Mother’s Day 2019 feels a little different for me this year. 2011 was the last time we spent mother’s day together as a family and I think at the time…we knew it would be our last though nobody wanted to admit it at the time. This is going to be a reflection of my mom through my lens as the middle child but later on you’ll hear some words from the other two, too 🙂

    Year: 1992

My older brother was born in 1992 and that’s the first time our mom became well, mom. For as long as I can remember, this little boy had her wrapped around his finger. The way she’s looking at him in this photo lasted until her very last breath. She was and is and always will be in love with her first baby. When I recall my moms laugh, it was my brother usually on the other end making her belly laugh. Conor was living in Portland, Oregon when he found out our mom was sick. When he found out, I’m pretty sure him and his belongings were back in Indiana within 48 hours. When I asked Conor was his favorite thing about our mom was he responded with this,

“My favorite thing about Mom was how she always brought everyone together. No matter what; white, black, asian, hispanic, gay, straight, transgender..it didn’t matter. I love you Mom and look over the girls.”

                                        1992 was the first time she was called mom. 

Year: 1996

In 1996 I came into the world kicking and screaming…true Chance fashion. Much like my older brother, my mom never stopped looking at me this way. We had a much different relationship than she did with my brother or sister. Not a bad different…just different. My mom could be very blunt and honest with me and I did the same to her in return. That’s how we communicated & I miss her honesty more than anything. When she got sick we were together pretty much every second of every day. I was with her up until 6 hours before her passing and the last thing she ever said to me was “get your ass over here and hug me before you leave,” and oh how I wish I never let go. My favorite thing about my mom was how intentional she was about making everybody feel like a somebody. She wanted to make sure that you knew you were valuable, loved, accepted and irreplaceable. . . no matter if she knew you for a lifetime or a few seconds.

1996 was the year I claimed the best title ever: Catherine’s daughter. 

Year: 1999

The sassiest part of our family came into this world in 1999 just a few weeks before Christmas. This little girl could carve a smile into our Mom’s face at literally any given moment. When I think of our Moms passing and what’s “not fair” the only thing I think about is that this little girl only got 11 years with her best friend. These two were inseparable. If you saw our mom in the room, you knew Sarah was there too, and if you saw Sarah be sure that our Mom was within an arms reach of her. I asked Sarah what her favorite thing about our mom is and she said:

“I love that mom always made us feel safe and loved no matter what situation we were in. Good or bad she was always there at the end of the day and had our backs until the end. We really had the greatest mom ever and now we get to shine her light through our lives.”

 

We called call you Mom. You are very much still alive in our hearts and in the hearts of SO many others. You were are a mom, sister, aunt, friend, and a champion of people. Us calling you mom is the most proud thing we have ever done. Mother’s Day 2019 looks a lot different than Mother’s Day 2011 looked but your kids are holding it together down here. We are the closest we have ever been and you are still the glue that holds us together. We celebrate you today, tomorrow and all the days of our lives until we get to rush through Heaven’s gate and hug you again. Until then, we will continue to live fully, love wholly, and laugh often…just as you’d want us to.

Ps: We love you forever.