Recently, I walked through a home with a client who shared something I will probably never forget. Hanging throughout the house were framed puzzles. At first glance, they looked like decorations. But once the story behind them was shared, they became something much more meaningful.
During their spouse’s battle with brain cancer, the two of them spent countless hours putting those puzzles together. What started as a way to help with focus and brain function during recovery became part of their daily life together. Piece by piece, they spent time side by side through treatments, fear, exhaustion, hope, and love.
After their spouse passed away, our client framed the puzzles throughout the home. Every puzzle represented memories they built together during one of the hardest seasons of their life. Looking at them now, you can feel the love attached to them. You can feel the grief too.
That story stayed with me because this Mother’s Day has been especially emotional for me personally.
I recently lost my mom.
My mom was an incredible woman, and as I reflect on her life, I am reminded of the many ways she shaped mine. There were times growing up when I did not make things easy for her, but somehow she always made sure we never went without and never really had to worry. Every morning she would leave the house around 5:30 AM to go to work and would not get home until around 6 in the evening. Looking back now, I admire her work ethic more than ever. No matter what life threw at her, she kept going.
Our holidays were simple, but they were perfect to me. We would go watch a movie and then eat at a restaurant afterward. Those moments meant everything. Whenever a new sci fi or action movie came out, we were there opening weekend like we were professional movie critics. We would sit around talking about movies, watching cartoons, joking with each other, or going shopping together. Honestly, growing up, I could not have asked for a better friend.
Some of my favorite memories were our weekend spots like Kings Table Buffet, Chan’s Place, and Pizza Hut for pan crust pizza. Looking back now, it was never really about the places. It was about the time together.
But the greatest thing my mom ever taught me was something simple.
“Life’s not fair.”
As a kid, I did not fully understand what she meant. But over the years, those words became one of the biggest foundations of my life. Whenever something difficult happened or I caught myself thinking, “Why me?” I would hear my mom’s voice in my head saying, “Life’s not fair.”
What she was really teaching me was resilience.
Get up.
Find a way.
Keep moving forward.
Even when things hurt.
Even when life does not make sense.
Even when you feel exhausted.
My mom lived that lesson every single day. She went through difficult times, raised children, dealt with health complications, and still showed up every day to do what needed to be done. She may have said things like “I give up” out of frustration sometimes, but she was not someone who ever truly quit.
And as I look at my family today, I realize how much of her still lives on through all of us.
I see her strength in the women in my family who continue to push forward no matter what life throws at them. I see her determination in my children when they rise to challenges and refuse to quit. I see her kindness in the way they care about others and try to help people. I see her humor and intelligence in the quick wit and personalities that fill the room during family gatherings.
Her legacy did not end when she passed away. Her strength, humor, kindness, and perseverance continue through the people she poured into.
The day she passed, I remember feeling something strange in my heart. I felt her pain leave. And somehow, deep down, I knew she was finally where she belonged. As hard as it was to say goodbye, she gave me peace in knowing she was no longer suffering.
But losing someone you love changes everything.
And one thing I have learned through both personal experience and working with families in real estate is that grief does not stop life responsibilities from coming.
The mortgage is still due.
Bills still arrive.
Homes still need maintenance.
Legal paperwork still needs to be handled.
According to recent studies, nearly 70 percent of Americans do not have an updated will or estate plan in place. Families are often left trying to figure out finances, property ownership, probate, debts, and major life decisions while still emotionally processing loss.
Sometimes the surviving family members are not only grieving. They are also trying to finish what their loved one started.
That is why the framed puzzles meant so much to me. They represented continuing love after loss. Continuing life after heartbreak. Continuing forward because someone you loved taught you how.
This Mother’s Day, I know many people are celebrating with their moms. But I also know many people are hurting because their mom is gone, because someone they loved is gone, or because life simply feels heavy right now.
If that is you, I want you to know something.
You are not alone.
Please reach out to someone if things feel too hard to carry by yourself. Talk to family. Talk to friends. Talk to your church. Talk to a counselor. Talk to someone you trust.
And if your situation involves housing struggles, inherited property, foreclosure concerns, probate, financial hardship, or simply trying to figure out what to do next after losing someone, we are here to help however we can.
Sometimes people do not need pressure.
They need compassion.
They need guidance.
They need someone willing to listen.
Real estate is not just about houses to me. It is about people and the stories attached to those homes. Every home carries memories. Every family carries struggles nobody else fully sees.
This Mother’s Day, I am grateful for the time I had with my mom. I am grateful for the lessons she taught me. And I am grateful knowing that even though she is gone physically, her strength and love still surround all of us every day.
So if you are hurting today, struggling today, or simply missing someone you love today, please remember:
Keep going.
That is what my mom would say.