Chris:
Mom, I miss you beyond words and think about you every minute. Between you and Jesus, I learned the meaning of unconditional love and you made it look so easy to do. The focus and love you had for me and our whole family is still unmatched in my world. I try to be more like you every day. Just like I said to you not too long before you passed, "I love you the most!" You said to me, "I love you the mostest!" Those were our last words together, but I can still hear them from you whenever I need them...like...all the time.
I love you mom,
Christopher
McKaila:
Simply put, my mom is my best friend. I call her every day to talk to her, even if I have nothing to really tell her. But I worry that sometimes I take her for granted. I have a couple of friends who have lost their moms or their dads, and I just genuinely don’t know how I would get through the day without calling her just to hear what she did that day. I never want to lose that.
Some of my best memories are from her making me laugh. Whether we’re on the golf course and she’s yelling profanities because she didn’t like her shot, or we’re at a wedding and she’s on the dance floor, my mom is always livening the place up and making people smile. In fact, she’s always trying to make people happy. She would do anything for anybody, because her biggest goal in life is to see the people she loves happy. (And for me to get married and have children.)
There is nothing simple about my mom, but simply put, I don’t know what I would do without her. I love you so much Patti Claus-I mean, mom. (:
Maverick:
My Mother passed away when I was just 20 from a heart that gave out after years of battling a number of illnesses, but even though, I always remember the importance of her need to take care of her family. From homemade birthday cakes that she decorated like a profession baker to spending hours on wrapping Christmas presents with ribbons and bows that my brother and sister and I would ask if it was okay to tear through so we could see what was inside. She represented us as our school's PTA president for several years and never missed a band concert or baseball game that I'd play in. She'd yell at me to turn my music down but never told me not to listen to what I wanted. God knows she deserved a medal for listening to me practice the trombone when I was just learning and always being close enough to listen when I was learning to read and telling me to, "sound out" the words that I'd get stuck on.
My mother's pride besides her kids were the flowers she'd plant in front of the house and the climbing roses that dad had to build a trellis for that grew up to the roof line of the back of the house. She'd hang laundry on a clothes line even though she had a dryer, because it made them smell better and she'd iron our socks because she said it would keep us from getting itchy feet. We didn't get much past her either even though her eyes were damaged by cataracts. Dad used to say she had native American blood because she could go on a car trip one time and forever after be able to tell if we had ever been on that route before. I miss her, but I'm thankful she rests easier in heaven, where I'm sure she tends to flowers that light up the streets of gold.
Kia:
Dear Momma,
You are the definition of beauty. You are the definition of strength. To me Momma you are perfect. You pick me up when I stumble. Walk beside me when I can’t walk alone and cheer me on from the sidelines when I find my wings to fly. You taught me kindness is a way of life. Doing things with drive and purpose is your only option and happiness is what living is all about. Momma you are and always will be the woman I strive to be. Thank you for your patience. Thank you for your listening ear. Thank you for your unconditional love. I love you.
-your little one-