I’ve been missing my mom a lot these days. She’s been in Heaven for 9 years now, but I keep getting the urge to give her a call on the phone… like she’s right around the corner and can just pick up and start talking. It’s probably my cancer that is evoking this urge to connect with her. A cancer survivor herself, she spent her later years walking others through that journey with hope and companionship. How I’d love to have her arm linked in mine through my present trek. She was such a master at making all six of us kids survive our times of illness with pizzazz! Building “pixie traps” to keep us occupied during the boredom of recovery. And sneakily leaving surprises under our pillows to make bedtime more appealing! And even now, when I feel most edgy with this cancer, I find myself making cinnamon toast, her go to treat when we were sick, to channel her loving presence. I miss her God in my neediness. But I know You are taking good care of her. Thank You for blessing me with such a fun-loving, creative mom as my mother! I pray You will extend my life to be able to pour such spunk and joy into this next chapter of grand parenthood… and pass along Mom’s loving legacy!