Judy,

I lost my mom June 26, 2010. My mom was all I had. I watched her suffer through radiation on her throat and chemo. It still haunts me constantly trying to enter my mind. Her suffering was so horrible. From the sound of it I think your mother went quite quickly? If so that might have been a blessing for you. I love the pictures of your mom and her dogs. I still can't look at pictures of my mom. It breaks my heart - STILL. I am 57 years old and we share a birthday of December 19th. The holidays were tolerable because I have deep faith and great friends. I am so greatful for this web site. I went on it the day she passed and I got so much comfort from so many amazing people. Life is so different when our mothers are no longer physically here. I swear I saw my mother standing next to my desk while I was on the computer the other day. Just a quick glance and then she was gone. We are all at one point going to leave this world and join them in the next. I look at it like this...maybe my time will be this minute or within the next hour or day or month. So I make every second count in being and doing great things with this life I was given. How blessed we are to be spared so much suffering that others endure. Loosing a child to a mad man while they are at school. When I watched my mother suffer and pass right before my eyes it changed me. It humbled me and opened my eyes to a bigger picture. I hope this helps somehow. We just learn to live without them physically here. They are still our moms. Just in another place called heaven. No more pain, suffering,,,only greatness and they are so happy to be with their beloved Lord and the people who went before them. The next part of our journey will be joining them. It is just a matter of how and when. Have faith and put your life in God's hands. Your friend - Sue