Momma Linda

i've been wanting to write this post for awhile, but haven't been able to formulate my thoughts. i still don't think they're formulated well, but this is where i'm at...jumbled and all.

when i was in the 3rd grade, my family moved to fergus falls, mn so that my dad could attend the lutheran brethren seminary there. i started attending adams elementary school and met lindsey. we were friends in 3rd grade and by the time 4th grade rolled around we were pretty much inseperable. we were in school together, i went to kids club at her church, sleepovers...all the great stuff little girls do with their best friends. after 5th grade, it was time for my family to move. in our 10 year old world we thought life was coming to an end.  what were we going to do without each other?

little did we know then, god had plans for us to be lifelong friends...the kind of friendship that doesn't come along every day. we stayed in touch through the years - even through 2 moves with my family; and that was before email and facebook!! in august of 1993, my family made the drive from brooklyn, ny to fergus to drop me off at hillcrest. before leaving our families got together and linda and bill were comissioned to be my mn mom and dad. :) boy did they do a great job! as much as i wanted to go to hla, it was a big adjustment and they were truly my home away from home. every weekend possible, i was at the abramson house where i was treated like one of their kids...and i loved it!

i have been blessed with an amazing mom; we've always been close and it was hard being a 16 year old girl and living away from her. that's where linda filled the gap. i know that i have been given such a gift in my relationship with my own mom and to have the relationship that i had with linda on top of that leaves me speechless. i don't take for granted the fact that lindsey (and shelly & craig) shared her with me. i also know that i'm not the only one that feels this way - she was "mom" to so many. 

this thanksgiving, november 24th, momma linda went home to be with jesus after a difficult battle with cancer. i wasn't able to make it back in time for her memorial service, but tomorrow i get to go "home" to see my mn family. i am certain that there will be tears, lots of hugs, and even laughter...the kind of laughter that linda perfected!

i will always remember her laugh...especially when she'd really get going and get into this deep, can't breathe, ready to snort erruption...it was THE BEST! and how can i forget being scolded by her?? not possible. one of my fave memories of that (and there are a number of those moments :)) was at our wedding. the dance was not going well and after dancing with baby taylor, i was handing him back to her and i said, "i think nate and i are going to just go." to which she replied, "oh no you're not! all these people are here for you and you just need to suck it up until at least 11. now get out there and make it fun!" most of all i will remember that being with linda meant you were seeing the hands and feet of jesus - she loved him above all things and it was evident!