birthday

Today is my Mom's birthday.  I love this picture of her with Mason.  This was taken November 2003 in Florida at my oldest brothers wedding. 

My Mom taught me soo many things, but there are two that stand out the most. 

• When sharing, one person cuts and the other one chooses. 

This happened last week when Bailee was about to eat the last cinnamon roll and I told her I wanted half.  So I asked her, do you want to cut or should I.  She pulled a face and replied, if you cut you do it even.  Imagine that, we get equal parts.  I ended up cutting and Bailee chose.  Not much to complain about that way.

• Give your spouse a "real" kiss.  It helps every situation.

When we lived in California there was about 3-4 months that Brian and I didn't discuss a certain topic, it always made us fight.  It was during my pregnancy with Mason which of course compounded every emotion I had.  On Mason's blessing day it all came to a head and I was a mess.  All of Brian's family was there and my parents.  My Mom came to me, when I was a crying mess, and told me to give Brian a "real" wet kiss.  I was a little surprised to say the least.  She told me to go find him.   So I went and found Brian and gave him a "real" kiss.  It melted our hearts and helped us to communicate.  It didn't fix the problem, but it caused us to feel the love that we had for one another. 

These two things might seem silly, but to me they are wise.  Advice that I will pass on to my own children.

I miss you Mom.  I know you are in a better place and without pain.  But I still wish you were here...