Missing My Mom

It's hard to believe that so many years have passed since my mom died. She was a truly wonderful mother, one of my best friends, and most importantly a faithful Catholic. She loved God with her whole heart and always stressed the importance of going to daily Mass. 

She used to tell me that when I was a baby, she would take my brother and sister and me to daily Mass and sit in the front pew. I would cry all through Mass. Her first instinct was to leave the church when I did so, but one of her friends told her to stay where she was. The priest didn't make a single comment to her about my crying; however, she told me that had she been wiser, she would have followed her instinct. She was horrified thinking about what a disturbance I must have been.

My Family
(minus 12 family members who weren't able to join us due to distance)

Recently, my brother (in the front row) came to visit. My two younger sisters traveled over the mountains to be with us all, and we celebrated being together by going to dinner. During dinner, my youngest sister toasted everyone with the toast that our mom taught us when we were growing up, "Never above you. Never below you. Always by your side." She taught us well. 

Please whisper a prayer for my mom