Tribute to Aunt Jo

Dearest Aunt Jo
I still miss you!

Aunt Jo (Julia Augustine), was my mother's
sister, and she and I exchanged many, many
letters over the years. Aunt Jo was the best
letter-writer I ever knew. She kept in touch
with everybody in our extended family, and
we each felt special and included. I don't
think she would have settled for today's
"Hi" on the fly by email. To read a letter
of Aunt Jo's was "to sit down and have a
nice visit."
Her letters were full of life and love and fun.
She poured out praise and encouragement in
big warm cups, along with a slice of pie,
as needed.
She wrote me pages and pages of family
information and played a huge part in the
feat of publishing our family history. She
told wonderful old stories that brought our
ancestors to life. She knew everybody's
address and collected many family groups.
She was as delighted as I was when each
new surprise appeared in our family tree.
Without her, we would have no published
family history.
Aunt Jo went to her well-earned reward in
October, 1992. I think it's about time I
sent her another letter--this one. One of
the cute cards she sent me 'way back in
1977 went like this:

Just sittin' here dreamin'
How nice it would be,
If you could be sittin' here
Dreamin' with me!
The feeling is mutual, Aunt Jo.

Julia Augustine, 1989

Julia Augustine, 1992
Following is part of the eulogy
written by Aunt Jo's daughter, Shirley:
The month before she died, Julia pointed out a poem she particularly liked and said, "Read this and remember this. I really like this." It was from a booklet called "Small Miracles" and is entitled "My Table Garden."
My steps are slow, my eyes are dim,
I cannot garden now.
For many years I tilled the soil,
With hoe and garden plow.
Gardening, to me, was like a song.
Each day brought something new,
And now that I am 'sorta' old
I can't admit I'm through.
As long as there are pots and pans
And plain old garden dirt
I'll make a garden, you can bet,
With very little work.
Now that my garden is table high
I do not have to bend.
I thank the Lord for giving me
A garden I can tend.

Julia was a spiritual woman with no time to let fear inside her door. She just picked up and kept going and doing and being, listening to God's Plan for her life--sometimes ignoring the impossibility of the task. She just trusted that her prayers would be answered. So, finally, she left us a message. Two copies of it were found in the pages of her Bible and books. It has no author listed, but it's entitled "Safely Home."
I am home in Heaven, dear ones;
Oh, so happy and so bright!
There is perfect joy and beauty
In this everlasting light.
All the pain and grief is over,
Every restless tossing passed;
I am now at peace forever,
Safely home in Heaven at last.
Did you wonder I so calmly
Trod the valley of the shade?
Oh! But Jesus' love illumined
Every dark and fearful glade.
And He came Himself to meet me
In that way so hard to tread;
And with Jesus' arm to lean on
Could I have one doubt or dread?
Then you must not grieve so sorely,
For I love you dearly still;
Try to look beyond earth's shadows,
Pray to trust our Father's will.
There is work still waiting for you,
So you must not idly stand;
Do it now, while life remaineth--
You shall rest in Jesus' land.
When that work is all completed
He will gently call you Home;
Oh, the rapture of that meeting.
Oh, the joy to see you come!

Original Song "Two Lovers" by Andy Klapwyk
Graphics Made by Mary

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