Today is Mother's Day in the United States. A day to celebrate the women in our lives that have raised us, supported us, given up their lives for us, whether blood or not. Their sacrifices have made us what we are today. So for that reason, we celebrate them.
Today is also the birthday of my Grandma Ann Fuchs, a wonderful woman I never got the chance to meet as she died about a year and a half before I was born. But the way my Dad, Mom, Aunts, and Uncles talked about her, I knew she was definitely an amazing woman. Unfortunately, her life was cut short as she passed away from Mesothelioma in 1980; the same cause that took my dad's life this year. So this Mother's Day is particularly hard.
Usually, for Mother's Day, Dad would take mom and let her pick out a whole bunch of flowers to plant in the back yard and pick out many hanging baskets as well. They both enjoyed working on the back porch, planting flowers, and making it look beautiful. Mom's favorite pastime was just going out to water the flowers. She found it peaceful and relaxing. So I know Mom is definitely feeling Dad's absence this year. I plan on taking her to get flowers soon, but it's not the same I know. And with the temps fluctuating so much, Mom said it's best to wait until after Mother's Day; their usual rule of thumb.
There was one thing Mom did request: She wanted to go to the Cemetery are put flowers on Grandma Ann's grave and a picture. So I said, let's do it. She hadn't been to the cemetery in years what with her working so much before. Now she is retired. A time that should be happy, but all it does is remind her dad is not here to enjoy it with her.
The weather was not supposed to be very good this weekend, so we went on Friday to the cemetery. It was a beautiful, sunny day, but the feelings were bitter-sweet. It was hard not to cry as we placed the flowers and photo at Grandma Ann's grave, knowing this year she gets to spend her birthday with her son in Heaven for the first time in almost 40 years. We are happy Dad is with her and at peace, but we miss him so. Like I said, bitter-sweet. See the photos below from our visit to the cemetery.
Mom is coming over today for a bbq and we will just enjoy each other's company. We will reminisce and have a few laughs. We will talk about how at end of dinner, Grandma Ann would ask everyone, "Ok what do you want for breakfast?" as everyone would groan cause they were so full. Dad loved telling that story. Or the story about how dad's hands were dirty and he shook them letting mom know he needed a napkin and his mom jumped all over him. She told mom, "You sit down and let him get his own napkin." She then said to dad, "What are your hands broken? Get your own napkin! You are a big boy!" So now to tease, we all do the "hand shaking" when we need napkins. Even Sancia's friend Bella has picked up on it haha!
Today we celebrate Mother's, but also mourn the family not with us on this day. Happy Mother's Day Grandma Ann. Happy Mother's Day Grandma Ruth. And Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there. I know this day tends to be harder than others, but know this, you are special, you are amazing, and you are worthy. You are more precious in God's eyes than you will ever know.
Miss you Grandma and Dad!
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