from jordan:
There is never a good time to say goodbye. No matter how much preparation you do, no matter how much time you have together, no matter how much you talk about it happening, goodbyes are never easy to deal with. When we found out that Mom had cancer in September, our world was completely crushed. I remember being huddled on her bed with tissues and each other talking about the “what ifs” and the “what’s nexts.” We all knew that the end would come much closer for Mom but were going to fight as long and hard as we could to prolong the inevitable. The strong, beautiful woman that had raised me to become the woman that I am was lying in a bed frail and weak. Some days, she couldn’t even move. I don’t want to remember her like that. I want to remember her brilliant spirit, her contagious laughter, her endless love for her family, her complete selflessness...There were so many things to love about Mom. Look around. She was able to raise four beautiful women that now have her strength and power inside of them to truly follow whatever dream or wish or goal they could imagine. She gave us the wisdom to choose men to be by our sides that provide for us, inspire us, and challenge us to be better women because of the way she and Daddy loved each other. She taught us how to live and how to love. She didn’t want to lead an army to victory or design a collection for Chanel or star in an award winning film—she wanted to be a Mom, and I think we all can agree that she can rest knowing she did even better than the best job she could have done. Physically, she’s not here with us anymore. She can’t hold us or hug us or talk to us after a bad day—but she’s everywhere we go. She’s in the gentle breeze we’ll feel when we’re gathered together at the beach, she’s in the Florida sun that will beat down on us when we’re playing around in the Magic Kingdom, she’s the star Josh wishes on before he goes to sleep at night, she’s the voice in the back of our heads when we’re unsure or scared telling us to “try one more time,” “just breathe,” you’re a big brave dog,” or “don’t give up. Ever.” If she were here with us in the flesh right now, she’d be telling us to lean on each other…to be there for each other…to spend our holidays together…to share everything we can. So I challenge you this: remember Mom in the things you do, and use your life to celebrate her.
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