Yesterday we should have taken this year’s birthday photo. Celebrated 66 years young. Had the kids sing to you while you beamed from ear to ear with that beautiful smile. We always wanted to celebrate big and you said “nah it’s no big deal” but yet you always made it such a big deal for us, and we just wanted to do the same for you! We always insisted anyway saying “we’re going to celebrate because every year God gives you is a gift and a reason to celebrate”, and guess we were right on that one mom. We will just always wish we had so many more with you. Saturday we celebrated you. So many you loved so well all together. There was lots of food, laughter, story telling, maybe a few meltdowns (not just from the kids 🙃) and you would have loved every minute. Though you were always the life of the party (even when it wasn’t for you ☺️) at some point you would have stood back and quietly teared up at how happy you were that we were all together and just how much it warmed your heart. How joyful it was for you to be in the midst of the chaos of many conversations, food preparations and kids underfoot. Well there were tears as we are all still in disbelief that when we gather your laugh isn’t echoing through the house...more specifically the kitchen. There are just so very many things we miss about you every single day. However, Saturday was still a celebration. A rememberance on your birthday of the legacy you left us. That of so much love, family at the center (both biological and chosen), quality time, and genuine care and concern for each other. Goodness knows no one in our family is perfect, but the most important thing is we have each other. That was to you and is to us more precious than anything. The lessons you taught us, the stories you told us, and the examples you set will continue to live on well beyond even any of our years this side of heaven. Happy 2nd Heavenly Birthday Mom. I can’t say this one was any easier but we did it just like you would have wanted, together. ♥️