Beautiful stories and memories. So sorry that many of us have bitter memories as well but those memories make us who we are.
The last memory I truly have of my mom was the encouragement she gave me on a my first quit. She was a quilter and I tried one year to make one and messed it up terribly. I out it away for a year and when I finally showed her-- she encouraged me to finish it-telling me that it would become my favorite- because of all the work I had done with it. She died unexpectedly 3 weeks later.
I cherish that quilt- because of this story. AND I am happy to say that I have taken her place with her 3 sisters and their monthly quilting bee. God knows every moment and I am blessed to have Him guiding my path.