Hello, my angel

It's been over four years since we packed our boys up and moved to NC.  Sometimes it still feels like I am a newbie and other times, it feels as if I have lived here my entire life.  It was not easy at first, but we have managed to build a pretty good life here.  The boys are happy, the commander is settled and I can't imagine living anywhere else.  One reason life is good here is no one knows my past crimes,   I have good friends that became family.  I had only been here for a couple of months when I decided to join a small group at church run by a couple of women I had not yet met.  Lisa and Maria were quick to take me and treat me as if they had known me forever.  I made a special connection with Maria and I was blessed because that connection extended to her mother.  Mama Lucia took me at face value.  I have never had anyone love me that completely, that instantly.  Over the past 3 1/2 years I cannot count the times I have been blessed to spend time with her and it never failed that every single time she saw me there was a hug and a kiss and the greeting of "hello, my angel".  I miss my own mom.  She is an 8 hour drive away and I don't get to see her as often as I would like.  Sometimes you just need the kind of hug that only a mom can give you and it doesn't matter how old you are.  Mama Lucia jumped into that role with both feet, without a moment's hesitation.  It wasn't just me that was lucky enough to experience that.  Everyone in our group of friends knew that Mama Lucia was just that, Mama for us all.

Two weeks ago today, Mama Lucia got to go home.  I miss her and in some ways, I'm sure I always will.  Sometimes you meet people and you just know they will always have a special place in your life.  That was Mama L.

After my knee surgery a few years back, I was laid up for a couple of days.  Mama called to let me know she was bringing me dinner. I knew it would be something good and I knew there would be no broccoli involved.  She always laughed when I told her that broccoli was from the devil!  She was famous for her spaghetti. Scamp was only about 6 yrs old at the time and when he heard me tell her spaghetti sounded wonderful he started yelling something about meatballs! I have no idea where he got that because I don't do meatballs!  My spaghetti is dried noodles and sauce from a jar!  But Mama L heard him and when she and Dad got to the house a few hours later, it was with a bit pot of spaghetti with lots of meatballs!  To this day, Scamp will ask me to make meatballs.  I never have and now I'm sorry I never asked her how she did it.

Mama L had a smile that lit up the room.  It didn't matter what was going on, she smiled.  I can still hear her saying "well, you don't know to know!"  The only time I can remember ever seeing her in tears outside the presence of the Lord was when her daughter-in-law and her precious granddaughter had to fly to Romania on short notice due to a sudden death in the family.  Mama L worried about her babies, all her babies!  Even her tears were for others.

There will never be anyone to take the place of Mama Lucia.  I am blessed beyond measure to have known her and to have loved her and to have been loved by her.  The Lord decides who we will all be born to and I was blessed by his choice for my mother.  I am also blessed by His choice of a second mom for me.  I guess he knew I was such a case that it was going to take two for me!

I pray that each of you, my dear readers, are blessed to have your own Mama Lucia in your life.  There is something amazing about a mother's love and it is equally amazing when someone chooses to bestow that kind of love on you, not because they birthed you, but because they simply choose to.

So my heart is heavy today as I remember this special woman.  But I can't be too sad because I know where she is and how happy she must be.  There is no more pain, no more cancer, no more fear, or sadness or tears.  There is only joy and dancing.  I'll bet she's right in the middle of it all. She wouldn't be hard to find, she's probably the one doing the hustle!

I love you, Mama L and I miss you.  It's good to know you are now cheering for us from the sidelines.  Thanks for getting there early and saving us all a seat at the table.  Just remember to get me a seat far from the broccoli!  lol   

As always, I'm soaked in His blessings,
Spokenfor

                                                 

                                                   Mama Lucia on her wedding day