priceless.

Warning: this post is sappy.

Today - July 20th, 2011 - marks 5 years from the day my precious Aunt Edie passed away. She seemed healthy, and oh so happy to be celebrating her son David's wedding just a week earlier. After raising 4 boys, her son Tim and his wife Monica had a little one year old baby girl and Aunt Edie doted on baby Reagan every chance that she got. She was one of the sweetest, most loving, incredibly driven and inspirational women I've known. And in a whirlwind of sad surprises, her life ended.

Nearly a year ago my sweet friend, Brittany, lost her dad. Terribly unexpectedly. He was healthy. He was a runner. He was fun and full of life. And then one day, his life was lived.

I just got back from the lake. 2 days with just me and my mom. I don't expect her to go anywhere, anytime soon. It's not allowed. But I also realize the precious gift of having each memory with her, and I don't ever want to risk forgetting. So while I have a little minute, I'm taking it to write down some memories from our quick, spontaneous lake get-away.

Like...

• Riding along on the jetski just me and my mom, no on else on the lake, and listening to her make tarzan noises.
• Or turning around moments later to find her looking at her reflection in the side mirror as the wind blew into her mouth...and then laughing so hard.
• Or having my mom say 'now gun it! go fast! go fast!' followed by 'I didn't mean it!'
  
• Or watching this 56 year old woman jump out into the lake without hesitation to push us into deeper water.
• Or curling up in blankets and watching Beth Moore speak on fear and insecurity and talking about Christ's freedom in our lives.
• Or painting the little doghouse on the dock just to give it a fresh pop.
• Or watching my mom put those annoying neighbor dogs that followed us down the block in their place.
• Or convincing my mom it's not socially appropriate to peer into the windows of the neighbors house even if you just want to look at the color of their cabinets.
• Or driving around the lake analyzing all our favorite houses, and coming back to the conclusion that ours is the best of them all
• Or sitting out on the porch swing drinking delicious mint tea talking about life and Jesus and friendships and boys and so much more
  
• Or pretending not to know my mom as she talked the McAlisters employee into a free meal because 2 weeks ago she got overcharged.
• Or listening to my mom talk about her first few years of marriage, and soaking up her advice.
• Or enjoying an incredible dinner with my mom, when I'm so used to making do with whatever I've got on hand.
• Or letting my mom treat me to a pedicure...when she refuses to spend money on herself.
• Or teaching my mom how to get on the internet on her phone, which she's had for a year.
• Or the talks in the car on the way home.
• Or knowing that she'll find such joy if I fold the tip of the toilet paper into a pretty 'v' shape before I leave...and then listening to her get excited about it 5 minutes later.