A Tribute to Mom




Today would have been my mom’s 70th birthday here on earth.  This year she celebrates in Heaven.  



As I remember her today the things that come to my mind is how much she loved family and family gatherings.   She probably was at her happiest when all four of her kids and all 7 of her grand kids would descend upon her house.  Even with all the chaos that would ensue from 4 different families with 4 different eating habits, quantity of children and different parenting techniques, she still treasured those moments.





She loved her grandchildren-all 7 of them.  She loved cuddling them when they were babies, entertaining them when they were toddlers and playing with them when they became pre-school age.  She’d swing with them on the old wooden swing that hung from the large walnut tree in front of her and my step-dad’s property.  She’d play hopscotch and endless games of Candy Land or some other parent-torturing game that for some reason never bothered her to play it for the 100th time that week. 



When I was younger, she was the mom who rolled down the grassy hill with us and took us to parks, the library and sometimes as a special treat; Baskin- Robbins ice cream.  She was the mom who chaperoned field trips and made homemade goodies to send to school on your birthday.  She always said all she'd ever wanted to me was a mom-and she played her part well.



I wish I could find and write the eloquent words to convey who she was.  My siblings and I remember her through the music she played (tortured) us when we were kids:  Elvis Presley, Neil Sedaka, The Big Chill Soundtrack & the Big Bopper’s-“Chantilly Lace” song. 

We reminisced about her candy cravings: Toffay, Neccos, Red Vines and black licorice.  I recall how her popcorn always tasted so good when she made it and it was a staple when I would have overnight visits at her house.  She’d pop a large bowl & we’d share it while we watched movies.  

We recalled some of her recipe disasters-pumpkin pie without sugar, grilled cheese with the wrapper still on the cheese, and pork chops so dry you thought you'd eaten sand.  But her homemade noodles that she painstakingly made each holiday-a recipe from her mother-were a family favorite at our gatherings.  Her homemade rolls-also a recipe from her mom-were the softest, buttery morsels.  Her sugar cookies she made each Christmas were one of my favorites, the way the cookie just melted in your mouth was divine. 

And though the last 2 years she’d been preparing us all for this moment as her health declined, I’m not sure any of us were really ready for it.  Can you ever really be ready to have the person who gave you life and has always been there when you needed them the most-to not be there anymore?  There is a small hole in my heart that won’t be filled until the day I see her in Heaven.  My peace and comfort during this time is in knowing that I will see her again someday and that I have the promise from my Lord Jesus that we will be reunited.  And all will be well.  

Thank you Mom for loving me and instilling in me the importance of family. 







And with that-it is this song that gives me comfort through my tears of sorrow for my loss & joy for my Mom's gain:







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