Happy Birthday Beautiful

Happy Birthday Beautiful 

I sit out on my patio this morning enjoying a cup of Jo and watching the sunrise thinking of you. Like putting on pants in the morning, this was a ritual you would follow almost every morning in getting your day started. 

You would sit in silence watching the birds, the bugs and the leafs play in the wind. I imagine you would talk to God as well. Thanking Him for another day, acknowledging Him for all the blessings He has bestowed and praising Him for the victories already won. 

On this morning, I too sit in silence watching, listing, pray\ing, and reflecting. Just three days ago God called you home to be with Him. He reached down his hands that early morning and invited you to the gates of heaven. 

Selfishly I don't want you to be gone. Selfishly I don't think I had enough time. Selfishly there was still so much more trouble for us to get into. But at the same time, I am so happy that you are there. 

I bet Big Daddy and Grandma Ann met you at the gate awaiting your arrival. "Hey there Miss Ollie!" Big Daddy probably said with a big ol' smile on his face. I bet he hugged you tight. 

Next was probably my grandmother. Smiling, laughing, and crying as yall embraced one another with joy. From there I can only imagine the line up of your brothers and sisters, cousins and aunts, uncles and kinfolk. Everyone there. Everyone's smiling. Everyone is thankful.

And in a few days, a similar engagement will happen here on earth. Except hugs and kisses will be shared with sounds of sorrow. Tears of joy will be replaced with tears of sadness. And everyone will greet each other with memories of you. Remembering a...

Teache, a travlelor, a writer, an educator, the giver, the singer, the entrepreneur, the scholar, an athelete, a hostess, a stylest, a speaker, a listener, an encourager, the wisest, the loving, the honest, the gentel, the strongest, a sister, an aunt, a great-grandmother, a grandmother, his wife, their mother. The phenomenal woman in which you were. The phenomenal woman in which you will always be. 

I love you deeply and dearly. I will hold onto all my most recent memories of you so preciously. 

As a child, these memories can easily be taken for granted---but as an adult, I've only learned how precious time is here on this earth. And I am so glad I have spent so much of my time loving on and being near you! 

I love you so much Big Momma

I'll continue to make you proud. Thank you for being such a beautiful example of living both a disciplined life and a life full of freedom. 

* Kiss kiss kiss!!

May your beautiful soul rest in peace