The Center of the Ondricek Home

The week of Mom O's funeral this puzzle took center stage of the living room. It served as a constant reminder that He was with us and at the center of the home; the home Mom and Dad O created around Christ. Mom O couldn't have chosen a better puzzle herself. Piece by piece and day after day, friends and family contributed to its completion. By the end of the week when everyone returned home, He was complete.

My relationship with Jesus Christ has been much like this puzzle. He awaits on a table in the center of the home, ready to give me His attention. Sometimes I tidy the room around Him. At times I rush into the house without even stopping in the living room. Sometimes I sit at His table alone in focused silence. Other times I work with a loved one and we grow together. No matter how slow the pieces come together or who puts them there, each piece is still very important to the puzzle. They build on one another and it's frustrating when even one piece is missing. With patient effort and the help of dear ones all the pieces are found and carefully put together over time. HE is the magnificent result that is the center of my home and heart.

Celebrating Family

Isn't my family so beautiful? This month I have enjoyed so much family time through multiple types of family reunions in several different states. We've had so many adventures! Here are just a few highlights.

Thank heaven for my family & in-laws and all the good people God gave me in my own family.

Stu and his aunt Sara on a hike to Stewart Falls

Stuart & Great grandpa at the Goodell reunion

During the week-long Goodell reunion the family completed at least 4 large puzzles like this

Sara said this is where Mom O. was sitting during our reunion. She was definitely there with us.

Tinae helped with Stu so much! We owe all our happiness to Tinae because she set up me and Jared on our blind date.

Great G-ma and G-pa

beautiful aunt Rach

We love the Porter's

Stewart Falls hike

The ropes course - Jared ROCKED

Stephenson family reunion

LOVE my sisters & grandparents

Aren't my sisters beautiful!? Lucky Stu has so many cousins his age too.

Thank you to all the family that made this month a memorable, enjoyable, and shaping experience.

Our Mother & Grandmother

One month ago today Ann Marie Ondricek passed beyond the veil of mortality and joined the multitude of angels on the other side. After a courageous fight against a vicious cancer, she let go and went home to her heavenly Parents.

I haven't posted since then because I don't have accurate words to describe what this month has included. A good beginning, at least, would include these words from Gordon B. Hinckley. These words were chosen by Mom O. herself to be sung at her funeral. Jonnie sung them ever so beautifully, too:

What is this thing that men call death?

This quiet passing in the night?

'Tis not the end but genesis

Of better worlds and greater light

O God, touch Thou my aching heart

And calm my troubled, haunting fears

Let hope and faith, transcendent, pure

Give strength and peace beyond my tears.

There is not death, but only change

With recompense for vict'ry won

The gift of Him who loved all men

The Son of God, the Holy One.

My heart aches and I still cry often in my moments alone: pondering, praying, remembering. But Jared and I both are at peace with our loss because we know it is temporary. Our Savior overcame death and the grave through His resurrection, and gives us all that gift of life again.

Ann Marie is an outstanding mother, grandmother, wife, friend, sister and daughter. She will continue to be such to all those in her life, but her role will be fulfilled from a distance. She always was an extraordinary pen pal! I have absolute confidence that she is enjoying the company of loved ones and heroes who have gone before her. She works hard to serve and lift and love from where she now resides. In comparison to the eternities, it will be but a moment until we are united again. Thank God for His Son and for the temple ordinances that have welded our families together for eternity.

Here are just some of the many memories with Mom O:

Our wedding, with her AMAZING quilt in the background

Mom being a mom and combing Jared's hair on his wedding day

just perfect.

2009 family reunion

one of the quilts she helped me make

another masterpiece quilt she made for Nutmeg's wedding

she couldn't be happier: doing a service with someone she loves

she brought the family across the country to see us!

when Jared and I were dating, she welcomed me and my family to her family

when she met Stuart for the first time. she cried with joy.

4 generations of outstanding people

in awe

she sure knew how to enjoy making and eating food :)

a rendezvous at the temple. she was certainly a temple-going woman

the last picture she let me take of her: crying with gratitude for our regular visits to her

Stu - the highlight of many of her days. I am SO glad we didn't wait longer to have kids so that she and he could have each other for a time.