tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63381032011-09-04T20:16:22.430-07:00Dedicated to Mrs. Heide Hillmom, teacher, sister, neighbor, wife, daughter, friend...CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comBlogger391100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-31586962869650318632010-02-01T10:37:00.000-08:002010-02-01T10:38:01.698-08:00We missed Heide very much at the annual Hill February Birthday gathering yesterday. My Mom, wife Wendy, Jordan and Heide all have birthdays in the first 5 days for February. Jordon and Morgan both look great and are doing great and serve as shining legacies of Heide.David HillCarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-33842062366278652522010-01-15T15:11:00.000-08:002010-01-15T15:12:06.791-08:00(smile)CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-12483972530629288122009-08-20T19:38:00.001-07:002009-08-20T19:38:56.405-07:00It’s that time of year again....excitement, new school clothes, crayons and thoughts of Heide.... Jeannie :)CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-64151849100183293722009-01-19T16:40:00.000-08:002009-01-19T16:41:39.140-08:00I was just surfing the web and blogged my name. I was directed to Heide's page and my past comments. Of course, she is on our minds this month - we can't believe it's been 5 years. On Sunday, February 1st - Heide's 45th birthday, we will gather as a family for her birthday, mine (2/2), Jordan's and Wendy's (2/5).We will lift our glasses to our beautiful Heide as if she were with us, which she CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-2153830750814410802009-01-14T19:47:00.000-08:002009-01-14T19:49:38.104-08:00no snow, but wonderful sunshine instead...perfect.CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-33052463041557005452008-01-15T08:42:00.000-08:002008-01-15T08:44:15.331-08:00A little snow and a two-hour delay for Hillsboro and Beaverton schools...perfect.Thinking of you today!CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-379514548653671152007-03-05T21:16:00.000-08:002007-03-05T21:18:40.386-08:00I was thinking about Heide today and was so glad to see that Carrie had posted to the site. Strange things still keep happening and I know Heide is pulling strings up there. On January 15th, my husband and I went to the cemeteryand Joe and Claudia showed up about 2 minutes after we did. There are a lot of daylight hours, why did we all showup at the same time? Because Heide wanted us to. She CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1170362235993501552007-02-01T12:36:00.000-08:002007-02-01T12:37:16.003-08:00Happy Birthday, Heide! Loved looking at your picture today! :)CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1168582465056715582007-01-11T22:05:00.000-08:002007-01-11T22:14:25.080-08:00There is something about cold weather in January that makes my mind wander to Heide Hill... "Heide and Marcy's" class is in the fifth grade now. And very soon, all those kids will scatter to middle schools, but she will always be a part of them, always be a part of Rock Creek.I sit on her bench in the entry-way quite often with kids who need a "walk and talk." I bet she'd have the perfect wordsCarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1137823439314887852006-01-20T22:03:00.000-08:002006-01-20T22:03:59.326-08:00This January 15th when I was coming home from the cemetery, a cat ran infront of me on the drive home. I slammed on my breaks and instead ofcussing, I started laughing at the thought of Heide and all of her cats. Ididn't hit the cat and I just sat there for awhile. This was only one signthat she is still all around us.As I started back to school after Christmas break, I sort of had a CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1121633858504320062005-07-17T13:56:00.000-07:002005-07-17T13:57:38.510-07:00Summer is already half over and stores are advertising "back-to-school" sales already. It's now that Heide really occupies my thoughts. She would already be thinking about the new school year, hardly letting go of the last.Jordan and Morgan are at the beach this week-end with Kristen who has been a great friend to the girls as Heide knew she would. They spend every Thursday with Marcy and her CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1116986313237254052005-05-24T18:57:00.000-07:002005-09-01T21:45:28.586-07:00Tuesday, May 24, 2005As I think about packing up my classroom and moving to Texas, I reflect on the last seven years at Rock Creek. Heide comes to mind. She was one of the first to truly make me feel at home.I remember a conversation we had about strong women. We each thought the other was one...and...we were both right!Heide would be happy that my husband has a job and we will once again be CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1107271053527131052005-02-01T07:16:00.000-08:002005-02-01T07:17:33.526-08:00From Jim's mother, Jane:
Today is Heide's birthday. Mine is tomorrow. Jordan's is on Saturday, as is our daughter-in-law Wendy's. Heide's mom, my dad, and my baby sister who died in infancy also have February birthdays. I find this to be very comforting. I felt bad that my son's wives usually ended up sharing their birthday weeks with their mother-in-law, but they never complained. I CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1104981009855339812005-01-05T19:09:00.000-08:002005-01-05T19:10:09.856-08:00Hi, everyone Jim Hill here and yes I do check the blog! Sometimes I just go back and read all the nice things Heides friends have written, it makes me feel good!! Me and the girls have been doing great, its been a long tough year. When you think of Heide don't be too sad, she would be very unhappy with us! She would want us to be strong, to live life and be happy and that’s what me and the girls CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1104895667144658692005-01-04T19:19:00.000-08:002005-01-04T19:31:33.606-08:00Hi friends of Heide Hill and family, thank you for checking in on this little website. It is now January 2005, almost a year has gone by... Now that the weather is cold, and snow is predicted, it seems a little like deja vu. On Friday, January 14th, Rock Creek School will celebrate its 30th Birthday. We will celebrate all that a wonderful school can bring to its community. We will celebrate the CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1079034748852396072004-03-11T11:52:00.000-08:002004-03-11T11:55:38.436-08:00Good morning, my name is Brian Horne and I have the pleasure of serving as the principal of Rock Creek Elementary School. I am very privileged and honored to share a few thoughts with you about Heide on behalf of the Rock Creek staff. Before I get started I need you all to understand that the things I share today just scratch the surface. As a staff, we have many, many stories and memories CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1077649171415038292004-02-24T10:36:00.000-08:002004-02-24T11:22:04.093-08:00The Essence of Heide
I am Jim's brother and Heide's brother-in-law. Jim asked me to speak today not because I necessarily knew Heide anymore or any better than others, but because I was the closest family member that he thought could actually make it through a talk about Heide today. While I am not so sure Jim was right about me making it through, it felt so good to sit down and think about CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1077399967769144252004-02-21T13:42:00.000-08:002004-02-21T13:48:51.610-08:00God Bless The Teachers
and God Bless Pamelajean, and SallyJo, may she rest in peace. It is a tribute to a person who makes a lasting impression while on earth, and the church at your Celebration of Life is overflowing and your many friends stand up and speak eloquently about your life and your impact.
Our children are so lucky.
~Carrie~CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1077341248664807502004-02-20T21:26:00.000-08:002004-02-20T21:37:46.890-08:00With Jim's permission, I am pleased to reprint words spoken at Heide's service:
I’ve always said that Heide was the best one out of the four Kosmalski daughters. Paula and Gail agree. Mom and Dad say that is not true and we are all special. But then again, they are the parents, and have to say that. Every day I strive to be half the person Heide was, and I still don’t even come close.
HeideCarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1076460757766700402004-02-10T16:52:00.000-08:002004-02-10T16:55:06.326-08:00I spent time with Heide in the beginning of January and we
talked and cried about what lay ahead. I had come to visit and help care
for her. Her grace healed me. I treasure the many memories I and my family
have of Heide, Jim and the girls.
~Your loving cousin-Bonnie
CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1075791068183458822004-02-02T22:50:00.000-08:002004-02-02T22:53:26.123-08:00Heide took on many roles during her life - mother, sister, teacher, friend.
The one role that she would never assign herself because she would instantly
turn red, is that of hero. Yes, Heide is my hero. I can't even listen to
Bette Midler's song, "Wind Beneath my Wings" and not think of her. Below
are listed the Top 10 Reasons Heide is my Hero:
10. Heide looked cancer in the face and told CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1075498900878650782004-01-30T13:40:00.000-08:002004-01-30T13:43:54.466-08:00(click on "archives" at right to see comments dating from January 15)CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1075336048439138252004-01-28T16:26:00.000-08:002004-01-28T16:29:39.483-08:00It has taken us a while to regain our composure, all the while gaining our thoughts and memories of Heide Hill. The latter has been easy to do . Our family has only wonderful, warm, cherished memories of her. Our 4 children were blessed to have her as their teacher. Cory, 1st and 2nd grade (multiage), Amber, 2 years also, Jillian, math and Chad, this year. (That's a lot of years with Clifford.) CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1075248675000950712004-01-27T16:09:00.000-08:002004-01-27T16:13:24.873-08:00"YOU GO GIRL!!!!" That is what I always said to myself when I would run into Heide on one of her neighborhood walks. She always greeted me with a beautiful smile and a sparkle in her eye. As we went our separate ways I always had a lighter bounce in my step, she lifted my spirts whenever I saw her.
I feel honored to say that Heide Hill was a friend of mine. To make myself feel better, I CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1075234598003794322004-01-27T12:15:00.000-08:002004-01-27T12:18:47.640-08:00What can I say about Heide that already hasn't been said? All I know is that every time we were toghether, we would laugh. Sometimes so hard we would almost cry. That was my friend Heide. The goofy things that we did at work (in high school) just to get through the day, we still talked about all the time. With Heide, you always knew it would be fun, rain or shine. Those summers at the coast with CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1075136217439265942004-01-26T08:55:00.000-08:002004-01-26T08:59:04.890-08:00When I moved to Oregon in the summer of '94 Heide was one of the first
people I met. I will never forget her big smile as she was swimming with
Jordan in the baby and me class at Aloha High School. We weren't friends at
that time, but she emitted this aura about herself that I would never
forget in the short four weeks we were in the class.
About two years and a new house later I was walking CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1075063059782922052004-01-25T12:36:00.000-08:002004-01-25T12:41:33.560-08:00please feel free to email your thoughts to me at: cmatsuo@aol.com I will be happy to post them. thanxCarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1074978338174652862004-01-24T13:03:00.000-08:002004-01-24T13:07:43.843-08:00Heide was my angel here on earth:-) In all my life I have never met anyone like her. I remember when I heard that she had cancer, I feared the worse. Because, if I were looking for Angels, I would pick Heide.
The thing that I remember about Heide the most was how she would never say anything bad about anyone, believe me, several of us tried. When we were being caddy at a Soccer Game, Heide CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1074883827139929382004-01-23T10:49:00.000-08:002004-01-23T10:52:31.450-08:00Heide found a place in our hearts the first time Jim brought her to meet us. I was elated that he had found such a beautiful, loving, gentle young woman to love. Over the years, Heide's spirit and love of life pervaded the Hill family and her influence gentled even our patriarch, Tom. He couldn't do enough for Heide and loved to tease her. Jim's brother and sister and their families loved to CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1074831734922773622004-01-22T20:21:00.000-08:002004-01-22T20:26:00.046-08:00My Loving Wife
As I read the posting I smile and cry, even I am amazed at the amount this woman had to give. I truly believe we are all better people for knowing her, I know I am. I thought I could write something but I was wrong I will say that your words touch my heart and inspire me. Soon I will have the kids read these great stories about their mother.
A truly CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1074630957829101992004-01-20T12:35:00.000-08:002004-01-20T12:37:57.670-08:00Words really fail me when I try to come up with something to share about that AMAZING woman, Heide Hill. Integrity, respect and grace all come to mind.
Our daughter Sophie was so fortunate to have her as a teacher for 1st and 2nd grades. We felt so fortunate that she could experience the nurturing "nest" of "Clifford's Tree House" for two years. As someone said at her memorial service CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1074529401771489802004-01-19T08:22:00.000-08:002004-01-19T08:25:20.043-08:00Heide was my daughter, Laura’s, 1 & 2 multi-age teacher back in 1993 and 1994. She was so positive, sweet and kind – Laura loved her! We’ve seen her often as my son, Steven, moved through Rock Creek Elementary as well, although he didn’t have Heide for a teacher. We have the sweetest picture of Heide and Laura at Africa Day that I treasure. Our deepest sympathy goes out to her family and our CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1074487051390433362004-01-18T20:37:00.000-08:002004-01-18T20:40:31.123-08:00please email me at cmatsuo@aol.comif you would like to add any thoughtsCarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1074486849999599622004-01-18T20:24:00.000-08:002004-01-18T20:37:58.873-08:00I am a mother of a freshman (Jordan) at the University of Oregon who was blessed enough to have Heide Hill touch her life in 1st and 2nd grade. When Jordan was going into second grade I remember in the summer when she was waiting to find out which class she had been assigned to ... she was hoping and praying that it was Mrs. Hill again because she loved her soo much. When Heide was pregnant CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1074486220787723772004-01-18T20:23:00.000-08:002004-01-18T20:25:38.450-08:00When I think back on Heide's battle with cancer these past few years, the
thing that comes to mind is courage. What a courageous woman Heide was...
never without that beaming smile. Even chemotherapy and radiation treatment
could not dim the twinkle in her eyes. I feel sad for all the children who
will never experience her amazing teaching skills but also blessed that my
son Timmy was in her CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1074301921211153832004-01-16T17:11:00.000-08:002004-01-16T17:13:56.076-08:00I would just like to say that Heidi Hill is truly an inspiration to all. She always had a smile on her face. What a beautiful person inside and out. You can take away her hair, nails, and eyelashes, and still she glowed beautifully! Heidi left this world with dignity and grace.
I hope she is at peace. And know that she will be watching over her girls from above. She will be missed. She CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1074283688959519832004-01-16T12:02:00.000-08:002004-01-17T08:05:57.343-08:00The morning after
Today I have seen God's grace in action: as our Rock Creek School community awoke to the grief and sadness of the passing of Mrs. Hill, I saw teachers and staff doing what they do best. They were containing their pain, speaking clearly and caringly to students, giving hugs, being strong. What a tribute to Mrs. Hill, to know that her colleagues, her friends, in spite of their CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1074233245552541372004-01-15T22:06:00.000-08:002004-01-15T22:09:19.356-08:00If you would like to add any posts to this page, please email me at cmatsuo@aol.com
CarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6338103.post-1074232934605376182004-01-15T22:01:00.000-08:002004-01-15T22:04:08.466-08:00Dear God,
Thank you for giving us Mrs. Hill. We are a better community because of her. Bless her family during this difficult time, and may they find strength in knowing she touched hundreds of children and made a difference.
Carrie MatsuoCarrieMatsuohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08869684409265575804noreply@blogger.com