Blue funk >tears >nostalgic smiles

My blue bunk this am  was caused by  missing mom, as most of you knew I am sure.  I was dreading getting out the Christmas stuff  but it turned out to be a good thing.   Kinda long but a nice story anyway.  
11 yrs ago we moved into a brand new house.  Mom was so proud of us as most moms are of their kids accomplishments.  Come that first Christmas,  and all those that followed including last yr when she was so weak.  She found excuses then just plain invited them over because she wanted to help decorate for Christmas.  First yr  we didn't have much in way of decorations as wed had a small place  but mom always enjoyed digging out what was there then  wandering around there and there deciding where to place things (even if I didn't like it and changed it later) putting bits and pieces together.    making something pretty out of nothing (she was an expert at that).   She loved going out cruising the resale shops to see what we could find then going looking for new stuff and finding  places for what we  we had just bought  changing what we had already done  or remaking new things out out more bits and pieces and such. 
Mom just plain enjoyed fussing around here with the holiday decorating stuff for a few days.   Just loved spending time here  enjoying our new house,  us  any kids we had the upcoming holidays that kind of thing. 
I was dreading getting out the stuff this year knowing I was going to miss mom so much.    And I did miss her     I did cry  then  I started remembering when she put this together  or how much fun we had looking for just the right ribbon for that,   or the time she carried something for over an hr,  something I didn't care for and wasn't gonna buy but she liked it so much  but couldn't afford to buy it for me but wanted if for a certain place in a decoration  here in my home and carried it till I finally had to buy it so we could leave the store!      I remembered the great care and love she took to make the Nativity just right because that was the most important part of the decorations  How wed sit in silence holding hands looking at the lighted tree after everyone was in bed.   How many memories  this house holds precious memories  of my mom and that's just for 11 years!   My mind went back to child hood and found so many more memories!   
I Miss mom  Christmas will be hard  but she will be here  just like she was here today  enjoying the decorations with me!!

I am so touched by your post.

It made me think back to how hard it was to deal with the loss of my parents.

I can only tell you that this is probably the first of many time that you will be comforted by the memories of you mother.

You see I have found that there always seems to be some way that my parents come back to touch my life.

I might just feel down and a picture of my Dad or Mother will just fall from a book or turn up in a drawer when I least expect it.

When I have problems and think how on earth did my parents get through this stuff. I have a memory I had long forgotten, or one of my brothers or sisters will remind me of How my parents did something just like it.


You will find that even though your mom is moved on to be with the angels that she will pop into your life when you least expect it or when you need her most. You never really loose them because they seem to keep and eye on you.

I know this sounds like I am a weirdo but I can't explain it because it just happens.
It might be a smell or a person in the store that sends you a memorie of you mom.

God Bless You.

(((jo))) i know where you are coming from sweetie.....memories will ALWAYS be with us...it hurts but then it gets better in time so we can smile with the memories!!!!

Jo....what a beautiful post....it brought tears to my eyes.

I miss both my parents....espesially my mom....it has been a lot of years but I somedays feel like she was just here yesterday. The memories are always there!!

Blessings to you and yours!

Hugs....connie d

Tears in my eyes, too, Jo.  Thanks for writing the lovely tribute to your mom.  The love always stays with us.

Jo,

You touched a raw nerve in me and I can truly say I understand from both the perspective of having lost my Mom 8 years ago now, to my most recent loss. . .

That first of everything is hard, the memories come, wanted or not and while time is the great healer, the missing does not ever go away, but the fond memories, those are to be cherished and brought out, that is how we honor those we loved and your post so does that.  Your Mom is proud of you still and I know that when my own Mother passed there was lots of things I never got to share with her, such as purchasing and moving into my very own home on my own.  On an early spring day, I received a gift, it was close to Mother's day and I was missing her terribly, I was walking Dillinger and thinking how my Mom would have been proud of my buying the home I now had and that I wished she could see it, well, as I walked Dillinger, I noticed a peonies bush (my Mom's favorite flower (and mine and my oldest daughter too)), that day I got to work and in the reception area they always got new flowers on Monday's and there was a beautiful arrangement of peonies and other flowers, that same evening as I walked Dillinger, my neighbor on the other side of my house was cutting flowers off a peonies bush, when it suddenly dawned on me, this was my Mother's way of showing me she sees and is proud of what I have done. . .  while my story may bring a tear to your eye, it is meant to comfort and let you know, physically her presence is gone, but her spirit lives within you and if you tap into that spirit, you will always feel and know her to be right there, it will not alleviate the pain, but it might help you to remember that when you think of all the happy times you shared, that is honoring to her spirit. . .

With love and understanding, Laureen

A post script to what I shared with you, I know my Mom and my dear cousin Roselle were there to welcome Dilllinger and keep him close until I arrive, as they too loved him. . .

My heartfelt sympathy to you on these days of missing your mom, Jo.   It's a hard, hard thing but you are always going to enjoy your strolls down memory lane.   My mom didn't spend pennies, don't know why, and had jars and stashes of them all over the house.   We glued some inside her casket and my sister covered bowling balls with them so we all have a keepsake.  Now, whenever I really need my mom, I find a penny from heaven.   In the driveway, on the car seat, in front of a store.   I choose to believe my mom is letting me know she watches over me from the sidelines.  I also choose to believe that your mom watches over you.
Blessings to you and yours this holiday season.

Tuna