Marilyn Moll

Many of you know my husband Duane, age 56, died suddenly and unexpectedly on April 14.  I am now a widow and single mom of three.  My youngest daughter Mary is 14 and still at home.  Together with my children we are trying to pick up the pieces and keep Duane’s vision for our family business, The Urban Homemaker, going. A friend has urged me to share some thoughts and memories on my blog.

This year, Mother’s Day will be most bittersweet for me.  It will be the first Mother’s Day in nearly 25 years that my husband won’t be making me breakfast in bed, one of my most favorite family traditions.  My first Mother’s Day was also bittersweet in another way because I was very pregnant, in fact, two week overdue in delivering my first baby girl, Laura Christine.

My girls, Laura and Mary, and I have planned my first Mother’s  Day, as a widow and a single mom,  to focus our energies and thoughts positively on memories of good times with Duane.  We are going to be pulling together pictures from my “archives” of pictures and gathering mementos of Duane for a Memorial Album.  Yesterday, I stumbled on some cards he gave me during our engagement.  In one card he wrote a little poem, a portion of which follows:

Marilyn, you’re good for me,
and I thank God the more.
Together we’ll join lives as one,
and live life evermore.

I love you, I do.
No truer words, can I give to you.

My husband was not perfect, but I thank God for his love and faithfulness for nearly 25 years of marriage.

As I mentioned last week, I have received literally hundreds of cards and emails sending sympathies and condolences.  Many of you have taken time to write about your memories of Duane and encouragement for moving through the grieving process. Ultimately, I think the outpouring of love that I and my family have received will be the foundation of a future book on hospitality.

One memorable card quoted Saint Francis of Assisi who said:  “Preach the gospel at all times, if necessary use words.”  I love this simple quotation because Duane was a quiet and gentle person, and I had no idea how many lives he touched.

I wanted to share a few of my favorite comments.

Linda of North Caroline writes:

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory, no one can steal.”  Linda encourages me to “let the tears come, let them water my soul.”

Karen writes:

“Your husband is not far from you.  Heaven is very near, nearer than we imagine.  He is now in possession of the mansion that is prepared for him, a glorious inheritance.  We pray God will provide you with peace and strength to get through the valley and we know he will.”

Mrs. H from Illinois writes:

“Duane has always been thoughtful and helpful with our orders.  We will miss him, and know the loss for you is irreplaceable.”

Becky of Colorado writes:

“I can’t tell you how much I have appreciated the work you and Duane and the girls have done, and I have loved watching your business grow and develop into a truly needed company and ministry over the years.  I’m sure thousands of hearts have been touched and blessed by you all.”

These precious cards and emails continue to strengthen me and encourage me,  “ For you have need of endurance,  so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised.” Hebrews 10:35

I struggle with the fact  that there is no more earthly husband made of flesh and blood to cuddle with or embrace.  That day, my lifelong friend Connie Wilson’s card came in the mail with a sentiment written by Donna Fargo, a country music singer.  The sentiment says in part:

“What if the spirit of your loved one has not left you, but has moved inside your heart to live, never to be forgotten?  Once we love someone, that person becomes a part of us and remains with us for as long as our memory of them lasts.  Treasure your memories now.  Try to focus on the time you did have.  Let the blessings that you shared bathe you with love, encourage you with comfort, and inspire you to go on.”

Thank you Karen, Mrs. H, Becky, Connie and hundreds of others who took time to write beautiful and encouraging notes of sympathy and encouragement to myself and my family.  Again, I emphasize that each note is read, cherished, and saved.

When life literally vanishes in seconds before your very eyes I believe one can choose to count your many blessings or not which reminds me of an old hymn called “Count Your Blessings”, written by Johnson Oatman, Jr..    I have clung to these wonderful words through other trials over the years as well.  The first stanza goes like this:

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings name them one by one,
and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one and so on.

Duane and I go out for a big night on the town to celebrate in January 2000.

This Mother’s Day I have many blessings to count. I am so thankful for my three healthy and wonderful children, food in my pantry and freezer, and most importantly a mighty, most loving Heavenly Father and Husband. Here is a small collection of verses from Psalms that I have clung to these last few weeks:

“He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3)

“The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  And those who know thy name put their trust in thee, for thou, O Lord, has not forsaken those who seek thee.” (Psalm 9:9-10)

Ed Note: The eulogy read by Gary Moll at the Memorial Service on April 19th, 2008 at Paonia Friends Church, written by Marilyn and Laura Moll (wife and oldest daughter).

Duane Edward Moll was born to Edward Carl and Anne Elaine Moll on January 4^th, 1952 in the Roxborough area of Philadelphia, PA. He was named after a dentist and a friend. He was their first born son and was followed by four brothers, Ricky, Gary, Edward Jr., and Robbie Moll. Ricky passed away in 1960, possibly from cancer.

Duane grew up in Roxborough and spent his time involved with school, church, band, and hanging out with his brothers. His mother is quoted as saying “I don’t care what you boys do, just don’t tell me about it.” His Uncle Les taught him clarinet and Duane played in the high school band as well as in his Uncle Les’ band. He showed great talent towards music.

Duane graduated from Roxborough High School in 1969 and went on to Penn State University. He studied forestry and graduated in 1974. He had a variety of jobs in Philadelphia including carpet installation, City of Philadelphia, and Keystone Lawn Care.

In 1973 Duane, and two of Duane’s good friends, Richie Blinn, and Matthew Cooper, took a cross country trip to Colorado where they explored places like the Monument, and Rocky Mountain National Park, and camped in Chief Hosa. His love for the mountains and the wilderness was awakened during this trip. In 1981 he took a rafting trip on the Snake River in Idaho and decided to move out west. In January of 1982 he moved to Denver and tried to find a job in forestry and found a job working for the City of Lakewood.

On February 14^th, 1982 he met Marilyn June Mitton during a Valentine’s Day dinner at Corona Presbyterian Church in Denver. Duane liked to retell the story by saying “I saw an angel come wafting down the ramp and she sat next to me.” Marilyn and Duane spent time together as friends and officially started dating in September of 1982. Some of their favorite activities were bike riding, Bible studies, and retreats with their church.

On Thanksgiving of 1982 Duane proposed and the two were engaged. On Christmas Eve of that year he presented her with a ring and they made the announcement to their families. Marilyn met Duane’s family that Christmas as well and after her proper New England upbringing, it was quite a shock to meet the rowdy Moll family.

On June 4^th, 1983 Duane and Marilyn were married in Corona Presbyterian Church. They honeymooned in Florida and returned to Denver where Duane was working for Wilhelm Lawn Care. Just 11 months later Duane became a first time father with the birth of his daughter Laura Christine Moll. He was convinced that his first born would be a son and the first words out of his mouth were “look at him, honey, look at him.” However, he was still pleasantly surprised to find that his son was really a precious little girl.

In 1988 Duane became a father once again with the birth of Stephen Matthew Moll on July 14^th and again on August 9^th, 1993 with the birth of another daughter, Mary Elizabeth Moll.

Duane always wanted to have his own business and started Horticultural Concepts in 1990. Since 1986 Marilyn had been baking her own bread with a mill and mixer that Duane had bought for her. She began teaching bread baking classes and selling mills and mixers as a hobby business. Duane named her hobby The Urban Homemaker and in 1993 her business had grown so much that Duane quit his job and the two of them ran The Urban Homemaker as a family business. Duane loved that their business was run out of their home so that he was able to be closer to his wife and kids.

Duane and Marilyn had desired to move out of Denver and live in the country for many years. In 2000, customers of their business, Lloyd and Jodie Wright, invited Duane and his family to visit their home in Paonia. Duane was planning on moving his family to Pennsylvania to be closer to his ailing mother in December of 2000 but in November of 2000 the Molls visited Paonia and as they left Duane said “Gee, if we weren’t moving to Pennsylvania, I’d sure consider Paonia.”

After living in Pennsylvania for a year, Duane’s mother passed away and he began to pray that God would provide a place for his family to live. In 2002 Duane and Marilyn purchased their home on Lamborn Mesa in Paonia and felt that this home was a perfect place for their family and business. They moved from Pennsylvania to Paonia in September 2002.

In August of 2003 Duane took his family to a physical and spiritual health conference in called Be In Health. This conference was significant to Duane’s spiritual walk as it brought him to a deeper understanding of God’s desire to bring His people to physical, spiritual, and emotional freedom. Duane desired to lead his family to greater depths of spiritual healing and wholeness.

In 2003 Duane began leading Bible studies in his home and they studied the books of James and Deuteronomy, spiritual healing, and Disappointment with God. Duane was also involved with Gideon’s and loved being able to make Gideon’s presentations at local churches as well as giving sermons in his church. Many people said that Duane should have been a pastor, and while Duane was passionate about teaching and discipling his family and friends, he desired to be a light in the business world.

Duane loved exploring and discovering the beauty of western Colorado. He took his family camping every year and made sure to take his children on father-daughter and father-son trips. He was devoted to his wife. On Valentine’s Day Duane gave Marilyn a card in which he said “Nothing means more than my marriage to you.” Duane and Marilyn would have celebrated their 25^th wedding anniversary this June and since September of 2007 Duane had been planning and praying about how to give his wife a beautiful and memorable anniversary trip to Hawaii.

His spiritual understanding and relationship with God inspired and touched many people. Duane had a vision for 15 years for the creation of “The Christian Home and Family Institute” that would teach people that the gospel was not just for fire insurance but that it was for all aspects of life as well as practical living skills. Duane was an exceptionally godly man and was dedicated to helping his family, friends, and church come to greater spiritual realizations of God and God’s love for his people.

View the most recent family picture here: (Scroll down)

I hope to upload the Powerpoint video presentation shown during the sharing time of Duane’s memorial service as soon as I have technological helps.

Fondly,

Marilyn Moll, Duane’s widow at age 56.

Dear Friends, Readers and Customers,

With the deepest sorrow imaginable, I must tell you my dear husband Duane passed away suddenly and unexpectedly Sunday night. We are all in grief and shock as he was only 56 years old and we had no indications ahead of time.

The Urban Homemaker started out as my hobby and later turned into our family business through Duane’s vision and hard work. The Urban Homemaker will continue to serve all your needs for products and information in the Spirit of Titus 2.

My assistants Sandy Tuin and Laura Rogers will do their best to continue a high level of service in the meantime. I expect to return to the office next week.

My daughter Laura is flying home from Iraq as I write. She has a very long almost two day flight.
My children have grown up in the business and will be able to help me carry on with the highest level of service you have come to expect.

I am totally unprepared to becoming a widow at the relatively young age 56. Duane was a wonderful husband and daddy and will be desperately missed by myself, my children, my church family, and you my customers.

I have written you all twice in the last year about how life is fragile embrace with thanksgiving the smallest of everyday blessings. Unfortunately, now it is my turn to understand in a personal way the truth of these words.

Your prayers for a smooth transition and God’s provision are most appreciated. Cards can be directed to our PO Box 72, Paonia, CO 81428.

With deep sorrow,

Marilyn Moll
The Urban Homemaker

Ed Note: The below comment was originally posted to my blog by Jill Ferris. There is a great deal of wisdom here. Read on.

Many years ago when I was worrying about how to eat healthily on a very very limited budget I met a young mother who was raised in a poor family (12 children) who told me what they ate growing up.

Basically, they ate cooked dried beans, cornbread and some sort of cooked greens (like turnip greens) for at least two meals a day all year long. She said they got ice cream once a year for Christmas or Fourth of July. That was it.

When she married and moved across the country she went to a doctor and dentist for the first time in her life and was told that she was the healthiest person they had ever seen. The dentist had never seen teeth as strong as hers!!

I thought about her parents and wondered if they worried all those years about not really “providing” for their family and wondered if they realized what wonderful health their children had because of growing up without refined foods!

Meeting her was reassuring to me. I realized that good nutrition can be very simple and very plain. It can be very very inexpensive. It, of course, must be balanced (the beans and the corn bread compliment each other and the greens are a wonderful food if not overcooked).

I realized that we could get very, very poor and still afford GOOD nutritious food!

So that’s my money saving tip! Relax, trust in God to provide what you need, ask Him to teach you simple ways to make nutritious foods (sprouting seeds is one of those ways; they are very cheap but highly nutritious!) and have the confidence to know that you are providing the BEST for your family!

The above tip was writted by Jill Ferris and I think this is a top tip for frugal eating!
Be encouraged.

Sometimes tremendous savings in the food budget can be made by cooking from scratch, compared to using pre-packaged, pre-processed convenience foods. In some cases, though, you may need to invest in suitable equipment such as bread baking equipment, quality stainless steel cookware and bakeware, water purification product, etc.

Duromatic pressure pans by Kuhn Rikon are one way I believe I really save time and money with my food and energy bill. In Europe, I’m told, most households have up to three pressure cookers to save energy as energy is more costly in Europe than America.

With ever increasing energy costs, homemakers are looking for ways to save energy and be “green” even in their cooking. A pressure cooker will save considerable cooking time for typical everyday cooking. For example, I cook broccoli for two minutes at full pressure. I cook quartered potatoes in five minutes.

Brown rice takes in 20 minutes. Pot roasts and meat loaves take about 15 minutes per pound to cook. Dry beans such as kidney beans and limas are done in 8-10 minutes when soaked ahead.

Pressure cooking enables you to cook less expensive foods like beans, grains, and legumes, as well as less tender cuts of meats very quickly with better taste and concentrated flavors.

Usually each spring we offer a special 5 liter Duromatic for a bargain price. My allotment of the special pans are usually sold in a few days or even less.

This year, Kuhn Rikon has discontinued this promotion. Instead they are raising prices April 1 an average of 10% or about $20.00 per pan.

So this year, what I am offering is the old (current) pricing for Duromatics while my supplies last.

Please read excerpts below from a recent issue of New Harvest Homestead Newsletter. Several homemakers shared their thoughts on the versatile pressure cooker.

Last week I printed the testimonial about a “poor” woman raised in a large family of 12 children who were fed beans, cornbread, and greens two meals a day most of the year. In her adult life, the doctors, and particularly the dentist, pronounced her extremely healthy.

I’ll admit it; at times I hesitate to serve beans and legumes as often as I could for fear I’m serving poor man’s food, and not pleasing the family. I need to remember, I’m the mom and I do know what’s best for the family’s nourishment and finances.

I hope you were encouraged to learn that this “poor” woman enjoyed vibrant health as an adult. I thought we could all be inspired if we shared with one another family favorite, tried and true recipes for beans and legumes.

New Blog Contest:
To get started I will publish one of my tastiest lentil recipes, Curried Lentils. It goes together quickly and easily, especially if you pressure cook the lentils first, which takes just 15 minutes.

If you have some family friendly recipes that rely mostly on beans or legumes, I am asking you to share your recipe(s) at my blog this week to encourage struggling homemakers who are trying to stretch their paychecks while adopting a healthier lifestyle.

I will award the best recipes with a complimentary bottle of safe and effective Norwex Fresh Wash for cleaning fruits and veggies ($26.99 value), or Norwex Carpet Stain Buster ($26.99), a complete carpet cleaning solution used for shampooing, spot cleaning, and deodorizing effectively without harmful residues. I have 2 bottles of each to give away to the best recipes or overall postings.

I just found out two of my favorite and most talented authors, Martha Green and Rebekah Wilson, authors of The Treasury of Homekeeping Skills and The Hope Chest and Grandmother’s Hope Chest books respectively, have a vision to train woman in many useful homemaking skills that you probably weren’t taught by your mother growing up.

Their vision for The Homemaker’s Mentor is to provide you with helpful, illustrated lessons designed to inspire and expand your homemaking skills. As each lesson is learned your homemaking skills increase and are refined and your enjoyment as a home keeper expands. Despite the hustle and bustle of life surrounding you, your home will become a welcome haven for all who enter.

Here is a sample lesson with over 50 uses for old and mismatched socks.

Current lessons include:

How to Grow an Indoor Herb Garden,
Beans, Beans, and MORE Beans,
Sample Dreams! Homemade Pillowcases
Detail Cleaning of the Master Bedroom

I believe that learning new skills from older, like-minded women will bring you a deep and satisfying in enjoyment in your role as homemaker.  Check it out!

If you are ready for an older woman to hold your hand and teach you skills you have always wanted to learn, The Homemaker’s Mentor is for you.

A delightful, beautiful, talented 13 year old homeschooled girl died in our town on Easter Sunday. You see, she was at her voice lesson last week and was fine.

By Wednesday she came down with some sniffles and cold symptoms most likely caught from her brothers.

By Saturday, her mom took her to the ER, and she was treated and released.

On Sunday she collapsed before arriving at the ER and arrived in the emergency room in grave condition. She was immediately flight for life to Denver. They lost her on the ambulance ride from a helicopter to a hospital. Her mom was on the helicopter but not in the ambulance.

That suddenly a life was taken by almighty God whose timing is always perfect. We humans don’t understand these things. I don’t.

I feel bad and have moist eyes just writing this note as the burial is in about an hour.

My daughter Mary was looking forward to playing several duets with her at the piano recital in May. She is stunned and saddened.

There is a family that needs a lot of prayer. They say you never get over burying a child. The medical staff at the hospital is devastated. There are a lot of people this young lady touched in just the few months she has lived here. Pray for all of us. I’m not too good at funerals. I”m taking lots of hankies.

Last week I talked about the best way to address emerging contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals, in drinking water.

Many people wrote to me asking me to clarify what the benefit of an R/O (Reverse Osmosis) Drinking Water System is, and how they can know which type of system is best for their family.

Today, I want to clarify the pros and cons of Reverse Osmosis water purification technology.

First of all, it is a HUGE misconception to think any R/O system will remove all known contaminants. R/O technology does not even remove chlorine nor most chemicals in water.

R/O systems are best known for removing minerals and were developed for desalination of seawater aboard Naval vessels. R/O technology will also remove cysts and bacteria.

Most R/O systems are combined with other technologies, that is, they include another filtering medium such as a solid carbon filter to remove the chemicals as well as chlorine, chlorine disinfection by-products, etc.

A two-page brochure called, The Challenge compares all the major drinking water technologies and shows which contaminant groups each is able to remove. This flier also shows you where to get more information about addressing the water purification problems unique to your home.

The cost of maintaining an R/O system is higher because you have to replace sediment filters, solid carbon filters and the R/O membrane on a regular basis to make sure it is working properly.

Most homeowners on city water do not need an R/O system because they usually
do not have bacteria or harmful minerals in their water that only R/O
will address. In general, the only time an R/O system is needed is
when the water is high in harmful minerals such as sodium or nitrates.

R/O systems, because they remove all the minerals from the water, create an acidic water which, as it goes through the body, tends to make the body more acidic. Some health researchers believe this acidic condition may be a precursor to degenerative disease.

Also, as this water goes through the body, it has been demonstrated on laboratory animals to pull minerals from the body.

We could sell hundreds of Multi-Pure R/O systems but we don’t believe in over - selling or selling a product that is more expensive than is necessary or that is not needed.

A solid carbon filter is more than sufficient for most drinking water issues and shows the most hope of addressing emerging contaminants, according to The Water Quality Association.

The Multi-Pure Solid Carbon Drinking Water System is a superior choice at a better price, in my opinion, because it has been certified to remove more contaminants of health concern than any other solid carbon system on the market according to third party, not-for-profit testing done by NSF, Intl. (nsf.org)

There is NO ONE BEST system for all circumstances. As a general rule, solid carbon technology is the best choice if you are on city water, however.

What Are the Questions Your Should Ask When Buying a Drinking Water System?

Choose your FREE GIFT!

With every Multi-Pure Drinking Water System Purchase, we are offering a choice of one of a choice of two free gifts.

Option 1:
New! - H20 On the Go Bottles – Receive two of these attractive new insulated 17 oz stainless steel bottles to transport hot or cold liquids. A $39.00 value

OR

Option 2:
Multi-Pure Shower Filter
The Multi-Pure shower filter is an indispensable part of reducing exposure to chlorine in showers.
A $49.95 value.

Promotion ends – May 31, 2008

All Multi-Pure Products SHIP FREE! This special promotion is also good in conjunction with Filtermania. (Pre-pay for 10 filters and you will receive the stainless steel

Sincerely,

Marilyn and Duane Moll

If you listen or read news headlines in the last few weeks, you have been hearing  all  about higher food prices, sharply higher gas prices, mortgage banking crises, wheat shortages, economic woes and so forth.

Many of you are familiar with Living On A Dime and with Tawra and Jill’s money saving, get-out-of-debt, frugal living and homemaking tips.

Well, Tawra has let me know that Living On A Dime is extending a very special offer to you, my readers. This offer includes all of the Living On A Dime e-books in one package along with free bonus downloads.

The “Savin’ O’ The Green” e-book package will help you learn new strategies to stretch your paycheck and fight high prices!

The great news is that Tawra is offering this package to you at $17, a substantial discount off of the regular price for all of these e-books. With the rising price of gas and groceries, it’s good to know that some prices are actually going down!

This collection of ebooks is a $119.00 value,  for just $17.00!

I just had to share it with you! Check it out!