I am grateful that I had numerous opportunities to see my mom during the summer of 2015. This picture was taken in July of 2015 just a few months before her death on October 30, 2015. I had no idea that when I visited her again in September it would be the last time I would see her.
In October of 2014 mom and I made a trip to Irondale, Alabama to visit the EWTN studios with a stop at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Alabama. She handled the trip very well for being ninety years of age at the time. We had beautiful weather and a memorable trip.
One of the staff members at the nursing home took this picture of mom just days before her death. I remember being concerned when I received the picture as I noticed the continued swelling and redness in her ankle. The antibiotics did not win the battle against the infection and mom died on October 30. Her funeral took place on November 2, 2015–All Souls Day.
I generally made five to six trips each year back to Missouri since moving to Wyoming in 2009. Some years there were even more. Since leaving the funeral on November 2, 2015 and returning to Wyoming I have only been back to Missouri once to attend a wedding and preside over a graveside service. I do not miss doing the nearly 900 mile trip on a regular basis. I have seen the state of Nebraska along Interstate 80 frequently enough to hold me over for this lifetime. However, I am thankful I made regular visits back to see mom during all those years. I cherish those memories.
Life is ever changing. God’s love is constant. Embrace that love and generously share it with others.