Dear Mom: 

Six years ago we watched you breathe your last breath here on Earth.  Those last days were difficult for us to endure, but I know it was even more difficult for you.  We watched you have conversations with God, struggle with pain, and attempt to sleep.  So many emotions were felt in our home as we all dealt with our own feelings about your last days.  At the time, those ten days seemed much longer than they were.  Looking back now, I can see that they were just a moment in time.  A moment in time in which we said goodbye.  

Dear Mom:

I am so thankful for the time you lived in our home to wage your battle on cancer.  I now realize the pain you were never letting us see. You fought against the pain long enough to see a third granddaughter marry.  You fought against the pain long enough to see your first great grandchild (and my first grandchild) arrive. You and I had the privilege of watching her learn so much those first two years of her life.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to watch you watch her. I am so thankful for the days we spent watching her become the sweet girl full of your artistic talents.  

Dear Mom:

I am so thankful for the strength you had when you moved my sisters and I back home to your parents farm.  The strength it took for you to finally make the move to remove us all from an unsafe marriage amazes me the more I think about it.  I am thankful for your parents and the huge extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins who were there not only to support you, but to help raise us to know Jesus, joy and love.  I am thankful for your resilience.  

Dear Mom:

I am thankful for the discussions we were able to have during your years in our home.  I got to know a different side of you as we both aged.  I am thankful I was able to see the silly side of you in your last decade or so here on Earth.  I am thankful you showed us your fun side. I am thankful for the relationship we developed during those last few years.  I am thankful that you taught me (and my kids) your technique for patience.  Your perspective on that as you became a grandmother has helped me to have a new perspective on many things.  It has helped me to see that my perspective is continuously changing as I age and experience new things in my own life.  

Dear Mom:

I miss you!