My Beautiful Momma

October 4th, 2010 is a day that changed my life forever. That was the day that I lost my mother. She had battled cancer for 6 years. But that's not what this post is about.

I had a dream the other night...I was somewhere on vacation at a resort (THAT right there should tell you it was a dream!) and all of a sudden, Momma came around the corner. She looked beautiful, like she does in one of the pictures below. Before cancer. I fell at her feet, hugged her knees and just cried over and over, "I miss you so much!" And, just like her, she said, "Now, you don't need to cry, Heather! Come on...stop crying..." all the while patting my back. And before I could talk to her anymore, I woke up.

Ever since then I've thought about posting about her...about how beautiful she was. The horrible week before her death left me, my sister, and my family with scars that are being healed only with the power of forgiveness. That week left me with such bad memories it has taken me this long to remember her the way she was. I'm thankful that the Lord has given me that gift back.

Here are some pictures of my Momma, Irene. From the 50's to 2000.

With friends. Momma is on the far right. Isn't she pretty?


I LOVE all the pictures I have of her in crinoline skirts. Ah...to have grown up in the 50's!


This is my favorite picture of her from the 50's. It's so iconic with the Coke in her hand and headband in her hair. It's my Facebook profile pic. : )

Momma with my big sister and me, 1971.

Not one of my favorite pics, but Momma still looks beautiful.


Jumping to my adulthood, this picture was taken at a Mother-Daughter banquet..I think about 1993, before Sound Man and I started dating.


This was taken in 1994, on Mother's Day. My sister, Carlyn, Momma, Me.
I love this picture.

My wedding day, with my first step-dad, Floyd, and Sound Man.

Holding Kiddo when he was just about to turn 3 months old.
This is what she looked like in my dream. So pretty, not looking her age at 64.

That's the last one I could find, but I know there are more recent ones we have. I guess I didn't want to find any more after this one, since this is what she looked like in my dream.

Today will be bittersweet for my sister and me. We will be celebrating Mother's Day with our husbands and sons, but there is a hole in our hearts that will never, ever be filled by anyone else but our beautiful mother.