It is sort of with mixed emotions that we celebrate Mother's Day this upcoming Sunday. For me personally, Mother's Day has taken a different approach, now that my mother is no longer with us. This is the second Mother's Day without Mom, but she is still very near and close to us and in our best thoughts and memories.
I have distinct memories of Mother's Day as a child and youth. Huge home cooked Sunday dinners that Mom prepared on "her" day. As we got older, the kids would prepare a nice Mother's Day dinner of roast chicken or pot roast, mashed potatoes and all the sides. As well as Mom's home made rolls and various home cooked desserts. As I am typing this, I can see in the back of my mind, my parents dining room with Mom's pretty china, flatware, glassware and serve ware. With all of us getting ready to celebrate as a family. The smell of her rolls. The smell of Mom's perfume. I miss her tremendously!
I learned a lot from my Mom. Particularly a love for cooking and entertaining. We had so much fun in the kitchen growing up with Mom. Dad worked his butt off to allow Mom to stay home with the eight kids. The above picture was taken with Dad the day of our wedding. Mom and some of my sisters had just completed the beautiful wedding cake, and she freshened up and then came back with Dad for pictures.
I love this picture of Mom. This was taken the Christmas before she passed away. Though her numerous strokes debilitated her, and she could not do many of the things she was accustomed to doing, she never gave up and persisted to the very end. A family tradition is making gingerbread houses at Christmas. She use to decorate them elaborately. This particular holiday season she had just as much fun making the royal icing and a mess in the kitchen, watching her kids and grand kids make gingerbread houses of their own. We all suspected that she would not be with us for much longer, so we made the holiday season in 2005 a very memorable one for kids and grand kids alike.
With Mom's passing in 2006, Mother's Day is now a time to reflect on my own personal memories of Mom, and the memories we have of my Mom since we've been married. As we prepare to expand our family through adoption, I have moments of frustration of not being able to talk to her about our process and just ask for her advice on so many levels. Not being able to hear her voice has been the hardest for me. Though I get sad at times and miss her tons, I know I'll be able to see her again and be able to someday introduce our daughter to her. Her "Grandma."
I love you Mom. Not a day goes by that I don't think about the impact you've had on my life, and the sacrifices you and Dad made for all us kids. Your perseverance, your dedication to faith and you teaching the importance of hard work and having fun along the way. Your children and grandchildren love you, and miss you. I miss you. Happy Mother's Day!
7 comments:
I love her and miss her too! I'm so happy that we have each other to get through hard times and to rely on the Lord for strength. I'm so grateful that we know we will be together as a family forever...even more so now as we move forward with our adoption. I know with all my heart that our daughter will know your mom and my dad even before she'll know us. They are a part of this adoption even though they are not with us physically.
Maybe your mom is preparing your sweet daughter right now to be with your little family. What a wonderful tribute to your mother. She looks like she's having fun in every one of those pictures!
What a beautiful tribute to your mother! And I echo the two comments before mine, I think she is helping right now to prepare your little girl for you.
Thanx alot pal, yer blog not only brought a tear to my one good eye, but it seems my lazy eye can weep some.
I lost my Mom at age 11 and it still sux though I've made friends with the pain and the Gospel gives us a promise that most of the world is unaware of.
What a neat tribute to your Mom. I am so glad I got to know her. Holidays are hard when a loved one passes. You truly have a great family and I'm glad my daughter has become part of such a sweet family.
I loved the pictures of your beautiful Mom... I miss her too and life just isn't quite the same without her in it. I have been thinking about her a bunch lately and missing her. She is and was a beautiful woman in every sense of the word... We love you Aunt Sherry...and miss you with all our hearts.
I love these pictures, especially the second one. They make me cry because I know soon pictures are all I will have of my dad. I miss your mom, my sister and don't want my dad to leave me!
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