May 20, 2012

Honoring My Soul in Memory of My Mother

I live a busy life with a full-time job, volunteering, blogging, special projects, meditating, writing, artwork, being a friend, sister, aunt, grandmother and Mother!  Sometimes it can get to be a joggling match trying to configure a plan with a healthy balance that includes some "Me" time.  Today, naturally being Mother's Day, I can't help but remember the most kindest and sweetest woman I've ever known...my beautiful Mother...Estrella.

I remember the day she departed and crossed over to the other side to go home and be with her higher power...God Jesus Christ.  I was 18 and of course back then didn't understand or perceive it as such, so I remember locking myself in the closet and crying for hours before someone found me.  All I knew was that my Mother was gone and I would never see her again.   Today, I know her spirit lives on forever and will always be in my heart.  My Mother lived a hard and suffering life.  She bared 11 children, one still-born.  She immigrated to the USA from Cuba in the 1960's, pregnant and with her 3 youngest children, having to leave her six oldest behind.  I remember catching my mother crying in solace many times as a teenager and it wasn't until I became a Mother myself that I understood the pain she must have endured in having left her children behind. I know now a piece of my Mother died that day.  She never did see them again.  I  remember the day a stranger knocked on our door asking for my Mother saying she was his mother too.  He had come to the USA looking for her under her maiden name and it wasn't until quite some time afterwards that he learned her married name which led him to the front of our door.  He was one of 4 brothers I never knew and I remember how he fell to her tomb side and wept for a very long time shouting "Mami, Mami!".  It was heart-breaking.



Although my Mother had her share of struggles, she managed to give me good memories of her as well. I am grateful to my Mother for providing me with insights to the important things in life...integrity, be proud of who you are, be honest, always be loving and kind to others, always keep your word because your word is your honor, just to name a few.  Oh yea, and always wear clean underwear just for the sake of  it because you never know. She was funny too and she liked saying jokes.  She also loved playing the acoustic guitar, maracas and the tambourine.  But, the one thing I am ultimately and eternally grateful for is the teachings and examples of her undying faith in God Jesus.  She'd tell me her faith in Him is what kept her sane in times of adversity and always found peace in her moments of desperation.  Today, not only because of her example, but because of my own personal experiences with my Lord Jesus I, as she did for me, pass on to my daughters the same...the teachings and living examples of my undying faith in my God Jesus.

 
This Mother's Day I honor my soul in memory of my Mother.  When I was a little girl I loved to read romance novels and mystery books like Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys.  I remember my mother buying me my first Harlequin Romance Novel.  Also, one of my favorite things to play with was with my paper dolls!  They came with their own paper outfits and I loved picking out the different outfits and remember the excitement in dressing them up.  I remember my mom buying me the paper dolls!  As an adult I still love reading and many years ago, in Miami, I walked into a library that was selling a whole collection of Harlequin Romance and, of course, I bought all of them!  About 200 books at 10 cents each, but sadly I had to part with them and donated them to a book store.  I also enjoy thrifting and antique store shopping.  About a year ago, to my surprise and amazement, I found a box of the Malibu Francie paper doll with its own paper doll plastic stand and a 21 piece paper wardrobe...this piece I still hold on too...dearly!
 
 
 
My Mother used to make me the best homemade lemonade ever! I honestly can say that I've never again tried a lemonade drink as delicious as the one my Mother used to make. I gave it a good try, and although it didn't even come close to tasting like hers, I had fun making it!
 
      



After the sour taste, well actually it wasn't that bad since prior to placing the slice of lime in my mouth, I had my sister Sari sprinkle some salt on it.  But, we gotta keep this on the down-low cause my daughters can't find out...especially Chantelle (she hid the salt from me).  Gotta love her for caring though!  Besides, you can't blame me for wanting a little bit of salt on a lime slice. Right?  And in my defense, I still don't know where she hid that dog-gone salt shaker! Anyway, about a little over a month, I decided to make some adjustments to my eating habits drastically, but for the better. Thanks to my baby sis Meri, a.k.a Ms J of Raw Matters, I am now eating, for the most part, cruelty free foods; translation...nothing containing animal products.  For instance, the sweetener I used for the lemonade


















is 100% pure unrefined sugar palm straight from the tree.  It's not processed and contains NO animal products.  You just grate it and voila...a yummy, healthy sweetener!  Aaaah simplyy delicious!
 

Earlier I said,  for the most part, because from time to time, I do have some dairy products like butter or cheese...I LOVE cheese! But, it is a gradual lifestyle change and besides, I one who aims at just enjoying life!  I will say I feel healthier and superdeeduperdee energized!  You all should check-out Ms J's blog, which in every respect she calls Raw Matters.  You will find more on my "life-style" change challenges and triumphs in future blog posts.  


For now let's stay with Mother's Day activities! 


I guess taking a journey back to the past got me to thinking of my childhood days when I'd play outside in the hot summer days.  Especially when I'd ride my bike free like a butterfly!




The world was blessed with a beautiful sunny afternoon in Olathe, Kansas making my bike ride far more enjoyable!


Although the day remembering my Mother evoked a hell of a roller coaster ride of emotions for me, which led to sudden brief moments of withdrawal involving lots of tissue, the day turned out to be a blast from the past!  Thank you Mami for giving me life!  I miss you! Thanks for your loving, kind and compassionate spirit and for always doing your best to provide me with the important things in life!  Forever you are in my heart!  Here's a special ride I took just for you to let you know I turned out alright, a bit crazy at times, but a pretty awesome person overall!  I love you Mami!!!


Thank you all for sharing with me this special tribute in memory of my Mother.  Stay tune for the post on what my daughters did for me on Mother's Day!

As always, keep coming back for more of...to Inspire and be Inspired!  Tootles!


10 comments:

  1. Beeeeautiful Post. Dedication in memory of our mom :D. Glad you did this sis. jerked a bit of tears but I enjoyed this post. I remember her home-made lemonades...YUMMM the BEST! It's about time there is a tribute to the most AMAZING woman in the world...our MOM. I love you mami...your always in my heart too! Thanx for doin this sis...our mom definitely deserves to be honored and recognized even if she is not "physically" on this earth with us. I appreciate you for doing this post :D.

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    1. I appreciate YOU sis! Thank you sharing your thoughts. I agree that she is the most AMAZING woman in the world...I wish I could've let her know that, but I know she knows!

      Tootles!

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  2. Ok now this made me cry for many reasons! 1st because I never had the chance to meet my abuelita & because of what you felt & went through when you lost her. It saddened me a bit, cause I couldn't imagine life without my mom! I felt emotions towards the fact she didn't get to see the outcome of what a wonderful woman you've become to be....I never had the chance to meet her either. But then I got happy! Happy because I know there are pieces of her in you! while in the flesh she might not be present she lives forever in our hearts & spirits! Someday soon we will all be together! Happy mother's day!!!

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    1. Thank you, your words deeply touched me. Yes! She lives in our hearts & spirits! I love you for sharing your thoughts so beautifully.

      Tootles!

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  3. Hi. I'm so glad I found this blog. This is such a beautiful tribute to someone who was clearly a phenomenal woman. Being able to be so open and eloquent about her is really touching. As someone who grew up without a mother, I've rarely understood the bond that girls feel to their mother, but this really opened my eyes. Thanks so much!

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    1. Hi Fiona,
      I'm glad you found this blog too, especially if it touched and enlightened YOU in someway. Thank YOU so very much for visting and for taking the time to comment. I appreciate YOU! Tootles!

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  4. Mayra, Beautiful tribute to your Mama. My mom has been in the hospital at shawnee mission medical center since last saturday. She is down to 99 pounds, and I worry so much for her. I have been praying daily over the last couple of weeks for her to get better. Love your blog! Love you! Vicky

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    1. Hi Vicky!
      I'm so sorry to hear about your Mama. I'm sure its hard for you to see her in the hospital and it's totally normal to worry. I will have you and your Mama in my prayers. Thanks for stopping by and for leaving a comment. I appreciate YOU.
      Love you!

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  5. This post made mood me cry =*( In a good way :)

    I'm getting ready to move far away (as in across the Pacific) from my mother for the first time...ever. No matter how long I've been on my own, she's always been a five minute drive away. She doesn't know I feel this way, but I am excited to miss her. I don't want to take her for granted or become complacent with her being so close. I WANT to run into her arms whenever I come visit and be so happy to see her face, just like when I was a little girl.

    I know there are people such as yourself that don't have that option anymore, and I could be in that same position any day. Each day is not guaranteed, and posts like these remind me to hold people I love close.

    P.S. I bet your mother looks down on you and is so proud.
    P.S.S. You're NOT a grandmother! No way! :)

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    1. Hola Vashelle! I will tell you this, enjoy your mother every minute you can! Embrace her, kiss her, talk to her, talk with her, listen to her, be her friend. Let her know how you feel about any given situation, share your dreams, passions, tears, fears, laughter with her...she is your TRUE friend! Sometimes as children (no matter how old we are) we tend to disregard our Mothers as a human being, a spiritual being, an individual who has dreams of her own.

      Anyway, I've learned early on that it's the littlest and simplest of things that matter in life. I'd give anything to be able to do all those things with my Mother. Thanks again for visiting, it is a pleasure siempre! (always!)

      Tootles!
      SimplyyMayra

      P.s. yes! I'm a G-Mom with the wisdom of experience yet with the heart and spirit of child! ;)

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