There is no single person in our lives who has more influence than our Moms. Good or bad, right or wrong, these women make us who we are and help to determine what we become. They say that we can grow up because of our parents or in spite of them, and that holds the most truth for mothers. Even in their absence, they can shape us and teach us, or show us how to teach ourselves.
My own Mom passed away nearly ten years ago, and for a while I thought that I had lost her forever, that I hadn’t had her nearly long enough. It took me some time, but I finally realized that she had done what she had set out to do. She had taught us what she needed to, and there were lessons that were either understood by then, or never would be. I know now that I hadn’t lost her, not really. I know that she’s still around and that I still have her. I may not have her in the way one would like to, but she’s here, she’s with me and my brother and my sister. She isn’t gone as long as we know that she’s still has her arms around us in a different kind of hug. Her voice isn’t audible but we still hear her words of encouragement and support, and sometimes, a quick and necessary reprimand. She’s still smiling when we are and sheds tears right along with us when we’re hurt or scared or brokenhearted.
I’m posting this on the eve of Mother’s Day because I intend to have my own little celebration. I’ll sleep in and have my morning cup of coffee while still in bed. When we sit down for dinner in the evening, I may not set another place at the table, but there will be one chair there that won’t be empty. My Mom will be there, asking us if we have room for dessert.
Happy Mother’s Day to all of you from the Farm and all of its’ critters.
Your Mother Is Always With You…
Your mother is always with you…
She’s the whisper of the leaves
as you walk down the street.
She’s the smell of bleach
in your freshly laundered socks.
She’s the cool hand on your brow
when you’re not well.
Your mother lives inside your laughter.
She’s crystallized in every tear drop.
She’s the place you came from,
your first home…
She’s the map you follow
with every step that you take.
She’s your first love
and your first heart break…
and nothing on earth can separate you.
Not time, Not space…
Not even death…
will ever separate you
from your mother…
You carry her inside of you…
Author Unknown
Empress
realhousewifeofaiken 
Ok, now you have me in tears! This has been such a hard year without a mom and with my only child getting married. I never expected this event would test me as a mother as it has.I wish I felt as you, that my mother, now gone several years, is loving me, loved me, for I grew up in spite of her, but to be fair to her, also because of her…she was tender and loving, but harsh and unkind. Less of the first as the years grew on. I hope and pray that my own child feels that I am with her, at her side, only wanting the best for her whether I’m near or when I’m gone. I think she does. A dozen roses just came to my door and the card says, I love you! Happy Mother’s Day!
“for I grew up in spite of her, but to be fair to her, also because of her…”
Icey, You know which is which, and I think the roses and the note go a long way in answering your hopes and prayers for you and your daughter.
Hugs to both of you 🙂
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY … For me it’s a bittersweet Day..Filled with some sorrow , some joy , some pride , some pain.
So I will make the best of it as I do each year knowing that I did the best I could with what I had.
What’s strange is the feeling that BOTH sons are where they are safe and that gives me comfort in an odd way. One has been taken to the light ..the other is hoepfully beginning to see the light and will have a rewarding life because of it…
Love to all MOTHERS out there…It’s the toughest job one could ever do..and we do it so GOOD.
Diva
Empress..I owe you another CRY…. winks
Happy Mothers Day to you too, dd,
Best wishes to you, Mr. Ford and especially to the PITA. 😉
Diva,
i hope you feel his light as a warm constant within. Your fortitude is an inspiration.
A million blessings to you both, Mr Ford and his Devine Diva.
Icey
IceMeNot…Thanks for the kind words.
Yesterday was a very emotional day for PITA and myself. We laughed, we cried, we laughed some more and cried some more. All in all, one of my better Mothers Days in recent memory. PITA is dicovering LIFE now and seems to be on the path that will lead him to a happy and fruitfull life.He now knows he can’t ever go back to what was , but knows he can move forward .. and that makes Mr Ford and I happy… One less thing to worry about
How is your daughter doing on the book tour.. I think about her often and hope all is well for her..and you also of course…
Hugs and Peace
Diva
Back to house work.. made that fatal mistake of wiping down on shelf.. WELL.. might as well move everything and wipe EVERYTHING down…LOL
Reposted as I make the blog rounds.
Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms out there. I know from reading in the past 8 or so months most of you all have kids, even if some of them have 4 legs. I know there are a couple of you who through some twisted circumstance have outlived one or more of your kids and to you, special thoughts coming your way. Mine is gone 3+ years now. I won’t claim I was the perfect son and mom didn’t have some interesting times over the years. What she always did though was remember she was our mother. Even in the roughest times, wouldn’t completely turn her back on either one of us. She never expected much more than respect in return and even on days like Mother’s Day, didn’t want much more than a card and or perhaps some flowers. Just to say that we at least remembered the day and where we came from. If I could, in her absence, I would send each of you flowers. Your stories have brought back so many long forgotten memories for me and I can’t thank any of you enough. I can’t send flowers or cards however so this will have to do.
Continue to enjoy them as it gets added to at least every other day.
MTH
mth,
It makes me very happy to hear that I played a little part in your fond memories of your Mom today. In those very same few months that we’ve been on blogs together (and through other forms of communication), I’d say that she has every right to be proud of her legacy – her children.
Your pictorial version of FTD is beautiful, and the best part is that they will last and be enjoyed forever.
Thank you
Mel, I grow lilacs, roses and narcissus in my garden in SoCal, tho the bulbs didn’t flower this year. Gladiolis are ready to open. My mimosa tree has dropped its yellow flowers with a nice amount of leaves to take their place.
Are these your photos and can we use them without a fee?
Thanks for the mothers day wishes,
Ice
These Are my photos and it depends on what you mean by Use. I have non family downloading disabled so you may have to tell me which you want.
Happy Mothers Day to all.
What a lovely column you wrote Empress. Being a mother and having a mother isn’t always a barrel of laughs. However, it is surely the deepest and most complicated relationship we all have.
Amen to that!