For a year the family was told the mother was dying. For a year they spent almost everyday with her and took care of her every need. For a year they tried to prepare themselves for losing the most important person in the world to them.

Well...

They weren't prepared. Nothing could prepare them for how awful it felt to lose their mother. Nothing and no amount of time can prepare a person for that. The pain they all felt knocked the wind out of them. It was hard to breathe. The pain was unbearable.

Now they all had the job of sending her home in a way that expressed just how loved and important she was to them all. This was going to be the hardest thing they had ever done and no one was looking forward to it.

Planning a service for the most important person in your life was an extremely hard task. Everyone's personal feelings were put on the back burner. No one wanted any tension, they only wanted to send their mother and wife off in the proper way she deserved. The woman's husband and children all were there to put her service together. They all went together to the funeral home and the cemetery. As hard as it was they all wanted to make sure it was the most beautiful service anyone had ever seen. This was really important to her youngest daughter.

A little before her mom passed away in a very sad conversation with her youngest daughter and the daughter's husband the mother once said she wanted to have a lot of flowers at her service. She went on to say that she'd been to a few funerals that didn't have any flowers and that made her feel so sad for them. She said she wanted hers to be pretty and she wanted everyone to know she’d been loved. She asked her famly to please make sure the room looked beautiful when everyone said goodbye to her. No matter how hard it was to hear her talk about when she would no longer be there they promised her it would happen. When the time arrived they all made sure her last wishes were fulfilled. The service had so many flowers, more flowers than anyone had seen at a service like that before. It was said numerous times which made the family happy. There was no denying that this woman held a special place in everyone's heart. Everyone hoped that their mom was looking down on them and could see just how beautiful everything was and they hoped it made her happy.

So many people showed up to say their goodbyes. She had a closed casket per the family's request, but there were many pictures of the mom throughout her years of life for everyone to see. That was the way they wanted everyone to remember her, so beautiful and smiling. So many people helped to make the service a beautiful one that ran smoothly. Everything that everyone did meant the world to her family. The mom's former employer went above and beyond donating all the food for the reception. The way everyone came together to make their moms sendoff a beautiful success was amazing. Family really did mean everything.

Winding down after a funeral and everything abruptly stopping was hard. Not knowing what they were to do with their days since they would no longer go to the hospital and sit with their mother was a lot to take. Their whole lives had revolved around the hospital and their mom for as long as they could remember and now they had nothing. And now they were just three children with no parents.

First they'd lost their father years before and now the one and only woman that had held their family together was gone. Nothing would ever be the same. EVER. It was extremely sad hearing the oldest daughter cry and ask what they had done to deserve this, what they did to deserve to be orphans. Losing one parent was hard, but losing both parents was a different type of pain.

Christmas would come not long after the funeral. No one was in any mood to celebrate yet another holiday without their always cheerful mother. Their mother loved Christmas and always made it a big deal for her family. She along with her youngest daughter would always throw a huge party with food and door prizes and games and contests. The family always loved going to that party. This would be the second year in a roll that there would be no party. The year before the mother had been in the hospital and this year she was gone. The holiday would forever be tainted for the family.

Celebrating was on no one's mind that year, but the youngest daughter’s husband decided to put up their Christmas tree all on his own because he said there had been too much sadness lately and he wanted to bring a little happiness back into their lives. The tree was crooked and the lights were all lopsided, but it was the most beautiful Christmas tree the daughter had ever seen because it was full of love. The oldest daughter decided she too needed to make sure there was some happiness in her house for her first and only grandson so they too decided to put up a tree.

Knowing that everyone was trying to move forward and they had little kids in the family and the fact that Christmas was always a big deal to their mother, the youngest daughter decided that although there would be no big party this year it was important that she at least make dinner and get everyone together. She knew it was what their mother would want. Staying a close family was important.

Everyone was invited to the dinner and minimal gifts were exchanged. The dinner was filled with lots of tears but also laughter. Everyone made it a point to try and be happy for their children’s sake.

The stepdad was invited, but said he had another place to be, but would try and stop by. He did in fact stop by and stayed for about 30 minutes before leaving. It was a little strange that he didn't feel the need to spend his first Christmas without his wife with the family. Everyone took notice of his odd behavior, but said nothing. He was allowed to do what he wanted and spend the holiday with whoever he wanted.

It was sad to say but everyone was glad the holiday season was finally was over.

Continue to Chapter 15 - Hot Date