A Tribute

It was the Great Depression. John Ira Hammer, carpenter was building homes in the L.A. area. About the time of the "crash" Mr. Hammer & his wife Ella Myrtle packed up their home, loaded 100+ canning jars into their car & along with their children & moved to Washington state. It was here in Alder Wood Manor on cold snowy day in January my mother Mariana Hammer was born. She was the sixth child to be born & the fifth daughter. No middle name, just Mariana. This was her beginnings. Born in a log cabin with knot holes for looking out of & wearing potato sack dresses as a youngster. In those days she came late in life to her own mother. Ella was 40 years old & a Grandma yourself. So of course my mama was an Aunt the moment she was born.

I don't know to much about Mama's growing up years. Just bits & pieces. Grandpa was a carpenter who built home in Los Angeles, I presume Washington & Modesto where they settled at some point. I never knew Grandpa, he died before I was born & Grandma died when I was 5. They lived in a big farmhouse behind our house in Modesto. My sister remembers Grandma coming in the back door & hollering "HELLO" every Monday. She would walk across the alley that separated the homes & come right in to see Mama & her grandchildren. Those must have been special days for my mama, Mondays were never the same after that. Blue Mondays she would call them.

Mama graduated from Modesto High School & then Bethany Bible College in Aptos. She played the violin in High School. Everyday she rode the bus to school. Imagine trying to get up the bus steps wearing a long straight skirt, carrying books & her violin.

While growing up, the family rarely lived in a finished house. Grandpa would build a home, get it nice & secure & move the family in while he finished it. There is a brick house in Modesto he built. My parents always wanted to buy it, but it was never up for sale.

I don't know when Mother became a Christian, but she was a praying women. She believed in the power of prayer. Her faith was firm. She sung in the church choir, worked in Missions, organized baby showers & wedding showers. All very elaborate. Life for me was simple. Church, home & school. Potlucks, choir practice & fellowshipping with church folk. There was VBS & Missionettes, Christmas programs, Sunday School & playing out in the grassy area while our folks visited at church.

Mother & Daddy met & married in Modesto. How they met I don't recall very clearly. I think her mother encourage mama to go out with my dad. I do remember so courtship stories. Both of my parents attended Bethany Bible College. Daddy had already graduated, but he would fly up to Aptos, tip the wing of the plane to let mother & his friends know he was in town. They would pick him up up the San Diego airport.

Another story was just after daddy enlisted at Mather, my mom & her friends drove up to see him. They pulled up to the gate & ask for Robert Porter. The guard said "there is no one here by that name." My mother insisted there was. Finally the guard said "Madam, you have the wrong gate, this is the stockade!"

Mama loved music. She had many favorites: Harbor Lights, Somewhere My Love, In the Garden, Down From His Glory to name a few. Radio was our T.V. for many years as well as organ & piano. Daddy plays & still does the organ, he plays for his church. My sister plays & teaches the piano. Music was all around us, music reaches my soul.

Mama also sewed, canned, cook & garden. She was the typical homemaker I suppose, but not to me, she was my sweet mama.

Mother & Daddy were married 40 years before the Lord took her home. She died from Lou Gherigs disease at the age of 62, thirteen years ago today. It seems so long ago, but yet it doesn't. I have always wished I had been with her. I last saw mama on Father's Day, she died 3 days later just moments after saying hello or rather good-bye to my dad.


I tried to post a you tube video of this song by a violinist, but had no luck, here is another link to hear this song. I think she would have really like this guy. If you're listening, this one's for you Mother.

Down From His Glory

Down from His glory, ever living story,
My God and Savior came, and Jesus was His name;
Born in a manger to His own a stranger,
A man of sorrows, tears and agony!

Chorus
Oh how I love Him! How I adore Him!
My breath, my sunshine, my all in all!
The great Creator became my Savior,
And all God's fullness dwelleth in Him!
What condescension, bringing us redemption,
That in the dead of night, not one faint hope in sight,
God gracious, tender laid aside His splendor,
Stooping to woo, to win, to save my soul!


Chorus
Oh how I love Him! How I adore Him!
My breath, my sunshine, my all in all!
The great Creator became my Savior,
And all God's fullness dwelleth in Him!
Without reluctance, flesh and blood His substance,
He took the form of man, revealed the hidden plan;
O glorious myst'ry sacrifice of Calv'ry!
And now I know He is the great "I AM"!


Chorus
Oh how I love Him! How I adore Him!
My breath, my sunshine, my all in all!
The great Creator became my Savior,
And all God's fullness dwelleth in Him!