Mother's Day- Memories of Judy

This is a hard day, as anyone out there who has lost a mom knows.  It helps me to thumb through the old albums and remember. 

July of 2008,Mom's backyard in Denver- full complement of grandchildren (and the only picture of Elena with Mom that I could get my hands on):

With Jude out in the Lake of the Ozarks:

I've posted this one before, but I just love how young and happy everyone looks:

Every memory I have from the very beginning up to age 5 includes one of these woven oval rugs:

 

This was shortly after Mom was first officially able to celebrate Mother's Day (that's me playing the role of the stewed tomato):

 

Mom in her beloved Florida:

With Cody and Amy:

Her (first)wedding day:

Holding her flower girl on wedding day #2:

 

Hiking with Cody in Colorado, 2002:

 

18 and beautiful:

With Tessa, making churches and steeples:

 

With Dad and Cody (At prom? Graduation?):

 

I think this is probably at Lake Okoboji:

 

Mom was a beauty school graduate, and I never once went to a barber before I went to college:

 

With sister Pam in one of those photobooth deals:

 

All fancy:

Self-portrait on long post-graduation car trip to California:

 

With Mitchell, the Funky Chicken:

 

Mom and Sam, 2004:

With Zanny in the Hummer limo in the Twin Cities on the way to see Bruce Springsteen on her 66th birthday:

On Zanny's front porch:

In Baltimore just after Tessa's first leg operation. Everyone's spirits brightened considerably when she showed up!

On Mother's Day 2007 with traditional breakfast fare:

I love this one in front of the Broncos' stadium:

The Smith Family (version 1.0):

With two of her grandsons, Sam and Jude:

At the 2006 Capital One Bowl in Orlando- just before probably the greatest single play in modern Iowa Hawkeye football history:

Her backyard never looked better than on the day of Cody and Amy's wedding:

Looking out at the Pacific Ocean from a beach in LA with the Peach, 2001:

With baby Sam:

Singing "New York, New York" at Zanny's wedding reception:

Hiking Estes Cone on a 2002 Colorado trip:

At the summit with her kids:

She loved the sunsets over the Gulf:

 

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! We miss you every day.

Comments

[Zanny]

Thanks, Rob. I needed that.

[Kelly Hostetter Thomas]

She was amazing and beautiful, kind and generous, talented and intelligent. What a wonderful mother she was and a loving friend. Love you, Rob.

[Jim (Grampa) Smith]

Very nice, Rob.

[G-man]

Very nice tribute, Rob. Great job rounding up the pictures.

[Cheryl Knopf]

Wonderful photos, Rob. One of my favorites is the black and white in which she is playing cards with the guys. It captures a fun-loving and playful person. I hope you are comforted by the memories you hold. I firmly believe we will see our loved ones again . . . God bless you Rob.

[Nancy Stalkfleet]

Rob, what wonderful pictures! Her life may have been cut short but she knew how to live life to the fullest. Best mother and friend I have ever known.

[Diana]

What a beautiful tribute !!!