Wordless Wednesday ~ Oma and the twins ~

This is my maternal Oma, Liselotte Haf née Kaiser~Saule

born ~ 19 Dec 1913 in Zurich, Switzerland

died ~ 05 April 2010 in Augsburg, Germany . . . holding my twin uncles,

Helmut Haf  ~ 1940 ~ 1994 and Adalbert  Haf  ~1940 ~ 2004  

::|---------------------------------------------------|::

                                                                         

In Loving Memory of Mom ~

Elfriede Haf ~ Serafin 

21 March 1933 ~ 21 July 2010

Six years ago today, was a day that I didn't expect for a long time to come . . . especially since we had just lost my Oma, my mom's mom.  It still doesn't seem like it's been six years since I lost my mom . . . my heart still feels that same ache and I miss her more than ever. 

I do count my blessings everyday . . . I was blessed to have had such a wonderful, wise and loving mother and I have so many wonderful memories of a good life she made for us . . . thank you, mom . . . you live in my heart each and every day . . . we love and miss you. 

Remembering my Grandmother, Liselotte Haf née Kaiser~Saule ~

~ Unvergessen ~ 

On this day, six years ago, my maternal grandmother, Liselotte Haf née Kaiser-Saule,   (1913 ~ 2010), passed away peacefully in her sleep. Oma was 96 years old . . . she lived a long life.

Oma survived her city, Augsburg, being bombed and having to take her twin boys to a shelter while my mom was carted off to a farm outside the city for safety for several months. She raised three wonderful children and was there for my grandfather, Adalbert (1907 ~ 1968) when he was shot in the shoulder while serving in the war.

How I wish I could sit and talk with her about all those experiences and learn more about her life . . . she is very missed but I know she is with my mom, Elfriede (1933 ~ 2010) her twin sons, Helmut (1940 ~ 1994) and Adi (1940 ~ 2004), and my grandfather, doing what she did so well, taking care of her family . . . we love you Oma ~





Photo taken at my wedding reception on, Sept. 24, 1988, in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Webb, my mother and father-in-law. My Oma was visiting from Augsburg, Germany, so we planned the wedding around her visit . . . what a blessing it was to have both Oma and my mom with me that day.

Wordless Wednesday ~ My Oma

 

My grandmother 'Oma' Liselotte Haf ~ 1913 ~ 2010

For the past couple of months and as time permits . . . I have been scanning and organizing the many photos I received when my grandmother and mom passed away in 2010. I created a photo album of my maternal Haf line in a timeline fashion. It turned out great and I am happy with the results. It sort of tells our story in photos and instead of photos being in boxes, they are out for us all to look at when we like . . . eventually, I want to make it into a book which will be much easier now that the photos are already in order.

As I was creating this photo album, I came across this photo of my Oma . . . I just smiled . . . this is such a natural and wonderful photo of her . . . now my favorite.

Sentimental Sunday ~ Happy Mother's Day ~

Everything I learned about love, I learned from my Mother ~

                                         ~  Marita Golden

 

 ~ Happy Mother's Day to my very special Mom (1933 ~ 2010) and Oma (1913 ~ 2010) ~          

                       

   Who is it that loves me
and will love me forever . . .
It's you, my mother.
         
~ Thomas Carlyle

                                            

  You will forever be loved and remembered ~

~ Vergissmeinnicht ~

(Forget-me-not)

Liselotte "Oma" Haf 

19 Dec 1913 ~ 5 April 2010

~~~~~~~~~~~

Elfriede Haf ~ Serafin
21 Mar 1933 ~ 21 July 2010

The background photo is of Hydrangea's I have growing along the front walkway of my home, one of my favorite flowers. Original post here

Advent Calendar ~ Deceased Relatives ~

I have always had a little tree with the cute little burlap bottom for Christmas (purchased at my local craft store) on my kitchen counter for many years. I would adorn this little tree with Christmas cookie cutters and lights. Some of the Christmas shaped cookie cutters once belonged to mom . . . she gave them to me for the kids.  Our cookie cutter tree always makes my kitchen bright and sweet...the kids smile when they see it!  Now, I have two miniature Christmas trees in my kitchen/family room . . . .

~ First Ancestor Tree ~ 

Right after my maternal Uncle Adi passed away in 2004, I came up with the idea to put photos on tags of all my family members who have passed and would not be with us during Christmas. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do yet but I found paper photo tags at my local craft store and thought that they would work for the time being.

Adalbert Haf 1940~2004 and Keith Tiffany 1948~ 1981

I didn't like the size or that "store bought look" at the time but at least I could honor my loved ones on the tree right away.  I had always wanted to make my own tags and last year I had shared the idea with a fellow blogger . . . so in 2010 I made my own. Tammy, over at Rosie Cotton  liked the idea then, so in 2010, she contacted me asking if I had done them and to check hers out.   Tammy's came out beautiful and she motivated me to get started on mine.

It was hard for me to get motivated that year (2010) because I had to add my beautiful Mom (1933~2010) and my Oma (1913~2010). I just couldn't get myself started but I knew I needed to. I got together with my neighbor Claire . . . she really helped me to push myself and get the creative juices flowing!
Between Claire and Tammy, I finally did get my tags done (2010) and I was very happy with them. So . . . thank you Tammy and Claire for supporting me in a very delicate project. It's still difficult to see my beautiful Mom's tag on that tree . . . she is so very missed . . . all of our Ancestors are very missed.

I decided to place my Ancestor tree under my family tree chart . . . which is very near my kitchen and can be seen from just about every angle.  It's a perfect spot I must say.

Last year, several bloggers made the suggestion to keep my ancestor tree up all year... I am reporting, this year (2011) that I did leave it up all year, each day I would plug in the lights . . . I think it's a great way to keep our loved ones who have passed, close to us all year and especially at Christmas time.

Happy Holidays to you and yours! 

 This post originally created for the

Advent Calendar of Memories in December 2010 ~   

             With the passing of my Mom (1933~2010) and Grandmother (1913~2010)  in 2010,
I have made changes to the original 2010 post . 

Advent Calendar of Memories 2011