It doesn’t take Mother’s Day weekend to remind me of Mom. Anything from a simple flower, a great meal or an elephant’s rear-end give me warm thoughts of her. I thought I’d share this list that my sister and I wrote two years ago for a friend to read at my Mom’s funeral.

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Mom, we’ll remember you when –

• we heat our breakfast plate so the eggs will stay hot.
  

  Mom preparing the dressing.

• when we set the table and make sure the fork and napkin are on the left side and the knife and spoon are on the right side, with the sharp edge of the knife facing in.
• we come home for supper and smell the roast, potatoes and carrots simmering in the pot.
• we capture that just right picture of a memory we want to cherish.
• we stop at Starbucks and order a tall skinny vanilla latte and cranberry orange scone.
• the purple bearded iris blooms in the spring time.
• someone a couple pews over is singing soprano a little louder than everyone else.
  

  One of Mom’s award winning pictures that she took on an African safari.

• we’re on a family vacation and we make that special meal that brings us together after a fun day of play.
• we see the picture of an elephants rear end.
• 20 people come over for supper and it really doesn’t stress us out.
• we say, “all right, let’s do a girls trip!”
• we buy more blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries than anyone else in line at Sam’s.
• we make Christmas cookies in December.
• we smell coffeecake baking in the oven.
• we make the best cornbread dressing.
• we buy a pair of shoes because they are comfortable (not because they are cute).
• we look in the mirror and see the gray hair coming.
• our kids celebrate milestones in their lives, or when we celebrate anything, because you loved an excuse to celebrate (and you were so good at it).
• someone refers to Phil. 4:16, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
• we throw a great party for 50.
• our children have children and we become Grannies.
• we take Vitamin C.
• we smell the herbal scents of peppermint, thieves, and rosewater.
• we make strawberry shortcake.
• we cook a pot of gumbo.
• it snows (especially if there is enough to make snow ice cream).
• we not only enjoy the sights of a new country but also savor the tastes of their culture.
• our joints hurt.
• we get a genuine hug.
• we think of heaven.

Me, Mom and Tanya-the best sister in the world!

Thanks Mom, for giving us so many rich memories that will remind us of you. Thanks for loving a sovereign God, loving life, loving delicious food, and loving all people.