Our last Mother's Day
Mother's Day 2017 was the last Mother's Day I spent with her, but I'm so glad her legacy and these lessons will live on forever! Below I've shared 6 letters I wrote her the week of Mother's Day as a thank you for all of the amazing lessons she taught my brothers and I. For her home going celebration, I shared this booklet with each of our family and friends. I hope these 6 (actually 12 :)) lessons she taught me are a blessing to you as they continue to be to me! Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers!
Each letter is also posted on my blog, https://www.stylebybritt.com/sbb-blog
I remember Mother's Day 2017 like it was yesterday. Mom woke up not feeling her best, and I reassured daddy that I would stay home with her and that he should go on to church since he had planned to preach. He hugged us both "see you later" and gave mom a kiss. She was in her red velvet robe with her milrinone pump in the bag draped over her shoulder. She couldn't stand having to carry that bag everywhere she went, but the constant drip of medication was keeping her heart pumping and blood circulating throughout her body. She said she was going back to bed for a little while, a few moments later I walked in to check on her and got in the bed too. "I think I could make it to a service here in town," she said. It was mother's day, and she wanted to go to church but knew she couldn't make the hour drive to my daddy's church. So I asked if she wanted to go to Mt. Zion to hear Bishop Walker. She perked up and said, "Yes, let's go!" So I helped her find an outfit that would fit her much slimmer, down 35lbs in a couple weeks, frame.
She put on this beautiful coral and black dress and stuck her "medicine bag" in a purse so it was more discreet and off we went!
We had a wonderful time at 11:15am service at Mt. Zion! I remember at one point during the sermon she tried to stand and was too weak to hop up how she would normally. My heart sank in that moment, realizing how weak she really was. I helped her stand up, and she was still praising! She left feeling as though God had tailor made that word just for her and was so glad she got up and went. She was feeling good and had worked up an appetite. My brother was coming over later, and we had planned to probably eat with them so we decided to get something light at one of her favorite spots, Outback.
We sat waiting on our food at Outback, and she insisted on texting every mother she knew to tell them Happy Mother's Day! I don't know what exactly was going through her mind, but she wasn't going to let this moment pass without wishing her friends, god daughter and family members a Happy Mother's Day.
We talked about how good she was feeling over lunch and how she was actually going to go though with the doctor's recommendations for more extensive surgery. I told her before I left town the next day I was going to do her hair so she wouldn't have to worry about it since she wasn't up for the beauty shop this particular weekend. Wigs are convenient, but her hair was beautiful and doing her hair was one of the ways we bonded. I loved it! She always wanted her jet black rinse, regardless! :)
By this time the whole family was back at the house, and she was so happy to have everyone home and to actually be home herself. Looking back on it, I think she knew this would be her last Mother's Day with us. I didn't and was believing God would allow her to either have a heart transplant or heart procedure to strengthen her heart. She was ready though, and still to this day her steadfast, unmovable faith amazes me. I'm so grateful we have these memories to cherish and pray God will continue to be our comfort, peace and guide as we continue her legacy of agape love, selfless generosity, faithful service and obedience to the will of God.
Hey Mama, my angel!