Mother's Day 2007

Abby wrote in her blog, AbbyNormal, about a memorable Mother's Day.  It was a prompt from Mama Kat's blog that I'm not super familiar with.  However, after reading Abby's post, about her memorable Mother's Day and Mother Day thoughts in general, I thought I would share the story of my Mother's Day in 2007.

I know I have shared this story before on one of my blogs, but I don't remember which blog, though I know it wasn't on any recent blog and as I have some new readers, I thought why not share it again. I had not thought of this Mother's Day for years until just a few days ago, even before reading Abby's blog about her memorable Mother's Days.  So maybe it is time to share it again.

My mom died on December 13, 2006 at the age of 85 years old. She had lived a good long life but you know how you want your moms to live longer.  If your mom is still alive, treasure the time spent with her.  You won't regret any moment that you do.

My mom got sick at the end of November 2006 and got admitted to the hospital with what would be diagnosed as fungal pneumonia. She was pretty darn sick.  She lived in the Washington DC area with my sister and her family and at the time my husband, son, and me were living in Southern California; having just moved down from Montana a few months before in June 2006.  My sister kept my brother and me informed of my mom's illness, progress, etc.  My sister pointblank asked the doctors how much time my mom would have in case family members wanted to come and visit. The doctors pointblank said 10-14 days.  My sister relayed that info to us. 

My brother, his wife and one of his grown children went to visit my mom and said goodbye to her basically.  I was in denial.  I did not think my mom would pass.  I did not go and visit her.  The night before she died, she was the most alert she had been during the whole hospitalization. I thought she had been buoyed by my brother's visit (her favorite though she would never admit he was her favorite) and I thought she had made a turning point to getting better. My sister later commented that during the whole time she was visiting my mom, my mom was very alert but she kept looking beyond my sister.  Almost like she was seeing someone else in the room.......(I like to think perhaps it was Jesus calling her home). A few hours later my mom slipped into a coma and it was decided to withdraw care as she was not getting better nor would get better and let her peacefully pass.  I said goodbye to her over the phone.  I like to think she heard me.  

In the interest of keeping this short and not novel length, I won't list why and try to explain why, but I did not go to her funeral.  Looking back, I would have done both (gone to visit her and her funeral) and I regret not doing so, but you can't take back something after the fact. 

I grieved like anyone would grieve losing their mom.  And life went on. 

Mother's Day 2007 rolled around. I already knew it was going to be a tough day. The first one without my mom alive. So I braced myself the best I could, knowing there would be tears. 

I got a wonderful gift though from God.  And yes, there were tears, but there was also a wonderful gift.

At that time, I was volunteering in the nursery of the church we were going to.  I was scheduled to volunteer at the 9 o'clock service on Mother's Day.  Another lady was also scheduled to help out.  One baby was checked into the nursery that morning for the 9 o'clock service.  A little boy.  I would have known his name but in these close to 15 years, I have forgotten it.

In the course of the time we were together, the other volunteer and me, we talked as volunteers tended to do.  I knew her from a few other times working with her. She told me that her nephew's wife had lost a baby just a few days before at 39 weeks pregnant.  She had not felt the baby move for a time, had gone in for a checkup and discovered the baby had died.  It was later said the cord had wrapped itself around the baby's neck.  Of course the family was devastated with the loss of the baby. 

I was mourning my first Mother's Day without my mom.

We both loved on the little baby in the nursery.  We took turns holding him as he was not mobile yet.  Just sitting up with support.  

Service ended and the parents came to pick him up.  We talked to them about how wonderfully cute their little boy was and how good he was during the time there in the nursery.  I asked how old he was and the mom said 5 months, saying he had been born in December.  I asked what day in December as I may (or may not) have a birthday in that month and I wanted to see (or not see) if his birthday might be close to my birthday (assuming I had a birthday in that month).  I may (or may not) advertise my birthday here on my blog.....

The baby's mom said "he was born December 13th".  I remember my eyes got big though I did not say anything about that day.  We finished talking with them, they left to carry on with their day, and I went into second service with my husband.  I cried through the whole service as I knew I would.  I don't remember what the sermon was about.  It may have been about mothers.  It may not have been.

I just remember thinking about how special of a gift it was to see that life had been born on the same day my mom had passed from this life to her eternal home with eternal life in heaven, and that I got to see that life in this little boy that I got to love on for an hour's time in the nursery, along with another grieving woman, grieving the loss of their new family member.

I did thank God for that very special gift that first Mother's Day without my mom.  

To those women who celebrate Mother's Day, Happy Mother's Day.  To those women who have trouble celebrating Mother's Day, I get it.  For whatever reason, it can be a hard day.  I had many a hard one with wanting to be a mom but not able to due to infertility.  And then the sadness of them with missing my own mom.  I kind of accept Mother's Days now.  We don't go overboard here in celebrating it and that is okay with me.

But Mother's Day 2007 will always have a special place in my heart (especially when I remember it).  

Oh gosh, now that I think about it, Mother's Day 2006 was pretty special too! But that is another story for another day!