The next night after the funeral, me, Shelby, and Courtney were sitting on the steps talking about their mawmaw and how much they missed her, when we again witnessed a shooting star. Yet again, I
cried. I thanked God for these two miracles that he had shown to me and my daughters two nights in a row.

The following night on our way to my father's house we were in the van talking about mom, and I said "I sure do miss you mom, and love you so much." In the sky in front of us another shooting star shot across the heavens.

At that very moment Shelby said, "Mom that was the third shooting star that we have seen three nights in a row, it's like mawmaw is trying to say I LOVE YOU!" She is Shelby, I told her. That is exactly what she is doing, as well as God letting us know that he hears us, our prayers and wants to comfort us.

How amazing it was to see three shooting stars in a row like that. I couldn't tell you when the last time was I saw a shooting star prior to the first one that I saw the night of my mothers wake, but I think about that every day, and am thankful that my daughters got to witness that with me. They have been able to share this with others as well.

So that was three miracles, but I have one more to share with you:

One day, about 3 weeks after mom passed away, me and Courtney were driving down the road, listening to the radio and a song came on that reminded me a lot of my mother. To myself and not out loud, I said, "Mom I miss you so much, and I love you more than you can imagine. I would do anything to talk to you one more time".

Driving along, I looked up at the sky. On the right side of me was some beautiful clouds, but to my left was nothing but blue sky, the prettiest blue I have ever seen in my life, except for this one particular spot in the heavens.

I looked back at the road and for a couple of minutes kept looking at this spot. I came to the conclusion as to what it looked like to me but wanted to share it with Courtney, so through tears I said, "Courtney, do know how every time we talk about mawmaw, something strange happens like seeing those three shooting stars?" She said "Yes, ma'am." I pointed to the sky at the spot that had left me breathless and said, "What does that look like to you." She didn't say anything at first and when I looked over at her, she was bawling like a newborn baby. She said, "Mama, it looks like a hole in the floor of Heaven and mawmaw is peeking through".

What a wonderful way for her to say it. That was my thought exactly! In the sky was a small area that
looked like someone had reached up, took a knife and cut a slit in Heaven and the sun was peeking through. I want you to know that it was amazing. All I could do was cry and think oh mom... Courtney said mom, mawmaw use to tell me all the time before she died that she would watch over me no matter what, and she really is isn't she? Yes, she is Courtney. She will forever watch over you baby.

Courtney and my mother were very close. I went back to work when Courtney was 5 weeks old and my mother had her from that time until she passed away. Courtney did not live with my parents but she was there every single weekend and during the summer time. This past summer, Courtney was only home for 3 days. That's where she always wanted to be. She never wanted to stay with her friends, she wanted to stay with her mawmaw.

Oh how she loved her mawmaw. My mother told me when she found out that she only had about 3 months to live that she wanted to be the one to talk to Courtney and didn't want me to tell her. I told her that I wouldn't have it any other way. I know that my mother talked to Courtney about a lot of things, and out of respect, I have never asked her because that is hers to keep for the rest of her life. Those little talks that she had with her mawmaw will carry her for the rest of her life and will help her to get through the rough times when she really misses her the most. I have gotten her a copy of the song "Holes in the floor of Heaven" for her to always remember the day that we were driving along and got to witness our very own "hole in the floor of heaven".

I thanked my mother before she passed away for all the time that she spent with Courtney.  You know what she told me? She said "Shyelisa, Courtney is my daughter and you stole her from me". We both just laughed. She was right. Courtney was her baby, and she loved her as she loved me.

My mother was never one to love one grandchild more than the other, but I know that her and Courtney were close and that was only because Courtney chose to spend all her time with her. Plus mawmaw always let her get away with everything.

She would tell me, Shyelisa don't you get onto my baby. That's because Courtney would call her and tell her that she was grounded and couldn't stay the night with her. I will have to say that if I told Courtney that she couldn't stay the weekend with mawmaw, she would cry, and I would always give in and bring her over there, not because she was getting her way, but because I have known for a long time that my mother was not going to be around to see them grow older and get married and I wanted to Courtney to have as many memories as she chose to have with her mawmaw.

Thank you mom for loving my children as your own children. Thank you for loving my friends as your own friends, and for never turning your back on anyone. Thank you for all the advice that you have ever given to me. Thank you for what you taught me as a teenager, even when I didn't listen, and now I am seeing in my daughters what you seen in me.

I find myself thinking oh I know what my mom went through now. You have instilled in me some of the greatest values ever known to man, and now I get to pass these on to my own children. May they turn out to be just like you. May I have just one of your unique qualities.

"You are the best Mother a daughter could ever dream of having".

The Link below takes you to my Special Memories of my Dear Brother, Jr.