Note: Posted one day late.
Fifty-eight years ago today, my mom stepped on a heating grate at the church as she was ready to walk into the church to marry my father losing the heel of her shoe. Betty, her maid of honor, grabbed the heel and the shoe, whacked the heel back onto the shoe, gave it back to mom and the ceremony went on as planned.
Eight years ago today Betty brought the most beautiful springerle cookies to my parents’ 50th anniversary open house.
Today Betty’s family laid her earthly body to rest.
Most of my life I knew her as Aunt Betty because of her sisterly relationship with my mom. She was gracious and kind. I remember eating many meals at her home through the years. But my best memory happened just over three years ago when I travelled from Michigan to central Illinois for a springerle cookie baking lesson. Because she used a KitchenAid mixer, I knew I needed one if I were to make a decent springerle. She showed me the catalog of where she ordered her special molds for cutting the cookies. We made so many that night and she was so particular about pressing the mold and cutting them that my stomach muscles hurt the next day from pushing down! Those were by far the most beautiful and best tasting springerles I ever made. I know the men of my family, who all love the Christmas springerles, are glad I had that lesson.
The choir at the funeral sang “Sunshine in My Soul,” and that is exactly what Betty’s smile represented – the sunshine in her soul because of her love of Jesus.
