This picture of us holding hands was the last picture I took of us together. Mom was not coherent at the time. I spent hours with her. I would sing to her. I held her hand. I would lay on the bed next to her and just talk to her about my childhood memories.
At one point I looked into the mirror adjacent to where we were laying on her bed. That image is forever burned into my brain. My mom and me lying on the bed. A beautifully framed picture of Jesus and this scripture:
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
When the hospice nurse had us wean mom off her oxygen they also instructed us on what to expect while she was dying. We knew it wouldn't be long before she crossed over. We decided to take turns staying with dad while we were waiting for her to pass. I had just left their apartment after saying my final goodbye to her as one of my other sisters was taking the first shift. I drove home in a silent car. I was very sad because I knew I would not see my mom here on earth again. Right before I got to my home, I felt a strong urge to be happy and listen to the radio. "Mom would want me to be happy for her." The first song I heard was this one: "Keep Holding On". I could feel mom near me. She was telling me that she had passed. She was so happy and wanted me to know that she would always be near.
I pulled into our driveway to see my son Jared, his wife Adree, my husband Anthony, holding our grandson Aaron. Aaron came towards me and wanted me to hold him. He was trying to talk to me in his cute babble voice. Then he gave me a big kiss! I then got the phone call from my dad that mom had passed away. I already knew. And.. Aaron knew too and was trying to comfort me.
