Never Enough

By Reanna Almeida

Sometimes I know the words to say to give thanks for all you've done,

But then they fly up and away as quickly as they come.

How could I possibly thank you enough, the one who makes me whole,

The one to whom I owe my life, the forming of my soul.

The one who tucked me in at night, the one who stopped my crying,

The one who was the expert, at picking up when I was lying.

The one who say me off to school and spent sad days alone,

Yet magically produced a smile, as soon as I came home.

The one who makes such sacrifices to always put me first,

Who lets me test my broken wings, in spite of how it hurts.

Who paints the world a rainbow when it's filled with broken dreams!

Who explains it all so clearly when nothing is what it seems.

Are there really any words for this, I find this question tough,

Anything I want to say just doesn't seem enough.

What way is there to thank you for your heart, your sweat, your tears,

For ten thousand things you've done for oh so many years.

For changing with me as I changed, accepting all my flaws,

Not loving cause you had to, but loving just because.

For never giving up on me when your wits had reached its end,

For always being proud of me, for being my best friend.

And so I come to realize, the only way to say,

The only thank you that's enough is clear in just one way.

Look at me before you see what I've become,

Do you see yourself in me, the job that you have done?

All your hopes and all your dreams, the strength that no one sees,

A transfer over many years, your best was to pass me.

Thank you for the gifts you give for everything you do,

But thank you mommy most of all for making dreams come true.

You will be sadly missed,my heart goes out to your children and grandchildren

On behalf of my girls Nyla & Hayden (friends of Justice &Teesha) and everyone at Jo-Ann Adams School of Dance, I would like to let the family know that we are all thinking of Lena's family during this difficult time. We will miss seeing her face around the dance studio. Please contact me directly regarding any help that is needed with the girls.

To Lena's family. I am sorry that I did not find about the loss until 1:30 so was not able to make the service. Each and everyone of you are in my thoughts and prayers. Lena will be missed.

I have so many wonderful memories of you Aunt Lena!! Weekend visits to see you in Brantford, your weekend visits to Mom and Dad's house. You were always there for our family functions to help us celebrate. At any given time you would jump in your car and come visit for the day. You always took the time to sit at the kitchen table and catch up with what was going on in our lives. You often put other peoples happiness before your own and that just goes to show you how kind of a heart you have. I will miss you and my prayers will be with you from this day on. You were taken from us way to early you will never be forgotten. .Rest in Peace Aunt Lena Lady!!! Xoxo

She was a very strong woman who told it like it was. No nonsense, simple and good hearted, she will be missed, loved and remembered

I have may happy, fun memories of Lena. She will be missed

I was shocked to hear of the news. We were neighbors for years. We had good times and laughs together. RIP Lena !!!

Will be deeply missed.....as I sit here and remember our many coffee conversation, I will miss how much you reminded me that life is life and not to sweat the small stuff.....you always reminded me life will work itself out just enjoy the ride! Love you Aunt Lena will think of you always!!

Lena, we will for sure miss you dearly! Who is going too tell me I am putting my Christmas stuff up too early this year :) I know the boys cared about you a lot! I know you are in a great place now :) Love Ruth, John,Jarred,Jack and JohnRoss

I was surprised and saddened to hear that Aunt Lena left us so suddenly. You will be missed but never forgotten. May your afterlife bring you peace. Love you.

I remember the very first time I ever visited a theatre, it was with my aunt Lena who came to our house one day and took me along with her to see three back-to-back movies of Bruce Lee. The theatre she took me to was the old Capitol Theatre on Henry Street in St. John's, NL. Of course being that I was only about 10 years old then, aunt Lena would have been only 18 years old herself. I remember thinking to myself, "wow," how nice this was of her to do this. She gave me the opportunity of a life time to go and see a movie for my very first time. It was undoubtedly a time in life I never forgot and will always remember her for. It saddens me deeply to hear of her passing at such a young age and I wish I had the opportunity to have seen her more often over the years but, distance and finances would never provide for that unfortunately. And that's a shame in itself. However; I do feel for all the loved ones left behind, especially her two young daughters, who have to go through life without the love of a mother in their lives, when so many of us have moms and don't realize the true blessing of having one until she's gone. yet, here we are taking into account that these two very young, beautiful girls have to try and go through life never fully ever understanding why their mom was taken from them so soon. Leaving them to try and go through life now on their own dealing with life's uncertainty and the pain it can cause at any given moment. So, when you go home today/tonight...if you have anybody that you haven't seen or spoken with in a very long time, I hope that you do make an effort to try and rekindle what you have been missing in your life and grasp onto it as if there was no tomorrow because tomorrow may never come and give you a second chance to do what you wished you had done yesterday. It's times like this that really puts your own trivial problems on a much smaller scale, because it's times like this that you have the opportunity to reflect and see someone else's pain on a much larger scale. So hug, kiss and cry along with all your loved ones because in some small way it helps all of us at times like this to express our love and how we feel. Auntie Lena was and always will be a very special aunt to me for all the small things she did created great big memories for me that I will always have and hold dear of her memory for me..... I love you auntie Lena and will miss you dearly.....love, your neice Darlene from Paradise, Newfoundland.

Dear Aunt Lena, Thank you for all the memories I have of you and your children when they were small. You took me shopping to New York, the first time I was in my home state. Thank you for that..will never forget the fun I had. All the memories! Love and Miss You!

It saddens me deeply to hear of such a sudden loss of such a wonderful Aunt, my Aunt Lena. She has and always will hold a very special place in my heart and mind of the wonderful memories she has given me when I was only a child myself. she gave me a once in a life time experience as a child to experience my first ever visit to a super-sized theatre, needless to say I was totally wowed then and even now as I think back I am still capturing that wowed feeling I felt back then of the whole experience of walking into a monumental sized theatre and sitting down and watching 3 back-to-back Bruce Lee movies. Even to see these movies today takes me back to that particular date in time. Life is funny that way when it comes to reminiscing things, it either makes you smile, laugh or cry. Auntie Lena always made me laugh and feel good about myself and I loved being around her. She radiated love and kindness. Auntie Lena you will always be remembered, loved and truly missed by me. You're in the arms of an angel right now being the angel you are yourself. I hope that all the family knows that they are all in our thoughts and prayers right now and in the coming days ahead as you all grieve the loss of a wife/mom/sister/aunt/friend. Thinking of you all during this time. Darlene & Don Stafford in Paradise, Newfoundland

We will always have you in our prayers Auntie Lena "Lena-Lady" Love you! Thanks for all the memories...

Jo Ann Adams School of Dance Dove made a donation to Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Grand Erie

Your family is in our thoughts and prayers.