Dear Mom,

Life has changed in unimaginable ways for you in the past few months and life will continue to change for you and the ones you leave behind when you complete life’s journey.  There is one thing that has not changed since the moment Jodi was born, that is your incredible work as a mother.  For your birthday this year, I poured my heart out into a letter to you and at that time figured it would have to cover mother’s day as well, because as much as I hoped that you would still be with us for mother’s day, I was not sure that would happen.  I am so very happy that it has happened.  Every day I get to spend with you is a blessing.  When you reach the end of your walk through life I want you to look back and be proud of what you did, not sad for what could have been.  I also do not want you to feel that you have been a burden in anyway, shape or form because that simply is not true.  It was an honor and a privilege to give back to you just a smidgen of what you have given to me.

Know that regardless what happens in the future, your children will be alright.  Things work out just as they are meant to and no amount of worry on your part is going to change that.  So relax and live the rest of your life as stress free as you can.  You have spent your life to this point worrying about, protecting and guiding your children through life’s lessons.  You did what the most perfect mother should and could do.  You gave us love and filled us with your wisdom. We are your shadow.  We are the result of your investment in life.  For that we cannot thank you enough.  Be at peace with the knowledge that our lives will be charted by the compass you gave us.

Be brave and strong in your faith, that it may [when the time comes] guide you to the other side and into the arms of the family that has gone before you.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY – 2014