Well, I have survived another Mother's Day even though one of my children is not here with me. The reason I made it through another difficult day is because I have such a wonderful family. I am writing this blog today for them. I want them to be able to read this many years from now and remember what they did for me and know that I am so thankful for them.
On Saturday (the day before Mother's Day), Carlie was outside playing with a friend. She came in with some flowers that she had picked in the yard somewhere and said "Happy Mother's Day". It was so sweet and the flowers were very pretty. We immediately put them in a small vase.
Later that same afternoon, Chad came home and he had a Mother's Day gift for me. He put it in a box and wanted me to open it that day. I told him that it wasn't even Mother's Day yet. But, he really didn't want to wait. So, I decided to go head and open it. He had written a note and explained every gift that he got. There was a meaning for each one. I have to say, his gift was perfect. And, it was so clever. He really put thought into it. I have to say that he knows me pretty well. Caleb even asked him if he got the idea online or something. No, it was all Chad's idea.
At the top of Chad's note, he wrote: "This Mother's Day celebrates your love of a healthy lifestyle". So, I pulled out the first gift. It was a liquid shot of B12 - cherry flavor. The note reads: "Enjoy a shot of B12 on days when energy is hard to come by. Being a mom requires a lot of sleepless nights and can be very exhausting".
The 2nd gift was Burt's Bees foot massage cream. The note reads: "Enjoy a foot massage with Burt's foot cream. The demands of motherhood often requires that you spend hours on your feet. Recruit dad to rub your feet for a relaxing massage".
The 3rd gift was detox tablets called Candida Cleanse. The note reads: "Moms need digestive health and de-tox. To stay spry and vibrant for the kids (and dad) requires an occasional cleanse. Enjoy Candida Cleanse for optimum health".
The 4th gift was a bottle of wine. The note reads: "Finally: Mental Health. Enjoy a glass of wine to unwind, destress and relax after a long day. Add a little Grey's Anatomy and you have a mini-vacation. All for you - Mom!"
I have to say that I was very impressed by his gifts and the thought he put into it. I love it! And, all of this happened and it wasn't even officially Mother's Day yet.
So, on Mother's Day, Corben and Carlie gave me a plate that they had decorated for me. Caleb gave me a card from all of them and when he did, he hugged me and told me that he loved me. Let me say that that hug from Caleb meant so much to me. When he hugged me, he hugged me tight. Because he's a teenage boy, I don't get hugs from him everyday. So, when he hugged me the way that he did and told me he loved me - he made my day! Of course, I don't know that it was as pleasant for him as it was for me. I had just finished working out, so when he hugged me, he felt a sweaty, sticky body. He wasn't expecting that. It was quite funny.
Then, Chad took me out to dinner for Mother's Day and afterward he took me to the movie theater to see the new Johnny Depp movie. We had a very enjoyable evening.
So, my family really stepped up this year and did an awesome job. I even pulled out some old Mother's Day cards from Chandler and read them. They all made me feel special and loved. I feel like the luckiest, most blessed mama in the world!
On a very different note, today (May 14) means that it has been a year and a half since Chandler passed away. That is so hard to accept. It's painful! It's hard to comprehend that it has been that long! Yet, it also seems like it's been forever. We miss Chandler so much. I still look at his pictures and it kills me. My heart just aches for him.
Chad, Caleb, Corben & Carlie,
Thank you for making my Mother's Day so special! Ya'll really did an amazing job! You've really set a high standard. Don't let me down next year. Keep in mind that I'll always be comparing every Mother's Day to the one in 2012. : )
I love you all!!
Chandler,
I miss you so much. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about you, remember your voice, your laughter and your great since of humor. I wish every day that you were here with us. As I was looking through some of your Mother's Day cards you had made for me over the years, I could feel your love. You told me you loved me in every one of them and I am so thankful to have them now.
I love you with everything in me and I always will!
