Last Updated on September 13, 2019 by Marie Bautista
“Happy Birthday, I love you”
Three words. Yet everyday, I say them in different ways. Whenever Paula, Nicole or Adrian need advice or reassurance, I try to do or say what you always would, had you been here. I may never do it perfectly like you did, but I try hard. I strive to be like you. Every day is a celebration of missing you and honoring your memory, which starts with those three words.
I have always thought you were Wonder Woman. Everything worked perfectly when you were around. Nothing ever went wrong. It may have been your grace, your unwavering faith, your sincerity. Your quiet reassurance that everything will be okay when I was having problems always worked. Just being beside you made me believe that I can be anyone I wanted to be.
And I remember the laughter, the mischief in your eyes. The way your hand felt so soft and fragile in mine, despite your struggle to keep your memories alive even when your meningioma was getting worse.
I remember…
How you loved receiving flowers.
How you literally dragged me to watch every Sharon and Gabby movie (I was on a stage where I hated everything my mom loved!).
How I cried every time I hear “Wind Beneath My Wings” and “Miss You Like Crazy when I left home for six months to have my CPA Review in Manila. I still cry like buckets when I hear these songs!
How you kept every single card I gave you. Later, you also kept Paula and Nicole’s notes to you.
How you prohibited me from going to a friend’s debut and I swore I will remember what you did for the rest of my life (I still do, but without the seriousness of a teenager).
How you helped me make my school projects. You seemed to know everything. Every kind of stitch, you can sew. And you can knit and crochet, too, and before scrapbooks were the thing, you already had yours!
How gifted you were and yet so humble, so complicated and yet so simple. A perfect mother.
How, when your condition was getting worse, you would squeeze my hand and whisper weakly, “I love you.”
Three words I so long to say to you personally. Every single day. My guardian angel, please tell my mom, “I love her.”
“Forever.”
Aww, this made me cry. I can really feel the love that you have for your mom. Posts like these touch me in a different way now, because I am now a mother too. 🙂
oh!! I almost cry while reading your post.. I somehow feel how you long for your mom.. Rosemarie/Gven-Rose
Aww gosh, this almost made me cry. I'm teary-eyed right now. Happy birthday, Marie's mom! I'm pretty sure she's so proud of what kind of mom you turned out to be, Marie. 🙂
I know wherever she is, she will be proud of you.
You have no idea how much I miss your Mom. She was a sister, a mother, a friend to me. To my Manang Chaling, Happy Birthday!
Speechless <3
oh, such a sweet post for your mom, i'm teary eyed…i'm missing my mom too
Oh well, you got me here sis. I'm teary eyed. I am lucky to have my mother with us. That's why I am doing everything to make her life more comfortable. I know those are not enough to pay for everything she did to us. And I know the only I can only pay her by being a good mother like her. I don't exactly know what is a good mother is but I am doing all my best anyway. I'm actually holding my tears so I will stop here…
Mommy Maye2
Gosh I cannot imagine my mom not being with me. Im praying for her=)
The daughter-mother relationship I guess is the most complex. And no matter how illogical our moms can be especially when we were younger, they certainly know what's best for us. I'm sure that her memories will forever reverberate in your hearts 🙂
A truly touching story. I'm sure your mom is in a better place.
Your mom must really be proud of you. Keep on smiling!
i'm sure your mom is so proud of you. 🙂
my mom is my best friend so i can imagine the bitter-sweet feeling you might be in while writing this…bitter because she's physically not present to be able to read it, sweet because you know that she's in heaven right now.
I almost cried too, because I remember my mom who is also in heaven. 🙁
Happy Birthday to your Mom!
"Happy Birthday to you! 🙂
˜”*°•.˜”*°•.˜”*°•.★★.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜
¸¸.•*¨*•░H░A░P░P░Y░(¯`’•.¸ *♥♥♥* ¸.•’´¯) ░B░I░R░ T░H░D░A░Y░ (¯`’•.¸*♥♥♥*¸.•’´¯) Hope you enjoy YOUR special day!
║╚╦═╦═╦═╦╦╗ ║╚╦═╦═╦═╦╦╗ ║╚╦╦═╣╚╣╚╦╝╠═╦╦╗
║║║╬║╬║╬║║║ ║║║╬║╬║╬║║║ ║╬║║╔╣╔╣║║╬║╬║║║
╚╩╩╩╣╔╣╔╩╗║ ╚╩╩╩╣╔╣╔╩╗║ ╚═╩╩╝╚═╩╩╩═╩╩╩╗║
¸.•*¨*•.♪♫♫♪Happy Birthday .♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸ ♥Happy Birthday to youuuuu ♪♫•*¨*•.¸.•*¨*•♫
˜”*°•.˜”*°•.˜”*°•.★★.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜"
This so touching and inspiring indeed. Happy Birthday to your Mom:)
Hay… this post is indeed touching. Loosing someone very dear to our hearts is really heartbreaking. I always whisper a prayer for my parents back home to be ok and have a long life ahead. I want them to see me succeed in life as a successful home maker 🙁
Happy Birthday to Your Mom! I'm sure she's happy looking at you from up in heaven.
happy birthday to your mom!!! 🙂
Happy Birthday to her. I'm sad and happy. Your post makes me appreciate my moments with my mom.
aaaaww.. this made me cry.. 🙁
happy birthday to your mom! 🙂
what a beautiful tribute to your mom! *sigh* my ma and i, we have a very strained relationship. i truly admire the mother-daughter bond you had… a close relationship with my own is something i pray and hope for.
this is a poignant post!
like you i have a strong relationship with my mom, she is so loving and i adore my mom
happy b-day po
So touching…You are so fortunate to have a loving Mom! I am fortunate too and she is still alive and healthy at 83!
aww.. i thought i am the only one who felt a little emotional reading your post, same as the others din pla.hehehe i cant imagine me without my mom.. it's also her birthday month this march, actually today. happy birthday to your mom, she's now partying with the angels maybe watching sharon and gabby movies too. hehe 🙂
I'm sure she's in better place now and still guiding you from up there.
I almost cried too… haiz.
Just by reading I could imagine that you had a wonderful mom … surely miss my mom, too.
Haaay! This is so touching! You are a great mom because of your own mom. They sure were like super and wonder women in our eyes.
True! What your mom passed to you is definitely being enjoyed by your kids today.
This will always strike a nerve somewhere, whenever we talk about mothers. And just now, I am smiling as I remember my mom and what she could be doing right now in the province. I miss being with my mom, with me living 4 hours away. She has always been my hero, even if there are times we disagree. I miss spending time with her. Maybe I'll take her shopping next time I go home. 🙂 I bet your mom and my dad must have crossed paths in heaven. They may even be neighbors … 🙂
Such good souls, I bet they know each other…
That's a really sweet letter to your late mom. I'm sure that she would have received your birthday greetings.
Nakakaiyak! That's a very nice letter for your Mom.
This is so touching! I am sending my hugs. 🙂
Heartfelt article. Happy Birthday to her and may she continue to Rest In Peace.
this is a touching post.. i know she is happy with our creator.. advance happy birthday to her..
Rosemarie/Gven-Rose
Touching.. this post made me realize to cherish the times Im with my mom..
You touched my soul with this post. Moms are really wonderful and they leave their legacy.
It is a very touching tribute and I believe she is your guardian angel…
Blessings
This made me cry Marie. Especially for those of us who still have their mothers with them but sometimes take them for granted, this is a wake up call. That we should know their years are counted and we should always show how much we love them and appreciate everything they've been doing for us. 🙁
Awwww. I hope my mama and your mom are having a grand time in heaven.
You really touched every reader of this post….yawwww…love your parents while they're still alive.
So touching. I feel so fortunate I still have my mama with me.
Very emotional and loving thoughts for your mama.
This is very touching. Happy Birthday to your mom!
The love story between you and your mother is indeed a beautiful thing. Thank you for sharing it.
Happy Birthday to your Mama in heaven and I'm sure she is proud of you.
I'm sure that your mom is looking down at you from heaven and saying "I love you too, anak." That's very sweet of you. I can feel that your mom knew how much she's loved.
Happy birthday to your Mama. Like you, my mom passed away too and now with the Lord for a year now. I had a great relationship with her and I miss her voice and words of wisdom so much.
Such a loving message from a very loving daughter! I am sure she is watching over you sis. Miss ko tuloy si Mama ko.
This is still a very powerful and beautiful tribute to your mom. Every time I read it, I'm reminded how important it is to show love to our family and friends. Thank you for this!
Elizabeth