2000

This year it really hit me what a huge year 2000 was for me (& my family).

Each event was more impactful this year than the nine years before, just because it's the "10th anniversary" of everything. I don't remember feeling overwhelemed at the time by all those life-changing events, and I wonder now how that could be. But looking back now, I also see that year for what it was and am glad at least that the bad was outweighed by the good.

In 2000:

May 4 ~ My Grandpa passed away.

June 4 ~ I got married.

June 17 ~ I became a mother.

August 6 ~ My mom passed away.

That's a bunch of "big" stuff packed in to a small amount of time!

Obviously when those dates come around each year, we celebrate in some way.

Some small ways (anniversary), some big ways (Arissa's birthday).

And I spend some time remembering my mom & Grandpa on their significant dates too. But just like when our anniversary came around this year, I figured that the 10 year mark deserved some extra recognition.

So on August 6 2010, we wrote little notes to my mom and "sent" them to her:

We attached the notes to balloons:

And let 'em go:

Mallory took it really hard:

I'd like to say that she was crying those big heavy tears because she was overcome by the sadness for my mom & the injustice that she'll grow up without having known her....

But the truth is those heart-wrenching tears were for the balloons themselves. She really wanted to keep them. Plus she knew that wherever Heaven is, those balloons were going to pop well before they got there, and to her that was just a waste of some good balloons. :o)

It was really super sweet. Especially those notes that Jesse & the girls wrote. They are so loving, even towards someone they've only ever seen pictures of.

It was a nice thing to do together.

I only had to promise Mallory I'd buy her another balloon. :o)

(me and my mama...circa 1981?)