Happy Birthday Day Mama!

Today my mom would have been 66 years old. She went to heaven when I was 9 years old and yes I miss her so. Many have said there are times or seasons you miss them more but I always correct them and say, "I miss my mom and dad almost daily, weekly, monthly. I have been blessed to have the most awesome "mother-in-love" but I still have a special place in my heart for my mom. Only my family knew her. Not one of my friends or my bestest friend, David, knew her. They only know about this beautiful women through me. She was tall, blond, green eyed and could teach you how to dance, sew, smile and make a memory and how to make the best pan of corn bread you would put in your mouth. Many have said, "I never met her in person but I have known her through you. I love love love to dance, sewing is well something that is just apart of me, I love to make people smile, ok, I am not tall, just normal but I can make an iron pan of corn bread that will make your mouth water.

The past few years have been hard for me and I can almost feel her arms around me when I need her. I pray I have made her proud. I love her so and am proud to be the only daughter of Betty Jane Mincey Westbrooks. House work was not something she loved to do so I have memories of playing outside with her until late in the day, laying by our small pool in the sun or playing softball with all the kids in our Atlanta neighborhood and then when it was 4:30 p.m. we would run to the house like crazy and get it looking grand before dad came home. Dinner was always great, she was a wonderful cook. If daddy only knew what we really did all day.

She could make anything, and I mean anything. All the curtains, even recovered chairs. Not to mention making all our clothes. The yard always look grand, she loved making everything just right but in turn spent lots of time with my brothers and I. If I close my eyes I can see her dancing in the kitchen, I can even smell her perfume. And of course that smile, and that long beautiful body. I am blessed and I pray I will continue to strive to be the mom that she helped me to be.