It's been two years since my Mom died. It was a challenge to get through the first six months after she left, I cried everyday and visited the cemetery often. The next six months were not so tearful but still I had an ache in my heart. Weekends were the hardest because that is when I spent the most time with her. Oh, my gosh the tears are flowing as I am writing this, sometimes the waves of emotion are incredible. Whenever I visit Oregon now, that mileage sign to Seattle is tough to pass by, so many great memories of the time spent there with her. Yes, she is missed greatly but she also left me a great legacy to follow. She was a great lady and loved all of us unconditionally. She once told me Jared was her favorite grandchild, but then quickly followed it up with "I never could have imagined to have such great looking ones, not an ugly one in the bunch!" I think she bonded with Jared because she stayed with me for two weeks after he was born.

When she had her eighty-sixth birthday I tried to write 86 things about her. I am around number 23, and hopefully I can complete it soon with the rest.