the rug.  We were surprised when those bumps had nothing to do with the floor swelling but were actually piles of "dust", all that was left of the rubber underlay from the carpet. That's what happens after 36 years!

So the subfloor didn't need replacing, just a good sweeping up of the remains of the underlay.  The new flooring was down by 3:00 and really transformed the office.  Then it was time to put things back again.  We'll be dealing with "stuff" for a while longer as one bedroom has become a catch all for things we aren't sure what to do with.  Then there are still boxes of Alan's things in the garage that are waiting to be unpacked!

We left for Frontier last Friday and went as far as Gull Lake where we stayed overnight with Alan's sister, Donna and Cam Lock.  Their son Darrell from Sherwood Park AB and Alan's youngest sister Joyce from Melville also met us there.  

We left for Frontier on Saturday morning to attend the funeral for cousin Edna (Holmgren) Thoring who had a massive heart attack the previous week and passed away very suddenly.  Alan and I had stayed with them overnight on the Monday before her attack and had such a good visit.  We were so thankful that we had that last visit with them.  Edna and Clifford would have had their 60th wedding anniversary on June 8th this year.

Edna Lois Marjorie Thoring
Sept. 11, 1933 - May 1, 2015

Bethel Lutheran Church was full for the 11:00 service.  Edna's five grandchildren shared memories of their beloved grandmother who had spent her entire life in Frontier area except for a year of Teachers College in Moose Jaw.  Bethel is currently without a pastor so David Anderson very capably led the service.  Alan was a  pallbearer for this special cousin.  The burial followed at Frontier Municipal Cemetery.  It was so sad to see the little mound in the Sanford family plot where six year old Blaine Martin Sanford was buried just the Monday before.

A bountiful lunch was served following the interment.  It was an opportunity to visit with family and friends from near and far.  I especially enjoyed visiting at a table where I recognized all those sitting around it!  I know most of the older people but don't recognize many of the younger residents after not living in Frontier area for over fifty years.

Edna lived on the farm most of her life but she and Clifford had moved to town just over a year ago.  Edna was loved by all as her sweet and gentle spirit had no room to find fault in others.  She found good in everyone and touched many lives. God was at the centre of her life and her deep faith was a tangible thing. She had a servant's heart, always ready to lend a helping hand.  She will be sorely missed by her family and all who knew her.

We spent the rest of Saturday and stayed the night with my brother Alan and Judy Erickson. Alan took us on a drive to the farm where I grew up as my husband Alan had never been out that way. The land had just been seeded that week.  We also visited Bethel Cemetery where Alan and Judy's son Tommy is buried beside his Grandma and Grandpa Erickson.  He died at the age of 18 in 1986 after a vehicle accident just a few miles north of the Erickson farm.  Blaine's fatal accident brings back lots of memories for them and for all our family of Tommy's tragic passing.

We had a Mothers Day breakfast with them before driving over to Sandra and Merle's to spend the rest of that day and overnight with them.  Sandra took us on a tour too, past the farm where my Grandma and Grandpa Erickson homesteaded,  as well as to the farm where Alan's Grandma and Grandpa Lutz had lived.  There is a lot of family history for both of us in the Frontier/ Loomis area.  We also stopped again at Bethel Cemetery where our Stenson great grandparents, Erickson and Haaland grandparents as well as our parents and other family members are buried.  

Mothers Day is a difficult day for many and especially several members of our family this year.  Our nephew, Jason and Marion Sanford, are in Saskatoon with their three year old son Rhett who is recovering in hospital after the accident that also took the life of  six year old Blaine. Rhett is improving every day.  Here's a picture of him taken today with a smile on his face, so good to see.  He is in isolation hence the yellow gowns on staff members.  Jason and Marion are so thankful to be staying at Ronald Macdonald House, just across the street from RUH.  Katie is also with them.

The loss of Blaine is difficult to comprehend for all the family.  It is hard to see Grandma Sandra and Grandpa Merle trying to cope with life after losing this precious grandchild just over two weeks ago.  He was with them so much and left so many memories that surround them every day.  Those memories are precious but bring sorrow and tears as they are reminded of this unexpected loss that touches family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew this loveable little boy.  Life will not be the same for the Sanford/Corcoran family and we pray for comfort and strength for them as they grieve and struggle to adjust to life without dearly loved and loving Blaine.

Alan and I drove home today, somewhat weary but glad that we could be with those who are mourning the loss of two very special family members - Blaine Sanford and Edna Thoring.  Blessed be their memory.