Yesterday was the fifth anniversary of my Mother going home to be with the Lord. On one hand I can’t believe it has been that long. On the other hand, it seems like forever.
We jokingly say in my Mother’s family that we have to choose the holiday of our passing. Our Grandfather was buried on Christmas Eve. Our Grandmother passed away on Thanksgiving. Mom was Valentines Day. I am sure her brother breathes a sigh of relief when holidays pass!
It feels right to talk about her on this day, but I talk about her on most days. She is seamlessly woven into the fabric of my heart and mind. I remember her voice, her laughter, her expressions, conversations. Did I always repeat, “as my Mom used to say…” as frequently as I do now?
She comes up in conversation. We all have our little keepsakes that remind us of her in some way. I see her in our children. I hear her coming out of MY OWN MOUTH!!
She was and is loved, remembered and missed.
To live in hearts we leave behind
Is not to die.
~Thomas Campbell, “Hallowed Ground”
Oh heart, if one should say to you that the soul perishes like the body, answer that the flower withers, but the seed remains. ~Khalil Gibran
Some day you will read in the papers that D.L. Moody of East Northfield, is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it! At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now; I shall have gone up higher, that is all, out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal- a body that death cannot touch, that sin cannot taint; a body fashioned like unto His glorious body.
Author: D.L. Moody
We are all the better for having had her love in our lives.
John 14:1-30 ESV
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.
John 3:16 ESV
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
I firmly believe she is in heaven, decorating and gardening for the glory of her Lord and Savior. We will see her again.
Still No Whining Allowed 
I am glad you posted this beautiful testimony of the type of relationship you had with your mom and of the person she was. It also speaks of the person you are and the relationship you have with your children. It speaks of love through and through. An appropriate topic for Valentine’s Day.
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Just beautiful. You honor your mother.
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Ditto the comments above. (((hugs)))
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Sweet and well deserved tribute to your mom. I have such wonderful memories of times our families spent together. For whatever reason, when I looked at your pictures that you posted, I couldn’t help but remember her laugh. It matched her smile.
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