a mother's love will flow forever

We are away on our beach holiday. The weather is divine and the time together is most precious. Bassie is lapping up his beach swims and we are loving throwing the bedtime routine out the window. We go for ocean swims at dusk and have picnic dinners peppered with sand. He has become obsessed with his dada, and I wonder if I have become the third wheel in this little team of ours.

Yesterday was such a sad day, but there was also laughter, beauty, and grace all around. Yesterday, we farewelled the mother of one of my dearest friends. Pam lost her fight with cancer after a gallant effort, enduring more than five years of chemo. All the talk was of Pam's beauty, grace, serenity, kindness, and joyful spirit. She was a true lady. Everyone agreed that Pam - an identical twin to the equally gorgeous Fae - made you want to be a better person. To love more and laugh more. To have fun. 

For me, the most beautiful part of the church service was when her loving husband of 42 years (my friend's dear father) said to his two girls: "You are everything to your mother, just as you are." It made me weep on the inside but also made me feel at peace, knowing that a mother's love is unconditional and so strong that nothing can weaken it.

Pam's love will flow to her two daughters forever. They will sense it at the most poignant and most unexpected of times: in ocean breezes and morning sunlight; in Christmas carol celebrations and footy finals; in grocery shopping queues and when putting on lipstick. They will feel her presence at birthday parties and Christmas lunches; when a full moon rises over the ocean and when it eclipses three times in a row. They will feel her everywhere. Because she is all around.

Our focus now is on supporting our dear friend. She is already proving she is brave and strong, although we know her heart is aching desperately. We will be there for her, as she always is for us, so that she knows she is loved and treasured.  

Rest in peace, dear Pammie (although we expect you will be busy up there, moving the furniture around). xx

image above: Pam loved flowers. We threw them to her at sunset, and some floated back to stay a while.

image below: Beautiful trees at the church pointed the way to heaven on a perfect blue sky day.