I cannot believe it has been an entire year since I last held your hand. The hands that helped guide me as a child, the hands that worked endlessly to do for those you love, the hands that were used to envelope me in your embrace, the hands that cooked so many Sunday meals over the years, the hands I never wanted to let go of. Not a day goes by that my heart doesn’t wish to hold your hand or to lay my head in your lap and have those hands brush your fingers through my hair just once more.
I won't lie to you and tell you this has all been easy but I do say Gracias to all the cardinals you've fluttered in my direction to give me, if nothing, but a brief sense of your kind presence and remind me that you are now at a peace the rest of us will, hopefully, one day know.
Thank you for always being such a strong influence in my life and leading by example. I never remember you being anything less than a pillar of strength and I look back in awe of how you raised four children all by yourself, as I often found raising two children, alone, seemed to be an extreme sport. I must thank you, for it was in the moments, when I found my spirit weak and my body too tired, that I was able to pull from a well of determination and perserverance that you filled throughout my life and that is something that I will forever be grateful for.
Growing up I watched as you nutured your relationships with your family, your sisters, brothers, childen, grandchildren, and great grandchilden because family was the most important part of life to you. I must thank you for teaching me that family will always be there when you truly need them and to nuture those friendships along the way. I've been trying to work on cleaning up the lack luster friendships that no longer encourage or offer support to my life. I’m learning to assign value to my own stock in this world and stop allowing others to devalue me with their actions or opinions. Not everyone is meant to be permanent in our lives and the lessons we learn from them are what we carry with us as memories, some good and some bad. There are no “Thank you’s” big enough to express the deep found gratitude I have for all the great memories, love, strength, and family you blessed me with. You will continue to be in my heart every single day that I continue to exist. I love you forever and then some. Til we see each other again 💋.
Your favorite (I’ve always known),
