Friday, January 8, 2021
Thanksgiving Prayer to Mom/Jeanne/Mimi
Thank you, Mom/Jeanne/Mimi for your unconditional love, and for all that you generously and selflessly gave and accomplished:
- Unbounded, motherly support of Kevin-Trish’s relationship and marriage including the post-wedding gathering
- Co-planning/hosting with Aunt Suzi the surprise baby shower in anticipation of Brian
- Moving in with us coincident with Declan’s birth to share family life in Montclair, NJ
- Arranging and driving to/from Brian’s playdates, and bringing Brian to the local pool club
- Encouraging and loving baby Declan and young Brian, and providing them a wonderful example of goodness
- Helping cover pre-Emy nanny transitions and orientations, and contributing to boys’ dinners
- Attending Lacordaire Academy events, befriending parents, principal and teachers, (and dazzling them with your lovely hair and overall style, as we heard countless times)
- Happily going to and celebrating the boys’ concerts, shows, sacraments, graduations, school milestones, and MANY baseball and soccer practices and games
- Providing Emy guidance, companionship, and back-up support – and clothes
- Reveling in the boys’ developmental milestones, biking, sprinkler fun, and post-bath glee
- Remembering EVERY birthday and anniversary with cards/gifts, and helping at boys’ b-day parties
- Supporting Cronin Christmas Eve preparations, spending quality time with the boys in advance, and spoiling all your grandchildren during the special gift exchange
- Hosting Declan in daily cozy bedroom/sitting room visits: reading, playing, chatting, coloring, storytelling, sharing pasta with olive oil and broccoli, and teaching the rosary, forming Declan’s most special relationship bond
- Playing cards (and endless ‘war’ rounds with Brian), backyard wiffle ball (and endless at-bats for Declan), and messy Monopoly matches (usually letting an overcompetitive Brian win)
- Going with us to St Cassian Sunday masses, family events, and mini-vacations
- Washing St Cassian parish linens, and getting to know and bring peace/joy to parish friends
- Attending daily masses at the nearby Franciscan church, and giving to numerous missions
- Sharing shopping trips, luncheon outings, house/party plans, and fun errands with Trish
- Caring for the boys while Kevin and Trish were encouraged to go out together to enjoy movies, lunches, or friends
- Making ‘Mimi’s meatloaf’ (and letting Declan sneak some Corn Flakes), treating to sushi, and enjoying special-occasion restaurant dinners
- As part of our family, meeting and loving ALL our friends and ‘Brownes’ who cherished you
- Enjoying/smiling upon life’s small pleasures: holding a baby, receiving a card, opening a gift, drinking dark coffee, going to Cedar Grove Kings, and eating burnt pretzels or grilled cheese
- Letting your desire to help and push forward overpower your genuine natural shyness, and providing a blessed example of grace-filled acceptance of life’s adversities
- NEVER passing judgment, criticizing, contradicting parenting styles, arguing or pressuring
- ALWAYS wanting to help, encourage, listen, share, support, and compliment. The love has been infinite, flowing with incredible patience, compassion, gentleness, mercy, and kindness.
Mom/Jeanne/Mimi, you have immensely positively influenced our lives forever. We thank you, love you, ask the Lord to bless you in eternity, and pray we re-unite with you in the next chapter.
With all our hearts and souls,
Kevin, Trish, Brian and Declan
