Rest In Peace, Mommy

Well, today is the day that we lay our Mother in her final resting place.  This has been an extremely emotional week, month, year, etc.... for all of us.  We've enjoyed being together and sharing all our funny and happy memories of Mom.  But today we will say a final "Good-Bye".   She has had a wonderful life with a Husband who adored her and lovingly doted on her!  I am forever grateful for George .... he took such wonderful and amazing care of her in her health and during her illness. I'm confident that I can speak for all of my sisters when I say that we appreciate and love him so much for loving and caring for our mother!
The Funeral Home invited us to come for a "Pre-viewing" yesterday... just the family... and it was so much more difficult than I imagined it would be.  That was my Mom lying there in that box....She was beautiful, as always, so quiet and peaceful.  This is a woman who was very "Vibrant" and full of life.  She liked her glitz and ALWAYS shined!  Sparkles, Sequins, Glitter, Jewels, Rhinestones.... Bling was her thing and these things will always remind me of her.  She loved to laugh and also to make the people around her laugh, AND she had the most infectious laugh you have ever heard!!  She, literally, NEVER met a stranger. She would talk to anybody.   She was very passionate about life and everything. We often referred to her as the "Spicy Korean Woman" and it honestly fit.  When she was upset with any of us,  there was no question.... we KNEW it!! And when she was excited about something, she was not ashamed to show it! With our Mother, you always knew how she felt and where you stood.  Even if she never said a word. 
She could tell the funniest, stories and, especially as children, we never really knew if her "stories" were real or made up.... she had a unique outlook on everything and always put her own spin on her stories.  Plus she had quite a flair for drama!  I remember this time that she came to my school.... .I was in about the 8th grade and I played in the band.  We were having a "concert" and I didn't know she was in the audience........ AT FIRST.   After we played our first song, all was quiet in the gymnasium and we were preparing to play again when suddenly this tiny Korean woman stands up and from the back of the gymnasium we hear  ........ "HEEEYYY WENDY..... MOMMY LOVE YOU!!"... all the while waving like a mad woman! She had to make sure I noticed her and I knew she would not stop until I acknowledged her, so I very discreetly stuck my hand up and waved back (if I hadn't, she might have very well come to the front to make sure I saw her and knew she was there)  Well, of course, I was mortified!!! What 8th grader wouldn't be?!?!  But I would give anything to have her jump up and yell to me from across a crowded room again.  It's amazing how the memories come flooding back like dominoes.  One leads to another.
There have been times that I didn't fully appreciate her or the things about her. And I know I often got frustrated with her and her "ways".  There were too many times I let my own stubbornness come between us. BUT - I am extremely thankful that I talked to her during the Holidays this past year.  I was able to come to terms with some issues that had been plaguing me and I let them go, finally.  And I will be forever grateful that I was able to spend her last birthday with her and tell her face to face that I love her.  I am sad that she is gone, but I am so happy that she is not suffering any longer.  She fought a good fight for a really long time.... and maybe that is part of the reason it's a little surreal that she is actually gone.  She had always managed to push through before.   But her body was exhausted and Jesus was ready for her to come "Home".  I have great comfort in knowing that I will see her again one day and she won't be in any pain and she can yell from across Heaven, a loving, embarrassing, sentiment to greet me when I arrive!  I will, so, look forward to that!!!

I love you Mommy!   Rest in Peace.  I hope you know how much you were loved and will be missed. 


Snuggles and Smooches ~ xoxo