A year ago today I sat in complete silence, stunned and trying to figure out just what living my life without my momma in it would be. How would I go on? Who would I talk to everyday? Who would tell me I could do it all and be my biggest fan? Who's advice would I pretend to ignore and then secret implement it?
I have been dreading this day all year. Knowing I had to face it sooner or later. It haunted me. I have already made it through her birthday (just 2 weeks after she passed), my birthday, every major holiday and Mothers Day without her. This was the last big one. Or at least that is what I tell myself to make it through.
But today I decided to celebrate life instead of focusing on her death. I am still here and I can still partake all of the joys she can no longer experience. She first and foremost wanted to teach me how to have joy and love life. So here is what I did to make her proud.
I Spent some time working on my big dreams. She was so proud of my business, my work ethic and
that I could make a living at doing something I loved. I worked on finalizing some displays for Market. She was usually my sounding board the one I would discuss every last detail with. She would have loved being involved in all of this!
I found a few more of her wooden spools and I added to my collection I have of hers. She was an amazing seamstress and keeping her spools where I can see them make me feel close to her.
Then it was time for a little fun. We went to dinner at The Olive Garden. Mom... I know you loved this place, but next year we are finding a different restaurant to celebrate you! The food was bad, but we laughed about how Mom always swiped the cutlery. She only needed to go to Outback Steakhouse one more time of have a whole set. I blame this on my step dad influence.See the billiard balls in the spool photo? Those were my dads. He never had a pool table. So I am assuming he swiped those each time he went to play with friends. Oh mom and dad.. you were funny and quirky.
Some mini golf with the family and the first real snow cone of the season was perfect for this day.Time with family was what she asked for every holiday and what she loved the most.
My mom made this for me when I was 15. I cried when I got it. There are pieces that are less then a square inch! She stayed up late for months after I went to bed to surprise me with this. She was so proud when she gave it to me and I can still see the look on her face in that moment.
I quickly put it in my cedar chest where it has sat for 17 years. She always gave me crap about keeping it in the chest. I told her I didn't want to ruin it. As I got older she bugged me to use it again. I still did not want to ruin it.. and it did not exactly go with my color scheme. She laughed and told me there was no point in a quilt sitting in a chest.
Well tonight I took it out and I will sleep with it. Knowing her hands made this with so much love will be so comforting. Living in the moment today, loving my life and using the quilt will be my way of telling her she taught me well.
I get it mom. Life is short. Chase your dreams, know what matters and use the dang quilt.
xoxo
Nikki
I have been dreading this day all year. Knowing I had to face it sooner or later. It haunted me. I have already made it through her birthday (just 2 weeks after she passed), my birthday, every major holiday and Mothers Day without her. This was the last big one. Or at least that is what I tell myself to make it through.
But today I decided to celebrate life instead of focusing on her death. I am still here and I can still partake all of the joys she can no longer experience. She first and foremost wanted to teach me how to have joy and love life. So here is what I did to make her proud.
I Spent some time working on my big dreams. She was so proud of my business, my work ethic and
that I could make a living at doing something I loved. I worked on finalizing some displays for Market. She was usually my sounding board the one I would discuss every last detail with. She would have loved being involved in all of this!
I found a few more of her wooden spools and I added to my collection I have of hers. She was an amazing seamstress and keeping her spools where I can see them make me feel close to her.
Then it was time for a little fun. We went to dinner at The Olive Garden. Mom... I know you loved this place, but next year we are finding a different restaurant to celebrate you! The food was bad, but we laughed about how Mom always swiped the cutlery. She only needed to go to Outback Steakhouse one more time of have a whole set. I blame this on my step dad influence.See the billiard balls in the spool photo? Those were my dads. He never had a pool table. So I am assuming he swiped those each time he went to play with friends. Oh mom and dad.. you were funny and quirky.
Some mini golf with the family and the first real snow cone of the season was perfect for this day.Time with family was what she asked for every holiday and what she loved the most.
Then there is the quilt.
My mom made this for me when I was 15. I cried when I got it. There are pieces that are less then a square inch! She stayed up late for months after I went to bed to surprise me with this. She was so proud when she gave it to me and I can still see the look on her face in that moment.
I quickly put it in my cedar chest where it has sat for 17 years. She always gave me crap about keeping it in the chest. I told her I didn't want to ruin it. As I got older she bugged me to use it again. I still did not want to ruin it.. and it did not exactly go with my color scheme. She laughed and told me there was no point in a quilt sitting in a chest.
Well tonight I took it out and I will sleep with it. Knowing her hands made this with so much love will be so comforting. Living in the moment today, loving my life and using the quilt will be my way of telling her she taught me well.
I get it mom. Life is short. Chase your dreams, know what matters and use the dang quilt.
xoxo
Nikki
This made me cry. I can sooo relate. I lost my mother three days before my twenty-fifth birthday. She was my best friend. She always will be.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear of your loss. My mom will always be my best friend as well! <3
DeleteOh Nikki, you were both lucky to have each other, it seems :) The cutlery and pool balls made me laugh! And I love that you're using that quilt; it was made with love especially for you :)
ReplyDeleteHehe.. my mom would so be mad at me for telling his secret of all the things he took. :)
DeleteThanks for sharing this little bit with me. I think it's amazing that you pulled out the quilt.
ReplyDeleteThank you sweet friend! It make me want to make something that Rae can have... but I can;t bring myself to sew like that!
DeleteThis is such a beautiful and moving post, Nikki. I know it must have been a really hard year for you, and I'm sure your Mom would be so proud of all you've done and how you've made your way through it. That quilt looks so warm and snuggly, what a wonderful way to remember your mom and be near her!~
ReplyDeleteThank for the sweet comment. It has been rough, but I know she raised me to be tough.. and soft. So I am just trying to stick with both of those. To tell you the truth, I love that I know strong women like you. I love reading your facebook posts. It keeps me strong!
DeleteIt makes me glad to see women surviving the death of their mothers/friends. My mom and I were best buddies as I grew up. I'm now 41 and she's 62, and she won't be with me much longer. I don't know how I'm going to do it...but knowing that you and others have lost their moms and still find a way to be happy gives me hope. Love the quilt. :)
ReplyDelete