Celebrating Mom: Cherished Memories

Today marks my Mom's one year angelversary. 

On June 5, 2014, Mom slipped out from the chains of this world

 and marched joyfully into her eternal home.

It still seems impossible sometimes that my Mom isn't with us. 

She planned to live to 120, but that wasn't God's plan for Mom.

I know I'll shed some tears today

I've already shed a few

The tears are about me, Mom

and not at all about you.

You're done with your journey -- you finished the race

I know there's a smile upon your face

While all of us who you left behind

Feel so alone and out of place.

Just for today, I promise I'll try

To cherish the memories as I wipe tears from my eye

I'll celebrate who you were and all that you loved

And try to stay busy so I won't sit and cry.

You loved all of your children

And our kids and grandkids too

Your God and the Girl Scouts

And the kids up at school

You loved Snoopy, Coke and ice cream

KFC and little boxes of juice

Playing with babies

And walking downtown

Working your puzzles

And word searches too

Your Mom and your Daddy

Brothers, sisters and grandparents too

Of course you loved Daddy

And he loved you too

We came from that love

And I'll always thank you

Once a young Mommy

You loved each of us so

Each of us special to you

From oldest

To youngest

And the middle kids too

We were a handful together

Some worse than others

But you were so proud

That we all called you mother

That twinkle in your eye

So wonderful to see

Was reserved for the grandkids

Who filled your world with glee

Some of them lived nearby

And others far away

But all were Grandma's favorites

Whenever they came to play

You taught us well, dear Mom

To make the best of things

To put our faith always in God

And know that He's in charge

To cherish those you love

And that chocolate's always best

To light a special candle

When anyone needs help

To take time to smell

The flowers of life

To take it as it comes

And know that this too shall pass

Our God is a God of mercy

Of hope and of endless love

Our Mom who we all love so much

Is waiting with Him above 

On your first angel anniversary

Always in my heart

Never forgotten

Always loved

XOXO Love, Ciss

Mom Showed Me the Way

They say that only a Mom really knows

How quickly life moves, how fast time goes.

From babies to toddlers to school girls and boys

Rattles and stuffed animals to being too big for toys.

Those older and wiser try to tell the young Mom 

To live life while they're young, they'll soon be at prom. 

Soon driving and laughing, or texting all day 

Growing and changing and moving away.

A Mom's heart breaks with each ache her child feels 

Though she tries to soften the blows making deals. 

With God or with man or whoever she can 

To help her son grow up to be a man.

To moms everywhere on your own special day 

Your job is to see your children on their way. 

To manhood and to womanhood too 

Until you soon have no more job to do.

Moms take the blame for whatever goes wrong 

And pass out the praise when the boy's big and strong. 

'That's my boy' or 'That girl is mine' 

Pride in your voice, eyes that do shine.

As you look toward your children, now grown 

You know that you'd give up all that you own. 

To go back in time, if just for a day 

To a time when the baby in your arms did lay.

The future still so far far away 

For now just only time to play. 

And knowing then what now you know 

How quickly that little baby would grow.

A good Mom works herself out of a job 

The kids grow up and time does rob 

The days away and memories too 

Leaving Mom sometimes sad and blue.

But don't despair, Moms here and there 

Before you know, life will soon be fair. 

When that baby of yours has a baby too 

For you to hold and rock and sing to.

That's what the older ones all know 

Life's endless circle as little ones grow. 

You've done your job, you did your best 

And now you've earned your little rest.

Thanks to all the Moms, especially mine 

You raised all eight, should have been nine. 

You saw us all through thick and thin 

You did it all while wearing a grin.

Because you knew our time would come 

We'd have to let go of our own little ones. 

Wave good-bye and choke back our tears 

Let them go their own way despite all the fears.

Thanks dear Mom for showing me the way 

And for teaching me how to sing and to play. 

Showing me what a good Mom should do 

When I grew up, I became just like you. 

- Sandy Wallace, May 2, 2012

One of the perks of being a freelance writer is the freedom to write about whatever I want. I originally wrote this poem as a Mother's Day tribute to my Mom, published in May 2012 on the Yahoo Contributor Network. During the month of May 2015, we've made it through two more firsts: the first Mother's Day without our Mom and Mom's first birthday in Heaven. 

They say the first year spent grieving the loss of a loved one is the worst and that the pain lessens with time. Almost a year ago, we said our final good-byes to Mom and Dad. Mom died on June 5, 2014, and Dad followed her to their eternal home just 16 days later on June 21, 2014.

As I turned the calendar from May to June this year, those two dates stood out on the calendar as bleak reminders of this grief-filled year. Mom's homegoing took place early in the morning of my younger grandson's sixth birthday. Perhaps this was God's way of giving me a reason to celebrate June 5 each year, instead of just grieving. It seems fitting to republish this tribute as the date of Mom's death approaches.

I captured this photo of my Mom on one of my many visits back home. Mom always asked me to call when I was getting close to home so she could be ready and probably so she could be on the front porch waiting for me -- my personal welcome home committee of one. Dad was usually waiting inside, except when he was gone to Boy Scout camp.

This is one of my fondest memories of Mom -- waiting for one of her children to come home. Whether standing on the front porch waiting in the middle of the day or sitting on the living room davenport waiting in the middle of the night, waiting for her kids to come home is just what Mom did.

One of Mom's favorite sayings was, "You take it as it comes." Mom waited for us then as she waits for us now. When my days on earth come to an end, I expect to see Mom waiting for me on the other side -- my personal welcome home committee to Heaven. Until then, I'll take it as it comes. I Love you, Mom! You're loved and missed always.

Happy First Birthday in Heaven, Mom!

You were smiling on your birthday in this photo five short years ago. You joined us in the birthday song: "Happy Birthday to ME," you sang.

When I think of you today on your first birthday in Heaven, this is just how I see you -- filled with joy, laughing, singing and happily surrounded by your parents, brothers and many others you love.

I know you're safely home with God, just where you're supposed to be. But that doesn't stop the pain deep in my heart that comes from missing you. 

I think of you in the morning, when each day dawns anew. I think of you in the day, remembering lunch time walks taken while talking with you by phone. I think of you in the evening and when I close my eyes to sleep. You're never far from my thoughts.

You dropped a penny down to me the day you went away. As the days have passed by, the penny pile has grown -- and includes nickels, dimes and quarters too.

Some days when I look up to the sky, I see angel clouds or clouds shaped like hearts and I know you're watching over all of us.

Sometimes I see butterflies -- often in pairs -- dancing in the meadow or flitting from flower to flower. Maybe you've sent them down so I'll feel your love surrounding me.

I can't send flowers to Heaven, but I'm sure that there's no need. Heaven must be filled with flowers much more beautiful than these. 

Heaven's the perfect place -- more beautiful than we can imagine. How fitting it is that my beautiful Mom is forever at peace in such a wonderful place. None of us knows just what it's like up in your eternal home. Perhaps Heaven is filled with all of your favorite things.

Maybe there are brownies for breakfast -- or anytime your heart desires. 

Perhaps there's a Jayhawk or two to keep you warm.

Heaven may hold a puzzle stockpile to last you through eternity.

There may even be a Snoopy or two up there in Heaven with you.

Maybe there's KFC up there for you to enjoy.

Coke in Heaven? Who knows -- but whether or not there's Coke up there, I'm sure that you're wearing that same big smile. Because to be in God's presence is certainly worth smiling about.

The streets of Heaven may be paved with gold, but maybe there's springtime flowers too.

We miss you here every day, but you're finally reunited with so many of those you've loved and missed for years.

Here's flowers for you to enjoy, Mom
All of your favorite colors are here
As I look at flowers in my garden
I feel your presence here.

Happy Birthday in Heaven, Mom
I'm sure the celebration's grand
I'll try today to choose joy over sadness
As I remember the warmth of your hands

You're always in my heart
Even if I can't see your face
I know you're up there waiting
For us all to be together in that perfect place.

 

On your birthday and always
You're loved and missed forever
With all my love
XOXOXO Ciss

A Mom's Love Lasts Forever

This post is dedicated to my Mom and my Mother-in-Law. Mom gained her angel wings on June 5, 2014. My Mother-in-Law Lurlene gained her angel wings on January 31, 2015.

The love of these two moms will always be in our hearts. Thanks Mom and Lurlene for making me and Kenny who we are today! We love you forever!

When you're a little kid, you really don't understand a mother's love. Yes, you know your mom loves you, but you really don't understand the depth and breadth of that love.

As a child, you don't realize that your mom would do anything for you -- that she would even give up her very life to save yours.

Babies are self-centered by nature, so God created moms to be selflessly in love with their children. When a baby's cry pierces the night, mom is awake and ready.

Moms learn maternal love from their own moms, who learned from their moms. Whether or not that look of love is captured in a photograph, the love of mother for child is timeless and lasts forever.

Although tested by her child's actions and words, a mother's love endures through the terrible twos and the challenging teen years.

A mother stands behind her child in times of trouble and sadness. She stands beside her child in times of joy and celebration. Even if she lives far away, a mom is always just a phone call away.

When little girls grow up to become moms, they truly understand how deep their mother's love goes. As you look into the eyes of your own baby, you begin to truly realize your own mom's love for you.

As your own children grow, your mom is the first person you reach out to in times of happiness. Your mom's also the person you seek out when things go wrong and you need advice.

That mama love extends to grandchildren too. That's why your children can do no wrong in the eyes of their loving grandma.

Moms of all ages cherish special family celebrations. Weddings, birthdays, graduations, holidays and other happy occasions fill moms and grandmas with joy to sustain them through more difficult times.

As time goes by, your mom becomes so much more than just a mother. She's your friend and advisor, your strength and wisdom, your rock.

I've lived far away from my mom for my entire adult life. As a result, most of our family celebrations didn't include my mom, but many have included my mother-in-law.

My trips back home were usually in the summertime or right after Christmas. It was rare for all of us adult kids to come home at the same time since we're all scattered across the country.

Although Mom disliked having her photo taken when she was younger, she mellowed with age and was okay with posing for photos, especially with her grandkids.

In recent years, it's been wonderful to go back home to celebrate my Mom's birthday with her. As an adult, you understand -- even if you don't accept -- that nothing lasts forever.

I'm grateful that Mom was willing to pose for photos more as she got older. When she was younger, she hated being photographed and often hid her face.

It's very true that the older you get, the more you appreciate your Mom. It's also true for many of us that the older we get, the more we become like our moms.

That thing about becoming more like our moms as we age is true with moms and sons too. As adults, we take on qualities we admire from both of our parents.

Time stands still for no man -- or woman. So, as we move forward in our life together, we honor and cherish the memory of our parents by living as they would want us to live. As they shared God's love with us, we have shared God's love with our children and grandchildren.

As they loved their children, we continue to love our children and grandchildren. One of the secrets of life that you realize as you get older is that love is worth so much more than things. Life goes on and life is good.

Happy Mother's Day in Heaven to our moms. Together with our dads, they are singing with the angels as they are joined together forever. Mom always said, "Some day we'll all be together."

But that day is not today. So for now, I'll take what I can get when I can get it and do the best I can to face each day with a smile on my face, a prayer on my lips and a song in my heart.

Blogging Grandma Sandy, signing off for now.