The Day That Changed Everything

Four years ago, I lost my mom, and with her went the foundation of my world. It was the day that forever split my life into a "before" and "after." She was the one I ran to, my guide, my sounding board, my place to fall when life got heavy. No matter what, she was there, always ready to listen, to drop everything, to help me and my family in ways both big and small. The strongest woman I knew, she carried us all in her heart and held our family together.

She was the true matriarch, the center of our family’s gravity. Holidays became magical under her care. She’d light up every corner of the house, make special meals, decorate with a different set of dishes for each holiday, and make it all feel extraordinary. She poured herself into creating memories, weaving joy into our lives through traditions and laughter. Her laugh is something I ache to hear again, and her hugs, those comforting embraces, are what I miss most on the hardest days.

When she passed, it felt like the ground had been pulled out from under me. In an instant, I was no longer just her daughter; I was an adult trying to navigate life without her, leaning on everything she taught me to keep going. It’s strange and painful to find myself in this new role, this stage of life where she’s only with me in spirit. But every day, I try to live by her example, to carry forward the love, the joy, the resilience she instilled in me.

Walking in her footsteps has become my way of honoring her. Her kindness, her strength, her boundless love—these are the things I strive to pass on to my own family. I’m learning to make holidays special, to be the one who’s there for my husband and kids, just as she was for us.

Some days, it’s easy to feel her presence, guiding me along, nudging me forward. Other days, the weight of her absence feels like a shadow I can’t shake. But through it all, I’m walking this path as she would have wanted, honoring her in the way I live, carrying forward the legacy she built and letting her love light the way.

I miss you, Mom, and I will love you forever.