Mothers' Day 2011

Deb and I had many adventures! We went to Amish country with Miss Rose and E, visited our grandmothers, and braved the rainy weather to see sights around the town as much as we could in a short time. But the day before Mothers Day, Deb and E had to go home to the other babies and Larry.

My kids and Daddy anticipated that it would be a sad Mothers Day for me, and they did everything they could to make it happier.

In the morning, I was encouraged to stay in bed for a while and read. When I was called to breakfast, all these gorgeous smiling faces greeted me.

Some very-much appreciated gifts had been bought! A tablecloth I had wished for, and this pretty petunia plant, and a bird-decorated ironwork hanger to hang it from. And some gorgeous handmade cards from my gorgeous, thoughtful children.

The kids had made baked oatmeal, fresh strawberries, orange juice and coffee, and there was probably other delicious stuff too, but I have a really bad memory, even for things that I really appreciate.

Early that afternoon, a praying mantis somewhere became a mommy. We had seen this funny thing in the japanese maple, and thought it was some kind of cocoon, so I was surprised when I walked out in the yard, to see this wet-tissue-looking mass hanging from the "cocoon."

When I went closer and saw what it was, wow -- it was so fascinating watching the teeny tiny praying mantises squeezing out like little worms, and then unfolding their antennae and legs, one by one by one. It was very methodical and machinelike and lifelike all at the same time. All the children came out and watched, and the neighbor kids came and had a look too.

When Deb and I were up in Amish country, we did some spring yard-saleing at whatever interesting sales we came across as we were driving around. We picked up such a lot of cool stuff, books and music and clothes and crystal candy jars -- but of course, the item that really got the baby girls going was the Easy Bake Oven.

I think I have wanted an Easy Bake Oven, myself, for, like, forever. I mean, how fun are they!

On Mothers Day, we spent the afternoon baking little cakes with Gater and Bert. We found that ten minutes per cake is a very long time to wait when you are two or four years old. But wait they did.

Our first cake was such a bright pink, and it tasted pretty much like cooked playdough. I learned since then that it is a better idea to just throw the ingredients together myself. I've been cooking a long time, lol.

But anyway, Gater very much enjoyed serving teeny tiny wedges of cake to everyone in the family. Ellie wanted some too but Gater was very adamant that the cake was *not* for doggies.

Wannie was sold on the cake for sure.

Gater thought it was pretty good. She immediately wanted to make more, in different colors.

Miss Rose enjoyed the cake too, just as much as anyone can enjoy cake with the color and aroma of playdough.

This is to remind us of why we should wash out-door-babies' hands before they eat. Oh well, call it natural vaccination. She survived. She even liked it.

This centerpiece is brought to you by Roks. He made all those flowers, all by himself, which is quite a big undertaking for a six-year-old boy. I was pretty impressed and I asked him where he got the great idea for those flowers. He was too embarrassed to tell me! Which made me all the more curious, because I could not imagine why he would be embarrassed -- was he looking at something he shouldn't have? Well, he finally admitted that he learned how to make the flowers from that "whiny baby show", Caillou! LOL

Roks also made the beeswax candles. He had made four hand-dipped candles, and gave them to his most favorite people. One for the pastor, one for Mrs. F, and two for me. He is such a sweetie, and has such a creative spark.

So that was my Mothers Day this year, and it was not too sad after all. It was a very good day.

Happy Mothers Day

To all the mothers out there -- the ones who have borne children and the ones who have nurtured children, or teens, or adults.

Nancy Campbell says that all women have a nurturing spirit built into them by God, and unless it is corrupted or damaged, that nurturing spirit will find a way to be expressed. Thank you, women, for your mothering of the world. Pray for the right priorities to be established!

Speaking of Nancy, she recently had a severe accident to her arm and is having trouble paying the medical costs it will take to have her arm properly repaired. She has been living in pain for quite some time and is hesitant to spend the money it needs to be properly mended. If you would like to send some money to help cover her costs, here is a link to do so.

I've been thinking today about my own mother, who is very far away from me in distance, but very close in heart.

I wish her a very, very happy Mothers Day and I'd like to tell you a little bit about her as a mother. This is hard to do, because I don't want to sell her short, as I almost certainly will.

My mother was a very young mom. She was married and pregnant with me before she graduated from college. She was, and is, one of the most talented people I have ever known. I can't actually think of anyone I have ever met with more gifted ability than she has. If she puts her mind to doing something, she will do it.

And yet, with all the talent she has, she never failed to make a home for her five children. She never made us feel like an obstacle or burden to her success. She raised daughters who were not fearful or anxious about becoming mothers, themselves; and felt free and bold to marry and begin families of their own. What a gift to us that is!

She is constantly encouraging and faithful.

She faces adversity and hardship with bravery and an underlying joy. She entrusts her life and the lives of her children to God's tender care.

She honors her husband, my father, in every way. She treats him respectfully and helps him in every way possible, going far beyond her own comfort.

She has been faithful in her marriage for 39 years; faithful as a mother for 37 years; faithful as a grandmother for 12 years; faithful to God since her childhood.

Who has a mother like that?

I do.

And I have definitely sold her short.

We love you Mom, and Happy Mothers Day.

A Gift for a Friend

Remember this post?

Well, our dear friend has been faithfully delivering Panera bread and bagels as often as she has them -- usually, weekly.

I have thanked her, but wanted to do something a (very little) bit special for her, since it's Mothers' Day coming up and she has always been an example of a mothering, gentle heart, to me.

She was the first person I ever knew personally who homeschooled, braided rag rugs, made tortillas from scratch, home birthed, belonged to a food co-op....
in short, she was a whole new breed of woman to me as a young wife and new mother.

She nurtured me and was always available to help me out when I needed it. If I was sad, or hurt, her eyes would fill with tears.

Her advice and help was in action, not words.

And it still is, now, about 13 years and a lot of life-changes later.

Thankyou, M, and Happy Mothers Day!

(oh -- in the crocheted box: two crocheted dishcloths; a box of Celestial Seasonings Fruit Sampler tea; a bottle of Mrs Meyers Geranium-scented Dish Soap (smells wonderful!), and space for a jar of freshly-made, still-warm lemon curd.)