Ten Years

Yesterday was the ten year anniversary of the passing of M's mom.

I wish so much that I had known her.  I wish that she was here to help celebrate this new baby growing inside of me.  I wish my husband's heart wasn't broken by this loss, even still today.  (Oh gosh, now I'm sobbing.)

But I am so thankful for the stories I've heard of a woman who loved God more than anything or anyone else, who prayed for M constantly- and probably worried about him constantly- and who loved her husband so very, very well.  I hope that I can be even just a little bit like her as a wife and a mother.  I have never heard someone say anything but beautiful words about her.  And share funny stories of the light she brought into anyone or any room.  And even having not known her face to face, I feel like I do know at least a little part of her in loving her son.

The thing about pregnancy is it really gets you reflecting on the role of parents in the lives of children.  I am so thankful that both M and I have had the fortunate blessing of parents who have loved us, their children, well and loved each other well.  I'm learning that it's much more rare than I ever imagined.  And so I hope we can continue to honor M's mother's life in the way that we live our lives and parent our children.

She is sorely missed.