Happy Graduation Day to my beautiful mother.  One year ago, she drew her last earthly breath and took my daddy's arm to be escorted joyfully into the next phase in her eternal progression.  I can't be anything but happy for her.  It's those of us that are left behind  and feel the void in our lives of her absence that I feel sad for. 
I keep thinking of this quote from Louisa May Alcott as I have absent mindedly picked up the phone to call my mom..."What do girls do who haven't any mothers to help them through their troubles?" 
How I miss her comforting voice.  She could always make me feel like everything would be OK. 
I remember calling her when I found out I had melanoma. I had just hung up from talking to the Dr. and  I was in tears, but she calmed me down and assured me that it would be OK. We talked it through and somehow it didn't seem so bad anymore.   She told me she would put my name on the prayer roll at the temple and that her and daddy would be praying for me too.  Through her faith,  ( I sure relied on hers a lot while  I was growing my own!) I was comforted and at peace. 
I would call her and unload my worries and fears and she was always there with a listening ear and encouraging words.
She was always the first person I wanted to share happy things with too. All of my pregnancies, births, callings Kelley and I received, achievements of the kids, fun vacations, mission calls, Camille's engagement...then grand ( her great) kids. I think that's just how girls are with their moms....at least I hope that's how my girls feel about me...I knew she would be as happy about what ever had happened as I was.  She was just like that...always wanted the best for everyone else...not ever thinking of herself.
I've been thinking about the time that mum spent here with us a lot lately and actually allowed myself to look back a year ago in my blog.  I haven't dared go there yet.  It made me laugh and cry as I read about the wonderful, funny, sometimes sad and very hard days we spent together.
I was reminded of her forever cheerful presence...it just felt good to be around her.  She never complained.  Even at the end when things were so difficult for her...  She couldn't eat, or get around anymore without the wheel chair...yet she remained cheerful and grateful for everything. 
From the time we spent together I learned about life and death and faith, hope, and courage, about having a positive attitude, about kindness, and love, about enduring to the end, and about what an amazing woman my mother was.

How very blessed I am to be able to call her mother.