My mom passed away at 11:40 on Friday night. I had the sweetest time
with my mom before she died. I feel so blessed and so thankful that the
Lord allowed me to have that time with her. At about 9 p.m., my sisters
and dad went to bed and I stayed up with mom. The plan was for me to
stay up with her until 3 a.m., then dad would stay with her for the rest
of the night.

From 9-11, I sat with mom and talked with her. I told her things that I
hadn't told anyone else, I read my favorite verses to her and prayed
with her. I cried a lot and kept telling her, "mom, I'm right by your
side, I'm not going to leave your side until you go home."

I don't know whether she heard me, whether she understood what I was
saying, but I needed that time to grieve, to tell her things I wanted
her to know before she died, and just to hold her hand and be close to
her.

At about 11:30, Dad had awakened in a cold sweat and couldn't go back to
sleep, so he came out to check on mom. He felt her pulse and heart rate
and said he didn't think she had much time left. He prayed with her,
then went downstairs to wake up Serena and Jena. I told mom, "Dad's
here, it's okay to go home." Her breathing was slower and more spaced
out. Then she opened both of her eyes real wide and looked straight at
me, she took two more breaths and while I was holding her hand, I
watched her go up into heaven.

It was the hardest thing I've ever done. But I'm so thankful I could be
by her side and that I spent the last few hours with her. We are all
hurting, but God is holding us in HIs right hand and is comforting our
hearts. We are so thankful she is in Heaven and is walking on the
streets of gold. Someday soon we will all be in Heaven with her.