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As I approached this 2 year anniversary of my Mom’s passing, there have been so many thoughts that have filled my mind. How I wish I could share the events of each day, the wisdom I wish she could give me, and the lessons she taught me. It’s overwhelming to reflect on the impact of losing a parent, especially in this season of my life when the days feel so long and the years feel so short.

One thing that comes back to me time and again is the beautiful balance that Mom achieved in faithfulness and fun. Mom’s faith was steadfast, unwavering. She knew her purpose, she knew truth, beauty and goodness when she saw it, and she was consistently rightly oriented. She had integrity of heart. 

She was also so much fun. She felt the joys of life to her bones. When music was on, her body couldn’t help but dance. When she went for a walk or saw a beautiful scene, her whole body soaked it in. When she was with people, she sought to enjoy every second. She delighted in fellowship, she had joy. 

Mom was an incredible gift giver, a skill I always recall this time of year with our heavy birthday calendar and Christmas around the corner. Each Christmas she insisted on buying for everyone, even when the numbers continued to grow. She always had a “gift stash” in case time ran out or things were uneven. She loved giving gifts and she was good at it. She’d search all year for the perfect gift and she’d never settle for anything less. The first Christmas after Mom died, my dad was able to give gifts to all of his grandchildren just from “the stash.” It’s one of my favorite things I’ve learned from her. 

Not long after Mom passed, I traveled to Pennsylvania to help my dad go through some of her belongings. What we found was humorous, but not surprising. As we sorted through bins of clothes and accessories, we found tucked away in the back corner of each closet, a Bible and a bottle of Bourbon.

We couldn’t help but laugh with each discovery. She wasn’t what one would call a “planner,” but when it came to gifts she was always prepared. Whether someone was celebrating a sacrament or a birthday or just some good news – Mom had a gift ready and waiting.

In a funny way, having a Bible and bourbon on deck was a beautiful little sign that Mom was always living her vocation. She was always ready to share the Gospel and promote the jovial side of fellowship she loved so much.

So be sure to remember to live your life with a steady balance of faith and fun, like Mom did. And don’t forget to stock your closets because there is always something to celebrate, and sometimes the best way is with a Bible and a bottle of Bourbon.