Maggie

I think a lot of people probably wonder how I feel about Mother's Day. 

I lost my mom when I was 15 years old. She died suddenly after battling a series of health problems. My mom was young, 42, when she died. 

God saw you getting tired

and a cure was not to be

so he put his arms around you

and whispered,

"Come to Me"

With tearful eyes we watched you

and saw you pass away

and although we love you dearly

we could not make you stay.

A Golden heart stopped beating

hard working hands at rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us

He only takes the best

I can still remember the day. 

I had the privileged of going to high school with my brother and sister. I was a sophomore, sister a junior and brother a senior. 

I'm grateful, because I started a scary chapter - high school, with two of my greatest friends. They truly helped me feel comfortable about going to the big school. 

Friday morning I left the house super early. I was tardy/late for some class and the awesome teacher gave me 7:15 am detention. Lame sauce. 

I remember the last conversation I had with her. I couldn't find my other sock and was running late, I remember telling her I wished she'd help me find my sock & I rushed out the door. 

After school, we met some friends for a quick bite to eat. I vividly remember walking in the door, my sister, in my opinion was moving slow, so I urged her to go. At that very moment, my brother and I hear an ambulance rush by. We both talk about how loud the siren was and we walk in. 

We were eating dinner because in about an hour we'd head to our high school's away football game. The game was an hour away and we were playing one of our biggest rivals. Everyone would be attending this game and the whole school was beyond excited. My brother forgot something before we left the house, so we had to rush home before leaving for the game. 

Our street wasn't on a hill, but you drove over a hill to see our house. I'll never forget sitting in the backseat of his car and seeing our house. I remember seeing the look of fear cover my brother and sister's faces. When we finally parked our car, we were greeted by police officers and EMT's. The moments passed and a police officer finally told us that our mother had passed away. The ambulance we heard, was her ambulance. 

We lived in a small town, so when we didn't go to the game, people started to wonder. The news broke out around the town and visitors flooded our house. 

When I remember my mom I think about the great times, the moments that will forever play in my mind. Sometimes I laugh thinking about the times she'd sing in the shower, the times she would make 100 tortillas, her amazing Mexican food and her smile. 

I remember the day I found out our baby was a girl. In that very moment, I knew she'd carry the sweetest name. We named Baby M - Maggie. My mom's nickname was Maggie. I cannot wait until we get to tell Maggie about her abuela. 

I'll leave you with 5 things I learned from my mommy dearest. 

1. My laugh

I have the ugliest laugh ever. It's loud, sounds like I'm dying and is often heard. My mom had the same laugh & the same sense of humor. 

2. Compassion 

She had compassion for people. She helped others a lot, in silent ways. She loved people.  

 3. Love

Her family was her pride and joy. She never put anyone before us and always found a unique way to show us love.  

 4. Strength 

She was tough and stood strong through the pain. 

 5. Smile

I hear everyday about how I smile too much. Is that even possible? My mom smiled a lot and never let her troubles worry her.  

Quick shout out to my sister, Juanita. When we lost our mom, she didn't hesitate for a moment to help. She will always be a mother figure in my eyes and I'm forever in awe of her work ethic, attitude and the struggles she's endured. I love you & I'm so proud to call you my friend, sister and mentor. 

As Mother's Day approaches, I remind you to share the day with your mom, but more importantly, share other days and moments too. Give your mom random hugs, shoot her random text messages & make time for her. As a new mom, I can honestly say the role is fun, tiring and hilarious. The role brings a lot of laughs, tears and joy to my life, but it also brings a huge responsibility. My hope and prayer is that Maggie forever remembers her beginnings, how to love and to always have a servant's heart. 

Also, if you have a moment, watch KD's MVP acceptance speech. It warms my heart to see someone so humble & honoring his beginnings. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnGXV4Xd41c

Happy Early Mother's Day to all the gals and guys who fill the role!