“Beautiful Cemetery, very well kept”
– Peter D

On Mother’s Day, which fell on Sunday, May 12, 2024, I journeyed to the serene location where my niece Aaron had discovered a hidden gem. Nestled within the confines of this fairytale-like forest, is a cemetery with undulating hills and valleys. Towering evergreens line the pathways, leading to the summit of a hill where my sisters and I laid our beloved, elderly mother to rest on November 18, 2023. Here, where the sun’s rays danced most brilliantly, I found solace in her memory. At mom’s final place of rest, a symphony of colours greeted me, courtesy of the tulips my sister Ivonne had lovingly planted at the beginning of 2024. Yellow, pink, and violet tulips swayed in the gentle breeze, their pastel-coloured hues a testament to a mother and daughter’s delicate yet enduring love. I looked up into the sky and whispered a heartfelt thank you to God, and at that exact moment, a cloud veiling the sun gracefully moved, allowing its warmth to inundate me. God’s presence was so palpable at that moment; it was as if He was reminding me, “I am right here with you”. Suddenly, a burst of tears streamed down my cheeks, as my mind was overflowing with memories of Mom. I cried until I had no more tears left in me and then I whispered, “Happy Mother’s Day Mommy,” to my cherished confidante, my BFF: Fanny Yolanda Padilla Diaz de Balseca. Months have passed since her death, yet my heart continues to ache with the pain of her absence. The love I hold for my mom is unwavering and time can never erase it. My sisters and I searched numerous places, but, as God would have it, this is the perfect final place of rest for mom. – Norma T