Remembering Mom

It's hard to believe it's been four years already. She fought long and hard, and lived longer the any of us expected, but finally mom lost her battle and went home to be with the Lord.

I miss her.

I try not to have regrets in life, so I choose to learn from the mistakes my mom and I made in our relationship.  I do miss those sweet times that we were close.

She was a good mom.  She was not perfect, though who is.  As I have grown as a mom I have come to understand and appreciate her "failures" and faults, to see the reality of how hard being a mom really is, and how much she tried.  At the end of the day all she wanted was good things for us. She really loved us kids and sacrificed daily on our behalf.

There are days when I long to pick up the phone and ask her something...for that recipe, for a childhood memory, for mothering advice...

I wish she could see how much her grandchildren have grown. To see what a beautiful young lady Anna is turning out to be (and how much Anna loves books and wants to own a huge library of books like her grandma).  To see how much Claire resembles her.  To meet Katie.  To know my young men and how strong and brave they both are.  And because of the influence she had on my life, how her grandchildren desire to walk with the Lord.

Today I remember her life.

I am so thankful for the years we did have together.

Today there is an ache in my heart.  But I look forward with hope to the day I can see her again in the presence of the Lord.

I just have to say that I love this picture of mom with us kids.  It's not the best picture, but it makes me smile.  It is real life...the life of a mother, and oh how I can relate to that. :)

Mom and I share a birthday. :)

I love you mom.