Birthday Signs

Today I celebrated my 37th birthday. I woke up and walked downstairs, happy to be smelling the brewed coffee. Matt knows I love my morning cup. Step by step I go, reading the handmade birthday signs that hang parallel to the staircase “Happy Birthday Momma. Love Thomas, Paige, Peter & Penny.” These birthday greetings led me to flowers and cards from Matt and the kids.

My request this year was to have a “sister afternoon” with my younger sister, Megan.  We are both mothers so it’s hard to carve out time sans kids. It was only for a few hours but it was such a treat to chitchat without interruption and finish a conversation. We walked in and out of stores downtown doing some birthday shopping, and after pulling a few clothes to try on,  the store employee asked to start us fitting rooms, “and I’m Nancy”, she said, “let me know if you need help finding anything”.

I’ve always believed in signs and since my mom, Nancy, passed…I believe in them more now than ever before.

This was my mom showing up for me on my birthday. A birthday is one of the days that doesn’t pass without me thinking of her. It’s a strong realization that time is moving and another year goes by without her.

All this to say, be open to the signs.