I lost my mother, Dorothy, just a few days before Christmas back in 2009 on the 22nd of December, just a few months after graduating high school. She'd had a lon-running battle through life with Diabetes, four types of crippling athritis, hyperthyroidism, cellulitis, and even survived ovarian cancer. But after a couple years of being bedridden, she eventually lost the fight to congestive heart failure. That Christmas was especially hard, but at the same time began a tradition to throw a party every Christmas with the whole family, to have everyone together to celebrate the season of kindness, love and joy. We're holding that party this year on Sunday the 22nd, the anniversary of my mother's passing.

NewSong - The Christmas Shoes

The first time I heard this song on the radio in the car after she passed, I cried because it reminded me of her so much. But I still love it because it's a beautiful song, and it many ways it seems like it was written for many people like me or my mother. So every year, near the anniversary of her passing, I always listen to this as I think of her, to keep her memory alive and celebrate how much of a great mother she really was. I never knew what I had until I'd lost it forever.

Written in dedication
To the memory of
Dorothy Smith
November 29th 1949 - December 22nd 2009
Loving Mother, Charitable and caring human being.
I still love you mom, and I miss you.
Requiescat in pace.