522
I haven’t posted since my last blog post with Mom’s obituary. It’s been a crazy whirlwind of family, going through photos, and so much more. Before I know it, I find that it’s Saturday, and I wonder where Friday went. Anyway, I believe I owe a few blog posts.
The number 522 has always been important to our family. It started with the birth of our oldest brother, born on May 22nd, and continued as our address when we were growing up. When Dad passed in 2015, many of my family members and I would see 522 in various areas, sometimes on a clock, sometimes on a license plate, or a random number on a truck going down the road. When I visited Mom one time, my hotel room was just randomly 522 without any urging from me. It was a nice room, too.
We've seen the number throughout the seven years that Dad has been gone. It was like Dad was saying ‘hi’ each time we saw it. When Mom died on May 22nd (522), we realized that it may have been in our lives to prepare us for Mom’s death. (As well as a nod and a smile from Dad.)
One day recently, while I was with my sisters, I wondered if 5:22 is a bible passage. Since I was raised a Catholic, seeing and reading bible passages in church and at home was a very common thing. So, it only made sense to me that somewhere in the Bible, we would find 5:22. Of course we did. There are many. But the one passage that made the most sense about Mom is Galatians 5:22. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” These are attributes that have always been associated with Mom. She embodied Galatians 5:22. She lived a Spiritual life, and all of us have been so lucky to be children of this wonderful woman. So. Very. Lucky.
Charlotte’s life celebration will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 575 E College Street, Mt Angel, Oregon 97362, Wednesday, September 13, 2023. The Rosary will be at 10:30 a.m., with a funeral mass at 11:00 a.m. officiated by Father Ralph Recker OSB. An event not to be missed will follow in St. Mary’s Hall and around Mt. Angel. For those in the area, we will also meet the next day at the Weingarten for a memorable first day of Oktoberfest get-together.
I can still feel her love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control each time I think of her. She was truly someone who lived and loved well. 522 will always be an important number in our lives.
