Ana Rosa Zepeda Santana

There is an old saying that “They Don’t Build Monuments to Critics”. My mother was a trailblazer. She had the courage to do what she believed to be the right thing to do. Whether anybody agreed with her or not. She never tried to agree to something just to fit. Blending in was never her concern. When you are a doer there will always be those that criticize from the sidelines but contribute little or nothing. Perhaps that is the reason “They Don’t Build Monuments To Critics”. She taught us the power of persistence. Not by talking about persistence. But with her actions. From teaching me to read, write and basic math before the home schooling term was coined to learning dress making by correspondence. Her longest path though was that due to some health issues she had to deal all of her life she started her life long health seeking journey.

That was at a time that there was no googling anything and you’d find the info. She had to take the bus to go down town and look for books that would guide her into the health path she was seeking. It was a half day trip just to get a book or two. Then she started going to health food stores when people thought it was nuts! Way before the whole foods stores and sprouts and the buy organic ideas. She was a pioneer in every sense of the word.

She always surrounded herself by books, listened to informative talk radio programs and was the first one to become Christian. Which was a great influence on us in seeking a healthy way of eating and a healthy way for the Spirit! She was instrumental in our moving to America permanently. The first Thanksgiving Day that we were here she prepared Thanksgiving dinner for us and taught us that a good part of our family traditions would be what our new country represented.

She taught us to always make a difference for the better and that we would be a good example to others. We had many beautiful birthdays, Christmases and other holidays as a family. She had a way of cooking that gave flavors to anything. All she did in was always in kitchen was like a scientist. From her days of perfecting her flower tortillas to fruit smoothies to basic dishes to more complicated offerings she always looked to do things with the precision of a scientist. She always knew where everything was in the kitchen and everything was in a military style order. She always so it that we ate! She loved cooking for us and her grand children. She was extremely clean. Inspected the dishes against the sun and made sure there were water spots much less any food residues. An attention to detail that escapes most of us. In the end she was a loving mother. She did everything for her children and grand children to the extent that is possible.

She remained a student of the word of God. Her Bible was full of notes, underlined everywhere. A real student. She was a writer as well as she wrote endless notes about her thoughts mainly. In her mind she was the steward of our family’s physical and spiritual health. She saw things that many of us would not or could not. In the end she taught us all to think and to observe. To have our own thinking.

As we pay her last respects to her now in the name of our family we thank God for her. For the difference she made in our lives. For being a doer not just a critic! I am sure she is now with our Lord And Savior Jesus Christ. In God’s loving arms and looking at us right now telling us that she is ok and that she will wait for us!

We love you mother!

See you soon Jefita!

Your loving children.