This chapter is dedicated to the memory of my Mother. I have never known a sweeter, kinder, or more giving person my entire life. Would that everyone had someone like her, this world would be a much better place. Mother, you are loved and you are sorely missed. Happy Mother's Day!

Leonard loved his wife dearly and it was important to him that she knew that so there were certain days of the year he went all out for her. Mother's Day was one of those days.

When Isabel woke up this morning, she was so happy. All of her kids and grandkids were here, the love of her life was here, and it was one of her special days. Life was good and she knew it.

Isabel got dressed and headed to the kitchen. It looked like a tornado had hit as there were pots and pans everywhere. Someone had been doing a lot of cooking and she suspected it was her kids, which was fine with her as they were all great cooks.

As Isabel looked around the kitchen and the dining area, she spotted what she hoped to see. In the middle of the dining room table were a dozen red roses, a double-layered red velvet cake, and, many Happy Mother's Day cards. Leonard always got her a dozen red roses, a double-layered red velvet cake, and a special card for Mother's Day. She really wanted some of that cake, but it looked like the kids had prepared a huge breakfast of all her favorite foods. The cake would have to wait till later. She saw pancakes, waffles, eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits, gravy, orange juice, coffee, and hot tea. As she was deciding what to start with, Isabel couldn't help but think how much she loved Mother's Day.

After breakfast and after her kids had cleaned up everything, everyone gathered around to give their mom a special gift. All of her kids and even grandkids had made her a special photo album. It contained pictures and memories of her and her family as she was growing up and of all the members of the Hofstadter family throughout the years. Isabel started to tear up as she flipped through the pages. So many memories, so many good times, so many blessings.

Later that day, while everyone else was outside doing various things, she sat and thought about how all of this had happened. There was a time in her life that she thought she would never get married or have kids. Of course, she knew she would have a career, but she wanted more than that. She wanted someone to love and cherish her. She wanted a soul mate, but generally men seemed to be intimidated by her intelligence and her beauty. That was, until she met Leonard. He loved everything about her, he was immediately drawn to her intelligence and her beauty, yes, but most importantly her spirit, which was good and kind.

Isabel was roused from her daydream by her oldest daughter, Marie, when she sat down beside her.

"So, how is the trial separation going?"

"Oh, Mom, you don't want to hear about that, especially today, do you?"

"I haven't spoke to you since it started, so yes, I do."

"It's hard and not what I expected. It's hard to be alone and I wonder what Frank is doing all the time. Is he seeing someone? Is he glad to be rid of me? Will we get back together if that's what I want? Is the separation a big mistake? Will it just make things worse? How is this affecting the kids?"

"Marie, honey, I will tell you what your dad tells me all the time. You have to have faith that in the end, whatever that entails, everything will be okay. You have a family that will always love you and support you, you have a great career so you can support yourself, and you have two great kids who love you."

"Thanks, Mom."

Just then, Carly and Christy came into the living room holding the album Isabel had gotten earlier that day. "Grandmother, we were looking through your album and had a question about this one picture. Why is Papaw lying on the floor next to your hospital bed?"

Isabel started laughing so hard that she was nearly in tears.

"I'm sorry girls, I had completely forgotten about that. Papaw was in the delivery room with me when your mother was born. When he saw her coming out, he fainted and fell on the floor. He missed most of the birth. He was so embarrassed, but he was determined to be with me when all of our babies were born. From then on, we always had a chair for him to sit in in the delivery room."