Thank You

Thank you, my friends, for your comments, emails, messages, thoughts, and prayers. Please know that I read every single one of them...more than once. The love you showed me and my sweet momma helped me through the most difficult moments of my life. 

Even though I knew the day would come, I was not prepared for the grief and sadness of the final goodbye. My mom was the constant in my life. She was there for every single moment, the happiest days, the sad ones, the challenging ones, and the joyous ones too. She was always there for me, holding me up and cheering me on.

I am thankful to God that I could do the same for her. On her last day, my sister Margie and I held her hands, sang with her, and reminded her she was indeed the best mother ever. She was beautiful, peaceful, cozy, and warm. 

She is laid to rest now, next to my Dad, and I am sure she is rejoicing in heaven. She taught me many things, including finding joy and adventure in every experience. I kept a list of things she said these past few months that I wanted to remember. Margie and Mom called me every day after lunch. One day last summer, during one of those phone conversations, I said, "I don't know anything exciting! Sorry about that!" And Mom's response? "Well, just being together is great!" 

A new chapter in my life begins..one without my momma here. She is and will always be near, though. And I will try to live every day with the joy she brought me and so many others in my heart. Again, thank you. I appreciate everyone who took the time to reach out to me and my family. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. My mom sang all the time. One of her favorites is this one:

Row, row, row your boat

Gently down the stream.

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

Life is but a dream.

Life is, indeed, but a dream.

Billie Jo