10-28-2004

In 1977 my parents divorced and my mother found herself in the difficult position of having to go back to work with a 3 year old child and a 4 month old baby. She knew she had no choice, but that didn’t make placing her young children in the care of someone else any easier. So, my mom began to pray fervently for an answer. Ovada Carr was the head of the nursery at our church. She was kind, gentle and understood small children in a way that made her irresistible to them. Every Sunday morning she would be in there, rocking other people’s babies so they could hear the sermon. So, it was only natural that she came to mind when my mom was thinking of her options. You see, my mom didn’t just want someone to see that our needs were met and that we were unharmed. She wanted someone who would love us, nurture us, and in effect mother us. So, even though it was unlikely that someone who was already so dedicated to children would want to keep 2 more 30 hours a week, she decided to ask her anyway…so she did. Ovada said she was flattered that she thought of her and that she would think about it. I don’t think my mom was very hopeful that she would answer in the affirmative, but she prayed that she would. Well, as you may have already guessed, she did and thus began my relationship with the first people, other than my family, that I loved…and boy did I ever. Of course love is not a tangible thing, but there is one object that is the perfect evidence of my devotion to these people. It was just an ordinary Olan Mills picture in a little gold frame, but to my little 1 year old hands it was the perfect piece of love for me to hold on to. I carried it around with me so much that over the years, it became practically unrecognizable, but I never forgot who it was. How could I? You never forget someone who feeds you, changes you, plays with you, helps you learn to walk, lets you help in the garden, sits next to you while you attempt to “fish” in a ditch, fixes you honey with just the right amount of lemon juice, buys you your first tricycle and bicycle and is there for every birthday, Christmas, Halloween and every other major life event? No, I will never forget Ovada and Willard Carr, not only for the 4 years that they cared for me as a small child, but also for the part they played in my life long after that. I will always love them both not just as family, but as the closest kind there is.

Ovada passed from us this Thursday morning, October 28th. I know heaven is a better place, but this earth is less without her and this earth is where I am right now.

I miss you and love you.

Jana