It's been 22 days-3 weeks- since mom has been gone.  It still seems very unreal.  I still expect to hear her laughter, see her walk through the door, get a phone call from her.  I have wanted to call her so many times on the phone--share news with her, ask her a recipe question, just say hi.  So instead I talk out loud to her--in my office, my car, on my walks with my dogs, wherever I am.  I know she is with me, with dad, with all of us, and she always will be our guardian angel.
Mom told me several times during her battle, that she was overwhelmed with all of the support she received from you all.  She just couldn't believe how she continued to get cards and care packages and phone calls and EVERYTHING.  Thank you all so much for that!  It's often hard to know just what to do for someone, but I feel just letting someone know you care, that you are there if they need anything, that you are thinking of them--just letting them know you love them--means so much.  It can be the smallest thing to you but to someone going through something like cancer or anything really, it means a lot.
Mom didn't want to leave her family or her friends, but at the same time, she was ready to be with God and her family in Heaven.  So I take comfort knowing she is smiling & happy, looking down on us all with pride & love.  
Thank you everyone for everything during her battle and since her death--you don't know how much you've touched us all.  It's very clear that mom touched many lives and she was a very special lady.  I always knew it--always; but to see how others were affected is just beautiful.
Remember mom's smile, her kind heart, her laughter, her hugs & her kisses--I know I will.

Love you all--

You can shed tears that she is gone,
or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all she’s left.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her,
or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her only that she is gone,
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back.
Or you can do what she’d want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.