Happy Birthday, Mom

Happy Birthday, Mom,

I was cleaning out a couple of your dresser drawers the other day and I found a really nifty book light.  I have one, but I don’t like it that much.  I love yours!  I took it as a sign to start reading again. 

The last time I picked up a book was my plane ride to Florida for Lisa’s wedding.  Of course that resulted in Hurricane Sandy and then you passing away on my final unplanned night there.  I haven’t been able to pick up a book since then.  I feel like it was a subconscious way of me grieving, or feeling guilty “enjoying” a good book when you never will be able to again.  Of course I shouldn’t say that, no one can even fathom what the spiritual experience is like when your soul is with the Lord.  I bet God has plenty of magic up his sleeve.  Maybe you have an entire library of books to enjoy in heaven :)  I won’t know until I get there.  So until then…  

I think though, during the last year of your life, the idea that you couldn’t escape to a place in your mind where you could follow a story has affected my ability to enjoy a book too.  I have felt that has been extremely difficult for me to find that place too.  I am just not in a rested place in my mind to escape to that enjoyment needed to indulge in a good book.  I will get there soon.  I think you will light the way with my new little book light :)

I made a delicious chocolate cheesecake recently.  It was a recipe that you found in a magazine called “cherry chocolate pie” and you were planning to make it for a Tuesday night dinner one day.  I remember you were wondering if David would like it and I said I was pretty sure he would.  Well, he LOVED it!  It turned out excellent too.  I even impressed myself (and Dad, too)!  I found it in your kitchen cabinet, stuck inside a Phoebe mug that I bought for you to cheer you up a few years ago.  I decided to take the mug back for remembrance and then I found that pie recipe stuck in there.  This was one of the very last desserts you were going to make before you got real sick.  But, you never had the chance.

Okay, so that was a bunch of chatter I wrote last week waiting to post a new blog on your birthday.  Today is your earthly birthday.  I went to breakfast with Dad at the Grill and they had fresh carnations on the tables.  They were different shades of pink.  Carnations were one of your favorite flowers and I always bought you carnations for your birthday :)

 

This evening we invited Dad over our house for another iPad lesson and dinner from Gino’s!  You would have loved that restaurant re-opening in its original Glen Burnie location.  Dad said you two had many date nights there :) 

Dad sent out an email this morning to the children and families.  I will share it here because it was very special and really helps to put things in perspective and focus on the bigger picture. 

On another note, I will write a whole separate blog about my feelings, experiences and beliefs in the supernatural.  To believe in the supernatural is to believe in God and Heaven.  And, I believe through God all things are possible.  I think it’s even possible to talk to you in my dreams.  I think that’s the easiest way for two souls to make a connection.  I hope that I dream about you soon.  But, thank you for the little things that I have already felt with your presence and love in my daily life.  I miss your earthly presence so much, but, as Dad says I am happy for you now and it’s hard to be too sad all of the time. 

Hello Everyone,

Today, February 1st, would have been Nana's 67th earthly birthday.  Today is Nana's first birthday in heaven.  The Bible tells us that heaven is more wonderful than anything we can ever imagine.  We can be very happy for Nana today knowing her soul is free of all the physical & emotional pain and suffering she had been enduring since her last birthday and she is now celebrating her very first birthday as Saint Nana  with all the other Saints and Jesus in heaven. The New Testament mentions heaven 236 times and Jesus talks about heaven 131 times.  We can be sure it is the most wonderful place for anyone to be.  Even though Nana loved each of her children, grandchildren, grand godchildren, and great grandchildren and didn't want to leave them, God knew it was the best thing for her and we can be sure she is being one of the best Nana's in heaven for all the children that were called home to be with God this past year. 

Imagine the most happy, joyful, wonderful birthday parties you have ever had or been part of and you can be sure that Nana's first birthday in heaven is 1,000 times better than all of them put together.  We remember Pastor George's funeral sermon based on Psalm 116 verse 16: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. Happy Birthday Saint Nana! We miss you, we love you, and we are happy for you!