Happy Mother's Day 2011

I thought I would share some things that make my mother so special to me! Some of this is actually taken from a letter I wrote my mom for Mother's Day:

There are times when I think, "What I wouldn't give to live in the same town as mom and dad." But I know that I only want God's perfect will in both our family's lives. I would hate to get to Heaven and find out that we missed out on a boatload of blessings due to our selfishness. So, as a result of where God has called my parents and our family to serve, we live several states apart. However, our relationship as mother and daughter has only grown closer.

I have had so many people say, "Wow, I wish I had the kind of relationship you have with your mother! You actually LIKE your mother and want to be with her!" I can't point back to any particular moment when our mother/daughter relationship turned into a friendship between two women. I am sure it was just years and years of moments that were built together over time. 

Here are a few ways my mother had an impact on me:

1. Homeschooling. She really made things fun! I am sure that half the time she was sicker than a dog as she suffered from Multiple Sclerosis, but even then, she didn't let our focus be on that, rather on whatever activity was going on. I am so glad my parents decided to do this with us. I pray that I am currently having that impact on my children!

2. Sickness.  Through her sickness, seeing how she went through every day, taught me that when life hands you lemons...make some lemonade. It could not have been easy to raise two teenagers while having an illness that knocked her to her knees. Speaking of dropping to her knees, I will never forget hearing my parents voices raised in prayer to the Lord through their bedroom door......

3. My sicknesses. I still remember being about Sierra (8) or Shelby's (7) age...I got the flu and threw up on the carpet by my bed. She never scolded me, she just came in and started cleaning up the carpet. I remember thinking that she must really love me! Then later in life when I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, when I had a period of depression, when I was pregnant, when our babies went to Heaven....her caring tender words letting me know that she was praying for me.....

4. That Infamous Summer. The summer I was about 13 and we went to ten million places as field trips as well as practically living at the river and numerous trips to the beach. It was awesome at the time, but looking back, I think, "Man, how did mom do it?? She was so sick!" So I don't know how she did it that year, but it made an impression on me. Now as a mother, I hope I can re-create some of that magic for my own kids!

5. My desire/dream to be a wife and mother. From the time I was a little girl, all I ever wanted was to be a wife and mother. Yet again, I can't think of any particular moment in time when that came to me. I just know that the impact she had on my life, made me desire to do the same for my family. 

There are so many more things that I could name...I probably wouldn't have the time to tell them all. But no card or present or words could ever expressive what her love, devotion and Christian example have been to me.....

I love you, mom.....