Mama

It has been a horrible few months for one of the most important people in my life...my Mama! She was diagnosed with Breast Cancer early this year and has been through hell with Chemo therapy and all that is included with that. I just felt like expressing today how much she means to me. Since this blog is more of a journal...I would hate to not have any posts about this...even though it is hard to talk about. A few years ago my Mom was going through another hardship and I wrote a poem for her...but somehow it is more appropriate now. I love you, Mama! Thinking about you today.

The breathtaking landscape has quickly turned bleak.
The once lavishly grown of nature's beautiful green,
Is now powdered with pieces of broken homes (blown in from the East).
From the smallest sweet rose to the oldest of trees,
The weather has taken all of the lives in its path
But there she was alone covered in pink.

A lone tree withstanding the wind,
Her branches torn free of her leaves.
Her structure often seeming too weak,
She weathered the storm finding her strength in her roots.

As the early pink morning kisses her bare skin,
The storm (now only a few meek clouds),
Is retreating quickly in the horizon.
The lone tree now torn, and most definitely weakened,
Has weathered another storm that has threatened her this season.

There will be, most likely, more winds to blow,
More rain to dampen, and more heartache to know;
But I have seen her alone after each one has passed us
And I know the pink skies will greet her after another tempest.
She'll be there waiting, swaying in the breeze,
Calmly but stalwartly still standing --- that beautiful tree!

My Mom has been through more in her life than I think is fair. But she doesn't let it keep her from being herself. She doesn't let it change her. She is always the first person I want to call about something my kids do that is funny, sad or amusing. She is always the first person I want to see on my happiest days or on my worst days. She has always been such a constant strength in my life. I love you MOM! And on your anniversary today...I want to also say...I am so grateful for Doug! You guys make a great pair. The 2 of you have had so many fun adventures and so many to come. My kids love you both, too! 

Carving pumpkins on Halloween...

Jack was so scared of this face on this pumpkin...he cried...:( But then he warmed up to it and said, "I think he is happy...." So sweet. haha. He does not like scary things.