A Reason To Celebrate!

I can still remember my very first Mother's Day without my mom. I've written about this before and how sad it was. Yesterday was our first Mother's Day without Grandmama and a first for my dad and his sister without their mom. After spending the morning at church my dad decided he wanted to go to his mom's favorite restaurant for lunch. It was fantastic.
As sad as the day was I couldn't help but reflect on her life and celebrate all that she gave to our family and to this world. For starters, what a wonderful lady she was. Always willing to help in what ever capacity she was needed. It could have been giving advice, holding a baby, or cooking in the kitchen. And even if the advice she gave was unsolicited, it always made you think.
She was a beautiful woman inside and out and graced any room with her presence.
But I couldn't help but think about the bigger picture. She raised a wonderful boy that grew up to be my dad. He respected and loved his mother so much. He would have done anything for her and couldn't wait to retire to spend some quality time with her. It's exactly the way I want my son to be when I'm older. Although his time these past 9 months have not been spent with her, my son has had some quality time with his Grandaddy. I laugh at the stories he comes home with and chuckle at the ones that begin with "Well Grandaddy said..." and I'm so thankful for the opportunity that Braxton has had with him and the opportunity to build a relationship with him.
A sad Mother's Day because she wasn't here with us but I'm so thankful for the mother that she was to my dad. And for the gifts that my son is receiving because of her hard work!