Whoa!

Ok, so my last post was on February 15th of this year. So much has happened since then. So, I will attempt to recap the last four months.

John, Lily, and I went to James Madison University in February for a CHOICES orientation of accepted students. It was a fun weekend in Harrisonburg. Shelly spent her weekend in Williamsburg at the Great Wolf Lodge with a friend.

In February, we had the kitchen backsplash tiled and were thrilled with the outcome.

John and the girls took a trip to North Carolina and I stayed back and enjoyed a walk on the beach with Fynley. The sky was beautiful.

Lily and her friends cheered on her high school basketball team as they made their way to the state finals.

On March 5th, I took a drive down to 47th Street at the beach where my mom has a brick dedicated to her in a beautiful garden. I sat for quite awhile and chatted with her and really felt peaceful with the sun on my face and the ocean breeze behind me.

On that same date, the 5th, Lily found out if she had been accepted to Virginia Tech. And, she had!!!! We were beyond thrilled for her. She immediately let us know she wanted to be a Hokie! It was a great day and I'd like to think my mom had a little hand in helping Lily along the way.

Lily served as one of two presenters for the National Honor Society induction at her school.

At the end of March, we celebrated my dad's 85th birthday with a family party. We had everyone over for stromboli and cake. As a special gift for my father, we asked loved ones and some well known people he admired to write a letter to him. We presented him with a box of letters filled with memories from his past and present. It was a great evening for all of us.

John and I are the co-owners of a new company and we are happy to see it growing and becoming successful. Shelly and I accompanied him one night when he was working on a project at the airport.

We celebrated Easter early and then set off on a trip to Ft. Lauderdale and Miami for Spring Break. It was such a fun family adventure and I'm always happy when we are able to travel together.

More updates to come!!!!

Kitchen Memories

Years ago when I moved into my own apartment, my mother gave me a few things to get me started in my new kitchen. She gave me her yellow mixing spoons and her oven mitts. 

I loved these items. Not because they were brand new and looked stylish, but because they were my mom's. They conjured up so many memories of my young life in my parent's home.

But, like most older items, they were becoming a little dingy and in need of replacement. So, I bought some new oven mitts and found a few mixing spoons at TJ Maxx. I debated about what to do next with these old pieces that held so many fond memories. So, I whipped out my phone and took photos of them so that I could  remember all of the happy thoughts they invoked.

And, yes, I did finally throw the mitts and the old spoons away.

Artwork

This piece of art makes me so happy. My sister-in-law put together a photograph of the old WRV (located on Norfolk Avenue) and a salvaged window frame to create this amazing piece of artwork. I can't get over how much I love it. 

It reminds me of my teenage years when I would go with my mom on Sundays to WRV to shop. At that time, blue laws were in effect and that meant that stores were closed on Sundays. But, we lived in a resort city, so the tourist and surf shops were allowed to stay open. And, that's exactly where we would go. I have so many fond memories of those Sundays with my mom and this photo, happily, reminds me of them.

My Mom

This is one of my favorite photos of my mom and dad. It was candid and spontaneous and we were on our way out the door for dinner. 

It has been seven years since my mother passed away. I miss her every day. We recently moved back to our hometown and I keep looking for signs from my mom. I definitely know she's here with us. I can feel her helping my family adjust to all the changes in our lives. But, I'm always eager for a physical sign from her. Maybe I'm just missing those signs and need to be more open to seeing her in my life. 

I miss you, mom. I love you so much and I'm so glad that I was lucky enough to have you as my mom. From your compassion to your strength to your love and your insightfulness, I can only hope to be half as special to my girls as you are to me. 

A Picture

Today I sat and stared at this photo for a really long time. 

I studied everything about it. My mother's perfect hands. Her eyes filled with love. Shelly's little thumb by her mouth. Her eyes closed tightly and her full head of hair. 

It made me long for so many things. I thought about how much I miss my mom and how much I wish she were here to see us coming "home". I thought about how much love she had for my girls and how much they loved her. I thought about the innocence of that sweet little girl. The one who will turn 12 in just 9 days. A picture is truly worth a thousand words. I love both of them so much. 

Mother's Support

Mothering is a full time and difficult job. There are the days where it's all fun and games and easy breezy. Then there are the times when tough decisions need to be made. The times when life isn't exactly as you have envisioned. And that's when you need to be a strong role model for your children. And as I heard quoted on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air (yes, really), "parents shouldn't be a dictator they should be an advisor". So, with those words in mind, I attempt to guide my girls and help them make some good decisions for themselves. Just like my mom did for me. 

When I was in the 5th grade I ran for Student Council Vice President and I lost. I was an incredibly shy girl and the idea that I even had the nerve to run is amazing to me. But, I know that I was encouraged to do it thanks to my mom. 

The next school year, she helped me make campaign posters and cute badges to run for Student Council President. Again, I'm shocked to realize that I opted to run after my loss in 5th grade. But, I'm sure it's because of the positive reinforcement that my mother showed me. She believed in me and that was enough. And, once again, I lost. 

The moral of this somewhat sad tale is that I kept trying and I had my parents and my sisters right behind me. It was a great example of how to create a loving and supportive family in the good times and the bad times. 

I hope that I am sending that same message to my girls. I hope that I'm showing them that they can be strong and do tough things even when it seems impossible. 

As I type this, Lily has been selected as the new Secretary of her Student Body and I couldn't be happier for her. 

Simply the Best

I'm lucky enough to say that I had a mother beyond compare. A mom who taught me how to be a loving mother to my own girls. 

Happy Mother's Day to the best mom! Love and miss you every day. 

Thank you girls, for being such happy, interesting, and lovable daughters. I'm so proud to be your momma. 

A Place in the Sun

This weekend I went to Virginia Beach to see my dad and my sister. We went to the beach to see the brick that my father purchased in my mom's memory. It's part of a brick walkway at Buff's Garden on 47th Street. Such a perfect spot, too. The view from the walkway looks out at the ocean. So glad that our family will have this place to go to and remember our mom. 

Happy Day

Wishing my mom a very Happy Birthday in heaven today. I imagine she is surrounded by the people she loves with our cats and dog, Lucy, celebrating with her. We all miss you and love you so much!

Remembering

Six years ago today my mother passed away. I miss her every day. Love you, mom. 

Call

Call your mom if you are fortunate enough to have her in your life. 

Exactly six years ago to the day and the date, I talked to my mom for the last time. 

The girls were out of school for a snow day and we had all been out to lunch and then did some grocery shopping. I called my mom on my way home from the store. We talked about nothing special. It was just an ordinary conversation and we ended it as we always did by saying "I love you". 

It would be the last time we talked. I somehow think it might be exactly how my mother wanted it to be. An ordinary chat between us without any knowledge of what would happen to her in less than 48 hours. 

And for me, I wish I could have said more to her. I wish I had the chance to explain how important she was to me. I wish I had asked my mother more about her life. When I think of the things I didn't get to say, I hope that she knew how much I loved her. What I wish most is that I could pick up the phone and call her and just chat. 

If you can, call your mom. 

WWMD

What Would Mom Do?

I lay in bed at night and ruminate over my various concerns and worries and most times the prevalent thought is, what would my mom do? How would she handle this situation? What words of advice would she offer? 

I think of my mom every day. I miss her every day. And when the going gets tough I think about her words of wisdom and calm demeanor in the face of a storm. I try to not only conjure up what her answers might be, but I also try to channel my inner "mom". I take a deep breath, close my eyes, think practically, and try to find the solution. That's the image I have of her. I think of her calm words even when she might not have been sure how to handle issues with me or my sisters. But we never knew that. She always sounded confident and smart and guided us without being a helicopter mom and without making too many judgements about our decisions. 

I don't think I have fully evolved into being that type of mom, but I do know that I can always ask myself...WWMD? And that brings me great comfort. 

Perspective

At this time of year I might miss my mom more than ever. I miss her enthusiasm for the season. I miss the way she decorated her home, how she helped me hunt for the perfect gifts, and her mince meat cookies!!! :)


But, as I think about her I am reminded of my great fortune. I was lucky enough to have this mother who embodied all the virtues of motherhood. She was a strong woman who showed me how to be a loving and caring mother. 

So while I miss her each day, I need to remember that I am beyond blessed to have loved someone so much.

Grandma's Note

My mom was so good at making my girls feel special. She wrote sweet notes and she created fun birthday gifts for the girls. I ran across a note from her to Lily. It was a simple message about Lily's upcoming birthday and my parent's trip to Hawaii. I loved how she included the map for Lily to keep up with their travels. She knew how to make things interesting and fun for them.

I love looking at the many cards and notes I have from her. I'm a saver of letters and cards and at times like this, I'm grateful that I have them. As always, I love and miss her.