Reflections

When my mom was older, she liked to talk about when she was younger. I loved listening to her stories. Then it dawned on me....when mom is gone...am I going to remember these awesome stories so I can pass them on to my kids? Probably not. I thought how cool it would be to have her record them.

I asked her one day how she would feel about doing that, and she liked the idea. She started to write down some things she would want to talk about on the tapes, but we never got around to doing any recording. I wish we had.

My daughter Tresa gave me a book a number of years ago called, "Reflections From a Mother's Heart". It's to write your life story with a different topic on each page. I have never written in it. I always wondered if it would make me sad, would I be able to be honest, would it be a constant reminder that I am getting older?

We have a video that our kids had made for us for our 25th wedding anniversary. It's a montage of photos with music that takes you through our lives. I have watched it a few times since we got it back in 1997. It's hard watching your life fly by in 20 minutes!

How do you feel about those kinds of things? Do you journal about your life?

I actually pulled that book out that Tresa gave me and I think I am going to start writing in it. I think I will start with easy things like, "Have you ever had a surgery?" or "Share one of your mother's favorite recipes." Then once I am comfortable with it, I'll try pages like family tragedies and the hardest thing you ever had to do....

I know that one day my kids will really appreciate being able to read about the little things that made me who I am today....that quirky lady they call "mom".

I am a firm believer in living a positive and gentle life. I do my best to make other people happy and in turn it makes me happy. I believe we reap what we sow. I am rarely in a foul mood, and I think it's because I just don't allow it. Life is too short, and that isn't how I want to spend my time.

Life's journey.....how will you share yours?