Often times, we wait until it is too late to share our heart and soul to another. We wait until the funeral or the days, years after to really contemplate and speak about how one’s life has truly impacted them. Coming off of the month of mothers, you know May, I have the strong desire to share with the world what my mother means to me.

My entire life she has been present. For good and for bad…. I remember being that kid growing up whose mom was always home and was the most incredible stay-at-home mom, but that meant she was also at home. Ha Ha! Meaning, I wanted more independence from her like some of my friends did. Little did I know how important it was for me to have my mom with me at home. She was the one who took me and my 6th grade friends to see Titanic in the theater 8 times. Not to mention going to Dollywood nearly every other day and of course the late-night Krystal’s run for hot and fresh Krystal burgers (she with extra onions and cold co-cola, aka coca cola), and my middle school friends will never forget when she asked us if we were in the 1965 earthquake, knowing good and well we were all born in 1985 (being that I came from her).

My mom has always been the one to bring a good laugh to the crowd and I still think she would’ve made the BEST Youtube Influencer with cameras following her around every day. However, she may have been given a few citations from police. Growing up, she was the one who made the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches just perfect and never stopped letting me sleep with her, laying on her arm. She cuddled me and also pushed me. She told me to always use my brain and make something strong of myself. She took me to church during the days when my household did not do that.

I’ll never forget the evening that my dear friend, Ashley Smith (yes, using maiden name here) and I were inseparable all summer. Every other night we spent the night with each other! I cannot even imagine that today! Just because I am old. But her dad lingered on our front porch after bringing me home and encouraged my mom to bring me to church. I was in 4th grade. We went. Our home, our lives, our salvations were forever changed. That one invite from precious Randy Smith changed the course of our family legacy and future. Being a part of Fairview Baptist Church became a core value to who I am today. This place and these people supported my mom and soon my dad, and then my entire family – sister, brother and their families- in becoming more like Jesus. The faces changed, but the mission has never changed. All because my mom took me. My mom made the decision to take me to church.

She has lived a life of struggle and sorrow. She has buried two children – one newborn and one at the age of 51. She has buried both parents and her husband of nearly 60 years. She has seen difficult days in America and at the young age of 76, she now sees and experiences things she never dreamed. She graduated from the old Rule High School and met my pops at the Copper Kettle restaurant who had the cook, Pete of the famous downtown diner Pete’s! She was constantly surrounded by family with all of the good and bad that it brings! A brother who she says was constantly in trouble! Sorry, Uncle Charles! 🙂 She served our country as the wife of a US Air Force soldier and lived in beautiful Victorville, CA. Not to mention delivered my older sister there – thousands of miles away from family and friends. But she continued.

She continued to smile and brighten up the room. With her beehive hair and gorgeous legs, she shined. She created a home full of laughter, love and joy. She reminded of hard truths and poured into me to be the absolute best that God made me to be.

These days are different for us as we are navigating life without my dad, without my sister and constantly being faced with what the days ahead will look like. As she beautifully and comically said to me the other day, “If I get another diagnosis of something can you just not tell me?” And I belly laughed for what felt like hours. These are our pleasantly confused days, and I am loving every single one.

Mom, you are never a bother and never a burden. Mom, you have given me the very best foundation by challenging me to constantly be more than I thought I could. You created in me the desire to learn, grow, improve all while laughing. You have given me the very best foundation to live by and taught me the importance of making every moment count. You gave me faith. You took me to the altar of God. You continue to light up every room and shine brightly. We love our sweets, and we love our salt! Drinking coffee with you will never get old and I am thankful for you! Even if you did read all of my journals while I was growing up. You are truly one of a kind and one of the very best of humanity. Never stop laughing. And definitely keep smiling.

I LOVE YOU. HAPPY MOTHER’S MONTH. And how about we nominate this summer as Mother’s Summer?! You are way too special to celebrate for just one day, one month – let’s take the summer!

Readers, may this be the day you are rekindled with your mom. OR you choose to be the mom you were designed to be.