Mother's Day

Mother's Day was not exactly a day off for me; nevertheless, it was thoroughly enjoyable.

 My tablescapes often look like the result of a junk drawer throwing up in the middle of the table.
Regardless, that never deters me.

Baby Sis was in the house.

Here, I am pretty sure I was eating chocolate cake and salad simultaneously.
Hey, it was Mother's Day.

Although there is not much photographic evidence, we did actually serve food at this gathering, including salmon and tuna (grilled over mesquite charcoal), steamed crab legs, sweet potatoes with butter and brown sugar, collard greens (cooked with country ham bits), green beans (ditto), salad (courtesy of CB Mother), and homemade rolls (ditto).  Dessert included a flourless chocolate cake (courtesy of Baby Sis), chocolate fondue with strawberries, and, best of all, a homemade chocolate concoction from Son and Daughter.

These family gatherings are always special, but this was especially poignant.

I am keenly aware of how fortunate I am to have those closest to me actually here with me.  There are too many mothers who have lost children, and children who have lost mothers.

One friend in particular has been in my thoughts every day, Sunday even more than usual.  Click here for her story of the daily, hourly, minute-by-minute struggle to plow through life after the recent, tragic loss of her daughter.

Daughter

A huge thank you to my friend Charlie Koenig of the Gazette-Journal for all three
of these photos of my daughter from Monday night's JV soccer game.

 She's the only female on offense.  
These two defenders were doing a good job protecting the goal
until she reached into her bag of tricks and pulled out a heel kick.

I love this girl.

We are still struggling to comprehend this weekend's tragic, tragic loss of one of our teens and the absolute horror and heartache that comes from hearing a mother sob uncontrollably and inconsolably because her baby is gone.

And there is nothing we can do to fix it.

Although I have never been shy about hugging, kissing and declaring my love and adoration for my son and daughter, I can't seem to say it enough here lately.

When my daughter was about three she used to say, "Mommy, I love you too much."

I love her and her brother too much, too.