Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is Mom's birthday. I miss her so much. Some days are worse than others. She is on my mind a lot today.
I remember one time I wanted to make cake that was blue. She explained that people don't really normally eat blue food - which I hadn't realized. She did allow me to tint some coconut blue so we could use to top off the icing on our cake. I was happy with that.
I'm sure that there were times that we both disappointed each other. I don't want to exit the realm of reality. I truly believe that Mom always acted out of love for us - whether she was leading our girl scout troop, playing cards with us, sewing us a new outfit, or urging us to perform better in school and swimming. She taught us to have faith in God, to be strong, to be respectful of others.
While reading a James Patterson book recently, I came upon a reference to a poem by Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672) called In Reference to Her Children. It's written from the perspective of a mother bird, speaking about her children. Here is part of the final few lines:
"My age I will not once lament,
But sing, my time so near is spent.
And from the top bough take my flight
Into a country beyond sight,
Where old ones instantly grow young,
And there with seraphims set song;
No seasons cold, nor storms they see;
But spring lasts to eternity.
When each of you shall in your nest
Among your young ones take your rest,
In chirping language, oft them tell,
You had a dam that loved you well,
That did what could be done for young,
And nursed you up till you were strong,
And 'fore she once would let you fly,
She showed you joy and misery;
Taught what was good, and what was ill,
What would save life, and what would kill.
Thus gone, amongst you I may live,
And dead, yet speak, and counsel give:
Farewell, my birds, farewell adieu,
I happy am, if well with you. "

Happy Birthday, Mom. Be happy, all is well with us.