Gone too soon...but not forgotten

I know we are supposed to outlive our parents but it is hard when one of them is taken from us when we are young. 23 years ago today my mom left this earth.

My mom had brain cancer and died when I was 13...she was just 39.  She was such a light to everyone around her.  I remember her always being the field trip mom at my school...she was everyone's mom.  She volunteered at another local school and worked with Down's Syndrome kids who she loved. She always encouraged me to not let my hand (birth defect) hold me back from doing anything (monkey bars, gymnastics, dance, etc). She had such a tender heart and sweetness about her. I hope I am like her when I grow up! :)

I'm a little sad today thinking about all of the things she has missed in my life: my high school and college graduations, my first job, the day I got my driver's license, my prom, and my wedding day.  I'm sad that she never met my husband...I know she would have loved him. I think it's important to take a moment to grieve your losses on days such as today.

But I also think it is important to remember the good things too:

-Singing into our hair brushes at the top of our lungs to "Twist and Shout" by the Beatles;

-The time she made us late to school so we could find a specific phone booth that a radio station would be calling so we could win a radio contest (we got sweatshirts)

-The way she would always make me egg salad and let me watch soap operas with her when I was home sick

-The songs she would sing to me every night before I went to sleep (with a glass of warm milk)

I hope and pray that my memories of her don't ever fade.  And I hope that I will see her again one day.

I love you Mom!