Remember.

 Join me for 5 minute Friday?

Unscripted, unedited, really un-thought about until the moment the words start pouring from my fingertips and translating to words on the keyboard.

I begin.

Remember...

You've always been there...for as long as I can remember.  You who went through hours of painful, unmedicated labor just. for. me.  You who brought me into this beautiful world and showed me all about what beautiful means.  You were there with me in every first, every second of every day until I went to kindergarten.  And you cried as I left, knowing you would not be a part of my every second ever again.  But still we remained close, our hearts always sharing thoughts and feelings, and your heart always teaching mine about faith and the Savior.  I remember playing house with you and wanting with my all to grow up and be a mommy just like you.  And when I think of remembering, I think instantly of you because it was you who first taught me the significance of the word "remember."  You taught me about the Book of Mormon exhortations to "remember" and you taught me how to live this practice every day of my life.

I think of you today because you are right now at this very minute undergoing an intensive lung surgery and I am not with you.  I am in another state and I feel so far away.  I want to be there with you--just as you were with me when they took out my tonsils, when I had every shot, when I had my first baby.  You have always been there and now I can't be there for you.

But my heart has never left you--even when I "grew up" and got married and moved away.  I am still your little girl and you will always be my dear, sweet mother who has molded me into who I am today.

Dear Mother, my heart is with you.  My prayers and thoughts are directed towards you.  I know, with that faith you have instilled in me, that everything will work out because everything is in His hands.  And soon, oh I hope so soon, I will come to your side and brush my cheek against yours and tell you just how much I love you...and how I always have.

And when I think of "remember," I'll always think of you.