My idea of an anniversary has always been two people celebrating the day they met, the date of their first date or the day they were married.

Each anniversary was celebrated, some more elegant than the last. They celebrated the memory of then and the memories that they had built together over their years together.

What I can’t understand is why people call the date that someone died an anniversary.

What is there to celebrate? What is happy about one, two or more years since they lost someone they’ve loved more than life? Someone that they wrapped their hearts and love around?

New Year’s Eve will be one year since my dear sweet mother passed away and it’s been the worse year of my life. Am I supposed to celebrate? Celebrate the first anniversary?

One night through my heartache and tears it came to me, yes I should celebrate. Not that she’s not here with me, but that she’s home. Home with God where she wanted to be!

Home in Heaven where she can walk, unlike when she was here; home where she has joined God’s Heavenly choir; in Heaven where she can breath the fragrances in God’s Garden that she couldn’t enjoy in her own garden. But most of all, I should celebrate that she is happy and free to spend eternity in Heaven with God.

Though sadness still overwhelms me at times, I work at making myself remember the smile on her face when we talked about going to Heaven.

Happy Anniversary Mom!