CELEBRATING MOMS!
With Mother’s Day upon us, as we celebrate the moms who are with us and hold close the ones who are with us in spirit, I find myself reflecting on the kind of mom I am — how I want to show up each day, and how I hope to be remembered.
I hope this inspires you to spend time with your mom if she’s here, or to honor and celebrate her in a way she would love on this special day—and to carry forward the love, lessons, and legacy she’s left within you.
It feels like the right time to share a story about my mom. We lost her three years ago, but in many ways she still shows up in our lives — sometimes when we need her, and sometimes just to remind us she’s still with us.
When I was growing up, my mom loved wearing yellow. She loved it so much that my friends used to joke and call her “the banana lady” because she would show up to school in head-to-toe yellow jumpsuits — and there wasn’t just one, she had several! This was the 80s, so you can imagine just how bright they were. I think growing up in Minnesota, where the winters felt long and frigid, yellow was her way of bringing sunshine into the day. It felt cheerful and happy to her.
My mom was incredibly loving and never judgmental. She was always smiling and had this calm way of just going with the flow that made everyone around her feel at ease. When we lost her, it was incredibly hard. Many of you who have lost a parent know that feeling — like a part of you is suddenly missing. One night when I was missing her deeply, I said to her before bed, “Mom, please give me a sign that you’re okay and still with me.”
The next morning, my routine was a little different. We were preparing a listing, and I was carrying staging supplies from our storage to load into the car. Instead of heading out through the garage like usual, I walked out the front door. It was late fall — everything was cold and brown, flowers long past their blooming season. But there, in our front garden, was one perfect yellow flower. Just one. Bright and standing alone.
I burst into tears. In that moment, it felt like she was saying, “I’m here.”
Since then, she’s “shown up” in other ways too. On two different vacations, when we were talking about her, a vivid yellow bird suddenly flew by — out of nowhere — and we never saw another yellow bird like it for the rest of the trips.
This year, on her birthday, on a chilly January morning, I remember thinking to myself, I wonder how Mom will make sure we don’t forget her day. Later, while hiking the Coal Creek trails, we happened to take a path we don’t normally take. And there in the brush, along the trail, was the tiniest yellow flower.
The point of sharing these moments isn’t to focus on the loss, but on the love and memories of those we’ve lost. I truly believe God — or the universe — sends little reminders that they’re still with us. When you’re open to it, you start to notice them.
What do you want your legacy to be? How do you show up each day, and how will you be remembered?
We share this story with the hope that it encourages you to reflect on something your mom taught you, or a trait you loved about her — and to carry that forward in your own life.
For me, it’s my mom’s loving, non-judgmental nature. That’s what I strive to carry on every day.
Winnie the Pooh says it beautifully:
“If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart. I’ll stay there forever.”
Happy Mother’s Day to my mom in heaven, and thank you for the gift of life. Keep sending those yellow signs and we’ll keep doing our best to be more like you and carry your spirit forward.
And Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms — may you feel deeply loved, appreciated, and celebrated on your special day.
Until next time, remember to love yourself and love your neighbor as yourself,
Christina and Matt
Matt & Christina are Team Skally, top real estate agents in the Seattle Metro with expertise in luxury homes on the Eastside including Bellevue, Newcastle, Issaquah and Kirkland. Their client testimonials say it all - they deliver exceptional service and record-breaking results. Recognized as top agents on social media by Property Sparks, Diamond Award winners for best client service, Nextdoor’s Neighborhood Faves and regularly featured in online and print publications including Luxury Home Magazine, Puget Sound Business Journal, and Greet - Newcastle & Newport Hills Magazine. In addition to serving clients, Matt and Christina love family time with their two sons and Goldendoodle as well as volunteering in the community.