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DEL.ICIO.USShe was a devoted mother
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
She kept bags of oats and flour at home.
Sandra S. Schroeder liked to bake bread for her family. Fresh, healthy meals were her forte.
“There wasn’t a can of cream of mushroom soup in the house,” said Stephanie Schroeder, a daughter-in-law who lives in Lawrenceville.
Sandra Schaffer married Daniel Lynn Schroeder nearly four decades ago. He was 20. She was 19.
Early on, the couple concocted a plan. They would have kids by the time they were 30 or so. They’d raise them prim and proper, and send them on their adult way. Then, the couple, empty nesters, would enjoy life.
Like any good plan, though, changes arise.
The couple, Indiana natives who moved to Lilburn after years of mission work, did indeed have kids. They’re grown up now — Ben, 28; Leah, 26; and Christy, 22.
They didn’t stop there, though. Through the years, the Schroeders adopted six other children. Their family looks like the United Nations, a rainbow coalition.
Laura, 13, hails from Ecuador. Peter, 12, is from South Korea. The other four kids, all black, came from domestic adoptions: Eli, 7; Emma, 7; Sam, 6; and Katy, 5.
My wife and I have two kids. Seems like we’re always on the go, doing something domestic — laundry, sweeping, mopping and cooking.
Imagine a household with six kids, all those clothes to wash and meals to prepare. And to top it all off, Sandra Schroeder home schooled all but one of the adopted brood. Peter, who’s autistic, attends school.
Stephanie Schroeder is married to Ben, the oldest biological child. Their son, Scott, seven months old, is one of two grandsons that Sandra Schroeder doted over. Stephanie Schroeder visited her mother-in-law often. She saw what the woman put into the job, what it demanded.
“To say that she was a full-time homemaker, mother, and wife doesn’t seem sufficient,” she told me. “The first word I think of is sheer love.”
Bruce Bliss is the associate pastor at Lilburn Alliance, Daniel and Sandra Schroeder’s church. He told me about a conversation he had with Daniel. The electrical engineer told the pastor that the couple always sensed a higher power directed them with each addition to the family.
“They see this as their mission, the reason God put them here,” he said.
And plans were in the works to oblige once again.
A week ago today, Sandra Schroeder was a passenger in a Toyota Corolla that was traveling south on Five Forks Trickum Road. Police say the driver of the Toyota ran off the road to avoid hitting another car, lost control and entered the northbound lane hitting a Dodge Caravan.
Schroeder, 51, was transported to Gwinnett Medical Center. On Monday, she died from her injuries. A memorial service was held Thursday at Lilburn Alliance Church.
Across the planet, thousands of kids would love to live in a home where mom bakes bread.
In Lilburn, there’s a blended family that was in the process of trying to do just that for at least two more children.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Rick Badie
Comments
By michaelo
April 9, 2007 9:16 AM | Link to this
How often have you seen cars parking illegally in Disabled Only designated parking spaces? Many times I have seen the law breakers committing the crimes with their impressionable children.
How often have you noticed that the individuals doing it are young fit and indifferent to the necessity of the physically disabled?
Why is it that police patrol cars ALWAYs ignore these infractions?
Considering that these infractions can generate 500 dollars for the county or city that the police belong to why do the upper ranks of the cash strapped departments not seeing this as a win win if enforced? Think how many other laws these individuals are breaking when they feel that such a public crime is ignored.
Living near Peachtree corners I see these laws ignored everyday at upscale shopping centers such as “The Forum” and the center at Peachtree Parkway and Peachtree Industrial. With a Gwinnett County Police sub station across the street.
May be a story should be done tracking these law breakers that only care about their own individual laziness rather than those that are disabled. An additional story should be done about why the police ignore these law breakers.
By kjphotog
April 9, 2007 9:38 AM | Link to this
great column rick. keep ‘em coming. to michaelo, what does THAT have to do with this topic? I’ve seen this same screed on SEVERAL blogs and NONE of them on point.
By Emma
April 9, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this
How many good Christian families can you name that have opened their hearts and homes to children of all races and abilities? I wish more people would actually practice the principles of Jesus like the Schroeders have. God bless that family.
By Michael H. Smith
April 9, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this
What a heart wrenching story. Grace may be sufficient as scripture says but the world is certainly an emptier place without Sandra S. Schroeder. Earth’s loss is heaven’s gain.
By phatz
April 9, 2007 12:00 PM | Link to this
It always seem like the most unexpected to pass - pass too early.
and dolts like me breeze on thru.
doesn’t seem fair… maybe heaven is heaven and hell …is earth.
By kelly Person
April 9, 2007 3:54 PM | Link to this
MichaelO, Your comment seems to be off topic. However, I have to agree with your that its rather nasty that people are so selfish that they would park in spaces that by law and morally should only be used for those that are disabled.
Its really very un-Christian of these people to no care about those that are less fortunate than they. Who is less fortunate than the disabled.
I often go grocery shopping on Sunday after church and have seen nearly every time going people (entire families) getting out of their cars all dressed up and going into the store. Looking at the cars there is no sign of the disabled sign and because of their dress its apparent that they just came from church. Obviously they have learned nothing from the sermons given on the pulpits. Its also sad that these people are teaching the children with them the acceptability of breaking the law.
Our savior truly did die for the sins of those alive today.