My Mother The Thief

Once upon a time this little girl Alice (on the right) starting stealing …
hearts that is.  Here she is posing with her older sister Mary.

Little Alice with Esther and Arthur Rufer whose heart she stole when she was quite young.  With no children of their own they loved taking Alice to the circus and special outings.

And then little Alice grew up into this sexy student nurse!

Continuing her life of crime she met this man while she was taking care of his mother in the hospital.  While I don’t know the exact details of how she did it, legend has it she stole his heart right out from under his mother’s nose!

Wowza!

It wasn’t long until Alice continued her life of stealing … hearts, that is.  One after another she provided for men, woman, and children that never forgot how much she cared for them.  More hearts …

And then she stole this little boy’s heart and he stole hers.  Her first little boy  named Steven.

Nurse Alice … and a little boy she lovingly took care of in the hospital!

Enter the arrival of baby Catherine. (Yes, that’s me.)  I wasn’t very old when folks would pat my head, tell me how much they loved my mother and what a great nurse she is. To this very day I hear from those whose life she has touched.

Adding sons, Michael and John she continues to collect hearts.  She is loved by so many!

And she and I have been best friends forever!  Even my teen years were spent wrapped in times like this one!

Her first new car — accommodates all the kids but still … its fiery red! oo-la-la!

Alice and Dale Paulsen Family 2012

As I sift through decades of pictures one picture keeps returning time and time again.  That picture is the one that shows how much my mother is loved.  By her family, her extended family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, her children’s friends and every single person who had the honor of my mother taking care of them.  From the doctor’s office to the hospital, surgical suites and labor and delivery, she has touched so many.  Good Samaritan nursing home was blessed when she was their Director of Nursing.

Fast forward through the years and you will see she is still surrounded by those who love her including this group of Community Bible Study leaders and teachers!

Mother’s Day 2014.  She is 83 years young and make no mistake … she is still stealing hearts to this day.  Beware, the next one might be yours. 🙂

I love you mom,
Happy Mother’s Day,
Catherine

Proverbs 31:25-30

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,

and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
    but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised!”