Remembering Mom on her Birthday!

I notice on Facebook that many people wish their loved ones who have passed a Happy Birthday in heaven.  I want to do something a little different. I want to honor my mother in a different way.  Today would have been her 89th birthday.  I honestly thought she would be here well into her 90s.   However as my mother who was strong in her Catholic faith would say that wasn’t in the Lord’s plan for her.

On July 22, 2017 we had an early birthday dinner celebration at her favorite place “The Red Lobster.” I am glad we did as that night we had to take her to the hospital. It saddens me that she spent her last birthday in the hospital but in true form she never complained and made the best of it!  Unfortunately she never came back to my house but was able to get home to Colleen’s for her final weeks.  We miss her today and everyday.

So I am going to paste an excerpt below which is the end of the eulogy my niece Mallory had written for my mother and this is what she said:

So in honor of my grandmother and to continue her legacy, I challenge all of you, whether you have known Julia for years or just came into her life, to take the time to put the needs of others before the needs of yourself.  If you take the time to do this and to be kind, you can inspire others to do the same.

Keep this in mind as I tell you the challenge.  My mother was called “Aunt Do” by many of her nieces and nephews.

We ask you to take the “Aunt Do” Good Challenge. (Thanks cousin Patrick Kane for this great name)  Today in her honor please do something good for someone else just like my mother did every day of her life.

Can’t think of any?  Tell someone they look great today!  Buy the person behind you coffee, go visit your elderly neighbor, call a relative or friend you haven’t talked to in a while, bake a pie or cookies for your neighbor, give that co-worker a hug because you know they’re having a tough day, give some money to that homeless guy asking on the street corner, send flowers to a loved one, leave a special note for someone, drop off some items at the food bank,  donate clothes to the rescue mission, sign-up to volunteer at your favorite charity, cook dinner for someone, let that poor guy trying to get into busy traffic merge ahead of you, send a care package to a soldier, find good in everyone and compliment often, and the list can go on and one.  Remember to also take care of yourself.

Thank you, I know my mom will be thrilled if you take the time to do this!