Mother's Day

Shout out to my man who made me a delicious Shepherd's Pie for dinner. He was up early with a horrid headache, but he prepped food, set up a delicious spread for our church sisters, cleaned it up and continued serving when he came home. He made a delicious meal and he did the dishes! He's a on-of-a-kind, outstanding man. Love you Kelly! Thank you for making my Mother's Day special.

Visiting Graves on Mother's Day

We normally visit our grandparents' graves on Memorial Day, but this year we decided to go on Mother's Day. It was a nice, quiet afternoon, and it seemed like a great activity. Both our mothers have passed, so it was a good time to remember them. Kelly cleaned their graves and we talked about our parents. The girls were good sports as usual. They don't like when Kelly get teary, but I think they like remembering what they can and hearing our memories. We are happy to know that we will be reunited one day.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day included Shepherd's Pie and a beautiful cake. The girls chose the meal which Kelly cooked, and they decorated the cake too. It was all delicious! We hung out the rest of the night. Kelly and Jenna played Battleship while Sariah watched. It was cute. Feeling the love today.

My Mother's Day

Streamers on my bedroom door welcomed me to breakfast as did the "MOM" Heather made out of streamers.  A yummy breakfast of fluffy scrambled eggs, hash browns (Kelly makes the best!) and bacon was super delicious, and my decorated chair was awesome (I felt like a queen on her throne).  Dinner was just as yummy and prepared by my hub and girls:  shrimp and mushroom fettucini and lobster tail with tossed salad, cheese bread and lemon-lime aide.  Dessert was scrumptious chocolate on chocolate cake decorated by Heather, and among my sweet cards was a Willow Tree statue titled, "Love of Learning."  While all of these fun things were being prepared throughout the day, I was able to get ready for church, read, play Words With Friends on my phone, and I even got in a nap.  My husband and girls did a perfect job of showing me their love on this special day.  xoxo

Mother's Day

All week, I've seen profile pictures changing on Facebook from the familiar faces of my friends to those of their mothers. The popular message for the week was to change your profile picture to that of your mom's to honor all mothers. For those who know me, they know that although I can appreciate things about my mom, she is not the primary person I think of on Mother's Day. That would make her sad if she were here, but the truth is that I've had many, many mother's in my life. There have been many women who filled in where my mom was not able to with an abundance of nurturing and love. I couldn't fit all of the pictures of my mothers into one small Facebook profile spot, so I didn't change my profile picture.

I haven't stopped thinking about this all week. I've thought about my mother, my aunts, my mother-in-law, my grandmother and great aunts, and many church leaders who have given me a more complete view of motherhood. It was yucky celebrating Mother's Day when I was growing up because it was the one day during the year that we were supposed to forget the way my mom really was and honor her in the Hallmark greeting card way that everyone else honored their mothers. It felt fake, and it took me many years as a mom not to feel yucky when Mother's Day came. I never wanted to be celebrated unless my kids really wanted to celebrate me. Fortunately, I have gotten over the yucky feeling and enjoy Mother's Day as a celebration of the gift it is to be a mother to my little girls.

Today as I sat and thought about my mom, I found some pictures of her when she was a new mom. I think it was a time of promise of things to come, and a time she was happy to be a mom. Things weren't as emotionally stressful for her yet, and I found that I liked looking at these pictures of her when she was a little happier and finding joy in motherhood. So here is my "profile picture" of my mom that didn't go on Facebook. I was happy to find these and happy to see my mom happy being a mom.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was wonderful.

On Saturday night, Kelly suggested we go to dinner for Mother's Day, so we chose a place we don't often go to. It was the girls' first time at Claim Jumper, and they were excited. Very yummy dinner and a great atmosphere. Heather was dying to give me the present she made at Activity Days this past week, so I opened it at the restaurant. It was a lovely rosette pin that she'd sewn all by herself. She really wanted me to wear it to church the next day. It was really and truly lovely. I was proud to wear it!

On Sunday, after the girls and I both doing separate singing pieces at church (and me looking lovely with Heather's rosette pinned to my sweater), we relaxed all afternoon. The girls were excited to give presents, and it was so fun to see their enthusiasm.

Jenna had been waiting since her last Activity Days (two weeks ago!) to present me with something she'd made there. They've been hiding in the freezer, and boy were they yummy. I got 2 chocolate and 1 vanilla cake ball! Complete with decorated gift box. Mmmmm.

She also had a card and poem for me from school along with a "top ten" list.

Top 10 Reasons Why My Mom is Great - By Jenna

10. She teaches me things I need to know.

9. She took me to Cold Stone

8. She feeds me.

7. She gives me things that I need.

6. Shows me the way.

5. She took care of me while I was a baby.

4. She goes to my favorite places.

3. She tucks me in at night.

2. She gives me rules so I don't get hurt.

1. She helps me when I get hurt.

Heather had left her present at school. So she decided to throw something together. I was quite impressed.

A note was attached to explain the items...

Pin: To remind you that I am always with you.

Hankie: To remind you that there are always happy and sad tears that are always ready to be shed.

Mirror: To remind you who you are.

Medal: To remind you you are a champ.

KitKat: To put a little sweetness in your life.

There was also a huge picture that was half finished. She left the other half for me to finish. I didn't get the sense that she got tired of the picture--she really wanted me to be a part of the art.

I was really touched by the thought that she put into her gift. It cost no money, but was worth so much with the things she chose to include. Way to go Heather.

We have some darned cute kids. I think we'll keep 'em.