Miscellany Monday

Once again, I'm joining up with Carissa for Miscellany Monday.  It's a time when we share our random thoughts, so feel free to play along with us. 

I can't lie...I love being honored on Mother's Day. As a mom, it feels pretty nifty having a special day that's all about ME.  So, with that said, I got up yesterday morning to find these beautiful roses from Abby sitting on our kitchen table...

She'd, also, written me a sweet note and had a bar of yummy dark chocolate sitting next to them. She knows exactly how to get to my heart.  Chris even treated us to brunch at Cracker Barrel, which hits the spot every time.

After we got home, Chris started acting a little "funny".  He opened the garage door and kept going outside.  I wondered what was going on, but I decided to empty the dishwasher.  Yes, mother's work is never done...even on Mother's Day! I had my back turned as I was putting some plates away when I heard a familiar voice.  I looked around and it was Brittany!  She had left Mobile at 5:30 AM to drive home so she could surprise me for Mother's Day!  I wasn't expecting her home until late this evening. When I turned around and saw her standing there, I broke down in tears.  To have my family together, once more, was everything I needed to make my day complete.

Later that evening, we went to dinner at our favorite pizza joint, Biba's.  The place was packed with families. We had the best time sitting there laughing and visiting with each other. It was as though we'd never even been apart.  So, I'd say that my Mother's Day couldn't have been any better.

Today is going to be CRAZY!  We have the AC man coming at  this morning to repair the coils on our upstairs unit.  Then, the house painter is supposed to be here sometime this morning to pressure wash our house. We 're getting a new freezer delivered because ours bit the dirt about 3 months ago.  Then, Abby has choir practice all week long after school beginning today from 5:30 until 8:00 PM. Calgon...take me away!

No Greater Gift

When I was young, a box of crayons, some Elmer's Glue, and a sheet of construction paper were often the only things I had to create the "perfect" Mother's Day gift for my sweet mom. I'd pour my heart and soul into a card for her. Of course, as I got older, I recall making her a macrame plant holder, giving her a bouquet of beautiful flowers, and presenting her with several hummingbird figurines to add to her ever-growing collection. I was willing to do whatever it took to make her feel special and to put a smile on her face.

Whenever my mom opened her cards and gifts, she'd burst into tears as though I'd given just handed her the most precious jewels in all the world.  She wanted me to know that whatever I'd done for her was more wonderful than she'd ever dreamed. She made me feel like I was walking on top of the world!  She didn't care about the dried glue, misspelled words, or the overabundance of glitter. In fact, she'd proudly display my cards on the refrigerator or on a table for everyone to admire.  She continued to do this whenever my girls would send her notes or pictures they'd drawn for her. They served as constant reminders of how dear she was to all of us and she kept every one of them tucked away in a drawer for years to come.

When I look back on all the Mother's Day cards and gifts I gave my mom over the years, none of them can compare to gift she gave to me.  I was a shy child growing up and Mom always encouraged me to stretch my wings and to try new things.  She BELIEVED in me far more than I believed in myself.  When I became a cheerleader in the 5th grade and on up through high school, she spent hours on end sewing the perfect uniforms for me to wear.  She'd attend home and away games to watch me cheer...and never complained.  She was there for me when I suffered numerous broken hearts and helped me pick up the pieces.  She'd always reassure me that Mr. Right would come along and that he'd be worth waiting for...and she was right.  She showed me patience and understanding when I became a strong-willed teenager and helped to keep me grounded.

I, of course, can't forget the day I moved away to college...it was a mixture of excitement and sadness.  That final embrace before we said our "goodbyes" was almost more than either one of us could bear.  Somehow, we made it through and grew closer because of it.  I still remember how good her warm hugs felt when I'd come home for a weekend.  Suddenly, all was well in my world, again.  We went through another major separation when I got married and moved away for good.  We both knew that from that moment on, things would never quite be the same, again.  I would never be just her daughter, but, also, someone's wife.  It wasn't long before Brittany entered the picture and Mom's desire of having a granddaughter was finally fulfilled.  Then, sadly enough, I suffered two miscarriages before Abby came along...and Mom was right there with me.  Her understanding ways meant so much to me.  Of course, with the birth of Abby, there was new reason to rejoice!

I'll never forget that fateful day over 10 years ago when Mom called to inform me that she'd been diagnosed with breast cancer.  I, literally, dropped straight to my knees.  No daughter should ever have to hear that kind of news.  Still, by the grace of God, I managed to pull myself together enough to be as supportive of Mom as I could, though I lived miles away.  She fought long and hard and ended up losing her battle in November of 2000.  The pain I felt from losing my mom still stings as much now as it did then.  There is, and will forever be, a  huge void in my heart that can never be filled.

So, on Mother's Day, I look back and remember all that my mom meant to me.  She was the epitome of what being a mother is all about.  She was loving, kind-hearted, forgiving, inspirational, and so much FUN!  She taught me the importance of making FAMILY a top priority. She showed me how to have a great relationship with my girls because I had one with her.  I now realize that all the cards and gifts I gave her over the years pale in comparison to the gift she gave to me... unconditional LOVE.   

Celebrate your mom this Sunday!



P.S.  We have a showing scheduled today, so I'm busy getting ready for it.  If I don't have the chance to pay you a visit today, hope you'll understand why. Have a wonderful weekend...Happy Mother's Day!

I Remember MOM...

Sunday is, of course, Mother's Day. It will be a day when I relish in being a mom. What an incredible journey it's been and one I wouldn't trade even if I could! I love my girls with every ounce of my being. I would swim the deepest sea and climb the highest mountain just for them.

Mother's Day, however, is also a day for me to remember my mom and best friend who passed away in November of 2000. She fought a brave and courageous fight against breast cancer and died at the age of 68. Hardly a day goes by that I don't think of her. She was so much a part of who I was, and continue to be. She taught me about faith, compassion, understanding, forgiveness, and selflessness. She made our house a HOME. She filled it with love, laughter, and endless memory-making moments. Her sense of humor was infectious! She never passed up an opportunity to laugh at herself. We used to have some major "giggle fests"! Oh, the messes we could get ourselves in! I still recall so vividly the softness of her hand in mine and how the skin on her face felt like velvet. I always thought she was the most beautiful and smartest mom around. She supported me through all of my growing up years and allowed me to confide in her about anything and everything. I knew she always had my best interests at heart.

I was blessed beyond measure to have Mom in my life. Yet, I still can't help but feel like I was robbed. We still had so much to see and do together! Brittany was only 8 and Abby was just 4 when Mom passed away. My heart aches knowing all the time she missed with them! Mom would have LOVED watching them grow into the beautiful young ladies they are today. I think she would have enjoyed hearing about some of the "trials" I've gone through as a mother...and probably would have laughed herself silly! I wish I would have had her around to ask how to do this, or what I should do about that. No one offers better advice, in my book, than your own mother.

Even though Mom was taken from me much too soon, I still have a heart that's filled with gratefulness for even having her in my life, at all. My prayer is that she's looking down on me from Heaven with the satisfaction of knowing that I've done everything I can to carry on her legacy of love. Her memory is being kept alive because I share stories about her all the time with my girls. I want them to understand what a remarkable person she was and how much she meant to me.

So, on this Mother's Day, I hope and pray that if you're lucky enough to still have your mom around, you won't pass up any chance you've been given to tell her you love her and to thank her for all she's done. For those of you who are moms, I hope your Mother's Day is special in every way and that you're surrounded by those who love you. For those of you who are struggling to become a mother, please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and that you, one day, will have the desires of your heart.

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us, when adversity takes the place of prosperity, when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us, when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts."~Washington Irving


P.S Tomorrow night is Brittany's first prom...pray that all goes well! I'm sure I'll have pictures to share with you next week!