James Nunn

Tag: Dawn Olive Nunn

  • 6 Years On. Dear Mom.

    August 2, 2024

    Dear Mom,

    Today marks six years since you left us, and not a day goes by that I don’t think about you and miss you dearly. Your love and guidance have always been my anchor, and I find myself constantly drawing strength from the memories we shared. I wish you were here to see how much you’ve shaped my life and the person I’ve become.

    This past year has been particularly eventful. We had the wonderful experience of hosting an exchange student, Michele (Michael). It was incredible to see the world through his eyes and to share our culture with him. As you had seen with our first two guys, they all become like family, and Michele’s presence reminded me of how much you valued family. I have often thought of how proud you’d be of this enriching and educational journey. You would have loved Michele, as I know you would have loved all of our kids.

    We spent some time traveling around the USA, which I know you probably miss more than anything. We went to a few new places, and reacquainted ourselves with a few from years gone by. There have been so many locations where I’ve shared with Chris or Michele about how much you would have loved being there. Moreso when we revisited the Grand Canyon, and drove along Route 66. Traveling provides opportunities to enjoy moments of quiet reflection, and there were times when I felt your spirit alongside me. You always loved to travel, and I carried a part of you with me on every trip.

    I still often find myself thinking to call you and talk about the things we are doing, and I hope you feel those moments as strongly as I do.

    I miss you every single day, Mom. Your absence leaves a void that can never be filled, but I find comfort in knowing that your love surrounds me always. Thank you for being the incredible mother you were, and for continuing to inspire me even from afar.

    With all my love,
    James

  • Celebrating a Legacy: Remembering My Mother on Her 85th Birthday

    Celebrating a Legacy: Remembering My Mother on Her 85th Birthday

    Today marks what would have been the 85th birthday of an extraordinary woman – my mother. As I navigate through this bittersweet day, I find myself enveloped in a sea of memories, each a testament to the remarkable (and hard) life she led and the enduring impact she has left on those who knew her.

    Mom and I at The Ryman in Nashville TN

    Mom was a beacon of strength and resilience, touching lives with her unwavering compassion and boundless love. She always has a way of bringing a smile to your face, sometimes funny and sometimes in response to something she said. She had a way of making everyone feel special and loved, a gift that made her a cherished figure not only within our family but in our community as well. 

    Reflecting on her life, I am reminded of the countless lessons she imparted, especially to me. From her, I learned the value of resilience, the importance of kindness, and the unyielding power of love. I also inherited her stubbornness which is both a blessing and a curse. She was a woman of grace and dignity (most of the time), facing life’s challenges with a quiet yet formidable strength. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched and the love she shared. Especially among her children and their offspring. 

    On this day, her 85th birthday, I celebrate her life, her love, and her legacy. While she may no longer be with us in person, her spirit continues to guide and inspire me every day. Happy birthday, Mom. Your memory is a blessing that continues to light our way.

  • Four Years Gone: Miss You Mom

    Four Years Gone: Miss You Mom

    Miss you every day, but I’m reminded how much I miss you on this day when you left us. Love you mom. Life just isn’t the same without you. Miss telling you about everything going on with our lives.

  • Hello Mother. Three Years On.

    Hello Mother. Three Years On.

    Hello Mother. It is I, your number three son.

    I remember the first FB message I got from you. “Hello James … this is your mother.” I’d been trying to get you to set up a Facebook account for months, maybe a year or so before, and then one day, out of the blue I get this message with a friend request. Little did I know the carnage that was about to be unleashed on the farming community when you got into Facebook. I’m not sure they ever did recover.

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  • Letter to Mom – Two Years

    Today is fast becoming my new mother’s day. Not in a way to celebrate, but more to honor my mom. I often talk with her and let her know what is going on, and this year, I’m writing a letter to my mom, to keep her updated on life as it has happened without her since she left us. In a way, it is my therapy.

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  • Life Story of Dawn Olive McCullough

    As I continue to explore my family history, I will post occasional life stories of individuals from my family tree. These will be noted with who each person is to me.

    Ancestor Reference: Mother

    When Dawn Olive McCullough was born on November 30, 1938, in Seymour, Victoria, Australia, her father, David, was 22, and her mother, Vera, was 19.

    Dawn was the eldest child of Vera and David, and together they had two other children. Dawn’s father, David, fought and died for his country in the Fall of Singapore in 1942. Vera had five other children with Len Smith, which Dawn helped raise.

    At the age of 18, Dawn married Donald Martin George Nunn on September 28, 1957, in Tallarook, Victoria, Australia. They had five children in 15 years. She died on August 2, 2018, in her hometown at the age of 79, and was buried in Tallarook, Victoria, Australia.

    At the time of her death, she had 8 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

    Ancestry Life Story, edited by James Nunn

    Life Story of Dawn Olive McCullough as of May 7, 2020Download

  • One year…

    Me holding my mother’s hand after she had passed away. It was a brief moment I got to have shortly after my mother passed away.

    One year ago, we listened as you took your last breath. There was silence. There was sadness. Our hearts were broken and an emptiness began to form, as we came to the realization that you were not going to be there with us anymore.

    One year ago, at 10:15 PM on that Thursday night, our lives changed.

    We miss you every day!

    Love you mom!

  • Six months… a letter to mum

    Six months… a letter to mum

    It seems I post a lot about time recently. Time passing by quickly, or in some cases slowly. Today’s post is a reflection of time in a letter to my mum.

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  • Happy 80th Mom!

    Happy 80th Mom!

    Mom’s 73rd Birthday in 2011

    Eighty years ago in a small town of Seymour, Australia, my mom – Dawn Olive McCullough – was born. It is hard to fathom everything that mom lived through in the time that since she was born. She celebrated seventy-nine of her birthdays on this earth, including her seventy-third (73rd) with Chris and I and friends in 2011. That was the first birthday I had celebrated with her in nearly twenty years. It was also the last birthday I celebrated with her. This year, we celebrate her birthday without her being physically here, but fondly remembering her in spirit and with love.

    Celebrating over the years, here are some pictures from our time with mom.

    Happy birthday Mom. I love you. Always will.