There are no words vast enough to carry the love I have for you, Mom. No language deep enough to hold the weight of what your life—and your love—means to me.

You weren't just my mother. You were my safe place, my home, my truest friend and above all my first love.

You knew my heart before I could even find the words to speak it. In every season of my life, you were there—not just watching from the sidelines, but holding my hand through storms and sunshine alike.

Our bond is more than just mother and daughter. It is soul to soul. It is the kind of love that didn't need explanations, that could hear silence and still understand the pain.

You taught me to be strong, but never to be hard. You showed me that vulnerability was not weakness—but a kind of sacred courage.

I will always remember the sound of your laughter in the kitchen, the quiet strength in your eyes when life tried to knock us down, and the way your love wrapped around me like the warmest blanket in the coldest moments.

You believed in me when I couldn't believe in myself. You stood in the gap when I was tired, lost, or unsure. You were my lighthouse in every storm.

And now, even though you're gone from this world, I feel you with me. In the way I breathe, in the way I love, in the way I see life mum, i now realize i am Raisa's daughter, i carry your legacy.

You are etched into my heart, into every part of me that knows how to give, how to rise, how to love deeply.

I miss you more than words will ever capture. But I am so grateful, so proud, to be your daughter.

Thank you for everything, Mom. For your love, your sacrifice, your wisdom, your warmth.

There was during you, for some reason, i never thought there will be an after you, but now its after you. And we are in it. Something i never imagined never planned for. This is not where this story ends, but the beginning of a new chapter in different realms. And yet, you live on in me, in every lesson you taught, every hug you gave, every piece of love you poured into my life. You made me who I am.

To infinity our love continues, and I'll carry you with me until I see you again.

What is in a name? I often recall the old ringback tone that used to begin with, "Did you know…?" In these quieter moments since Mum's passing, I found myself reflecting on her name and what it truly meant.

My aunties have explained that Thara is a powerful clan name within the larger Runyenje family, carrying deep history and honour. Out of curiosity, I searched the meaning of Raisa, and what I found only confirmed what we already know about Mum.

In Yiddish, it means rose; in Arabic, leader or chief; and in Greek, easy-going or gentle.

Indeed, Mum was all these things and more. Like a rose, she was beautiful, nurturing, and full of grace. As a leader, her counsel was sound and fair. She listened, guided, and challenged you to think deeply, always reminding you that her wisdom was not the final word, but a light to help you find your own path.

Her calm strength and easy-going nature carried a quiet power. "Lazima i'work" was her mantra, her belief that persistence and peace could coexist. When faced with unnecessary conflict, she would gracefully step aside, choosing peace over pride.

Mum embodied generosity without expectation, kindness without condition, and faith without display. She gave more than she ever asked for and taught us that true strength lies in gentleness.

In Slavic, Raisa is also associated with paradise and that is where Mum now rests.

Dance with the angels, Mum. Greet Uncle Njiru, Jim, KR, Cucu, Mau, Mum Njoki, and Mum Njura for us. Tell them their essence lives on in us.

And now, in the spirit of redefining meaning; did you know that Mum is an English name meaning Raisa Thara?

Now you know.