The last conversation I had with my mother about old photographs, was of this one.  This is a photograph of my Grandfather and his dad and little sister Molly.  It is the only picture of Molly that I know of.  As you can see, someone wrote her name on the picture so that she would not be forgotten.
She was hit by a car when she was just a little older than she is in this photograph.

 My grandfather was holding his little sister's hand because it was a snowy day in Chicago.  Molly was wearing glasses by this time because her vision was bad.  The snow was coming down hard and Molly's glasses were covered with snow.  While Grandpa and Molly were waiting for the traffic to clear, so that they could cross the street, Molly stepped off the curb.  She was struck by a car and it pulled her hand free of her big brother's grip.  Molly broke her leg and died soon after from the complications of a blood clot.

I asked my grandfather about his sister once when he was in his nineties.  He became emotional as he told me about this experience nearly eighty years prior.  I think loosing his little sister in such a tragic way left a shadow over the rest of my grandfather's life.

As I painted this picture I thought about how excited my mother must have been to have Grandpa Fred introduce his little sister to Mom in the spirit world.  I can just hear my mother telling Molly how happy she is to finally meet her!  I am sure that my mother's love and devotion to my grandparents in this life is having a profound influence on the rest of the Augustin family on the other side of the veil.  There is no doubt that my mother has shared her testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the Augustin side of the family.  I can hear her excitedly telling them about her wonderful husband and children and grandchildren!  

Painting pictures of my ancestors and others who have passed away always makes me feel that the veil is very thin for me during that process.  What a wonderful blessing painting has been to me over the years. 

It would have been my parents 59th anniversary this week.  I know my mother and if she were alive she would say, "I would really like to have that painting of Molly."  So this one is for you Mom, (but I am giving it to Dad for safe keeping).  Happy anniversary Dad!  Thank you Mom and Dad for giving us a family rich with history and love.