Mother's Day Mention

For those who have followed since last year (and before), you know I lost my mother in October. So this Mother's Day was a first for me--the first without my mom alive.

Many thoughts passed through my mind last week: What it means to be a mother without a mother. What life will be like without a mother for most of my Mother's Days. And the day my mother died.

Hearing the news on my phone . . . it felt like a punch in the gut. I'm still reeling from it. I remember walking through the door, fumbling into the dining room, and seeing Ms. Lisa's face. She froze, asking me what was wrong.

I'm thankful Ms. Lisa was there to hug me and let me sob. I'm thankful Ms. Lisa--Anna's usual babysitter--cared for her while Bryan and I sorted out the news. I'm thankful Ms. Lisa took Anna out to eat and kept her for several hours while I absorbed the shock.

I'm thankful for Ms. Lisa.

I'm thankful she is a great mother herself. I'm thankful she helps me be the best mother I can be. I'm thankful she helped me when I lost my mother.

So, Happy Mother's Day to Mom, to me, and to Ms. Lisa.