Today is December 10th.  My Mother’s Birthday.  Mom died in 1989, when I was just 12 years old.  I am very lucky to have had quite a few people in my life take on a motherly role for me since then.  Of course, no one can truly replace a Mother.  So through the years, I’ve done various things in memory of her on her Birthday.  Flowers on her grave, choosing the Birthday card I think says best how I feel, doing something nice for someone else because that’s something a Mother would do.  I’ve also assumed the tradition of a Birthday wish.  I make the wish I imagine she would have made if she were alive.

Last year, on this day, I wished that I would find a way to put the negatives of my past behind, to once again have my own house to call home, and be surrounded by people who truly care about me.

Today, I sit in the bedroom-turned-home-office of my beautiful home.  The home John and I bought together.  The 140 year old Victorian house I’ve dreamed of owning since I was a little girl…eight or nine years old, staring up in awe at the huge, colorful, gingerbread-trimmed houses in Cape May, NJ.  It needs different paint colors to bring it out, but our house has its’ share of gingerbread…and even daisies at two of the peaks.  Could it be more fitting for me?  I have great neighbors in every direction, and one very special set of neighbors who have become like family to us.  I could not have imagined feeling so lucky and so blessed.  I have a good Husband, good family and good health.  What’s more, is this week I took a big step towards putting one of the biggest negatives of my past behind me.  I don’t know if anything will come of it yet, but I know I tried with an honest heart.

Although I can never know for sure what my Mother would have wished on her Birthday, I think being proud of your children is towards the top of any parent’s wish list.  I am told by many that Mom would be proud of the woman I am today.

So Happy Birthday, Mom.  As I’m sure you knew, life doesn’t always turn out as expected; but yes, wishes DO come true.