Dear Mom,

Happy Mother's Day.  I never dreamed in a million years that you wouldn't be here to hug on Mother's Day.  You know that it's been 5 months since I've heard your voice or squeezed your hand or saw your smile?   I miss you like crazy and there are days I just want to pick up the phone and talk for hours...

Dad is getting up every day and making it through.  It's hard.  He misses you more than words can say.  We stopped by the columbarium today and I think if there was a way, he'd move heaven and earth to bring you back.  He loves you so...

Did you know that Travis finally made it through the Fire Fighter Academy and has been hired locally?  He's so thrilled and he looks so good in his uniform.  Watch over him as he dives into danger, please?  He is such a good daddy.  Autumn and Aubree light up every time he comes into the room.  Autumn turned two in April and Aubree just turned 4 months.  I wish you could have met her.  Little Aubree is an angel, sweetest chubby cheeks and wide innocent eyes.  She snuggles up close and has the most adorable smile.  You would have just loved her to pieces...

Katie and Jordan celebrated their first anniversary a few months back and we all reminisced about their beautiful Wedding at Sea on the Cruise to No Where.  You were there.  What memories we made.  I can almost feel your arms around me as we hugged after the ceremony.  You were there encouraging, supporting and cheering us on as we struggled to turn the potential disaster into a celebration that will always be remembered.  And you were right, in the end love wins out everytime.  It did, and Katie and Jordan are still head over heels in love.  You would smile to watch them...

And me, I'm doing okay.  You didn't raise a ninny!   I know you want us to move on, to live life full and in color.  But... just every now and then, we wallow around in our grief.  It's okay, we don't stay there long, but oh, do we miss you.  I want to feel your hug, to hear your laugh, to walk through your front door and smell your pot roast and sit down to a big family dinner...

I cherish those moments and love the life you made for us.  As our family grows and we with it, I am learning more and more by the example you gave.  I love my daughter and granddaughters more than a heart can express, and am now the Mom and Memaw that they look up to.  Whisper in my ear just what to do to, to love them as you loved me...

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Love you always and forever...

                      Jane