For Mom

I ran across these pictures the other day as I was looking for pictures of my kids...as it was, these turned out to be the most timely discoveries...Happy Mothers Day, mom.  I hope that when you look at these they bring back fond memories of being my mommy.  Admittedly, I don't remember many of these times, but as they were the building blocks to who and what I am now, I believe that they had to be full of love.  I thank God that He chose you to be my mom, and though I may not always think that live up to your accomplishments, I am thankful that I have you to look up to.

Even through the tough times (remember 13? The Year of Madonna? The Prince Purple Rain Album?) I knew I was loved. You made so many sacrifices for me, many of which were purely mental, I am sure. Looking back and comparing your reactions to things I am just now experiencing thanks to my kids, I am amazed I didn't just get locked in the closet some days.  Did you really let me go to England by myself when I was just a year older than Mac is now? How did you listen to hours of my music in the car...in Spanish?  What possessed you to let me play the same record over and over and over and OVER in the basement and you never told me to shut it off?  Were you drunk when you agreed to take me and my friends to the Menudo concert?? How did you handle it when I ROLLED MY EYES AT YOU!!! How on earth did you deal so gracefully with birthday parties and overnights? Two things which I can't even bring myself to deal with now! Then there were the boyfriends, Van Halen concerts, school issues, attitudes (I assume, I still have a hard time remembering any of that), car accidents, weddings (yes, plural)and everything those entailed, grandchildren births...sigh! You can bet I will be thinking of calling you when dating begins, school dances, driving lessons, trips abroad...oh Lord!

But for today, I give thanks. Thank you for NOT locking me in the closet.

Easter



Easter bread from the local bakery.




I love our family dynamics. It seems that every major holiday now, we spend with Gary and Annette, at THEIR house, eating THEIR food and enjoying THEIR hospitality.  Hey, it works for me. Luckily, it works for them too and we truly do enjoy and cherish each other's company...

Cutest cake EVER! The missing teeth were my fault.

Sammi had a LOT of catching up to do with Grampa. She was on his lap 90% of the time.

Easter this year was an attempt to downplay the whole bunny thing and focus more on the story of the Resurrection story. Each child got an Easter basket, and there was the chocolate bunny and Peep or two, but there was also a new Bible or daily devotional for each child, oh and a bike or new pair of skates.  You know, church stuff.

Unfortunately that was the extent of my picture taking that day, but what you don't see is everyone in their new Easter duds (thank you Nana and Poppy).  You also don't see all FOUR of them at the front of the church filling out all of the acolyting positions that Sunday. Even Jeff and I had jobs as lector and usher! Grandpa's job was to keep our spot in the pew and, of course, be Sammi's personal lap provider and captive audience throughout the entire service.

I was so proud of my family. The WHOLE family. I believe that they actually got the meaning of Easter this year and there was very little grumping about not having an egg hunt, though there was candy enough to distract them, even without one. The Bibles and devotionals are in daily use still and intelligent questions are being asked and conversations regarding Bible stories are being held. I remarked Mac, after reading about the Abraham, how amazing it was that he was so old when he died. He replied, "no, not so much, God had a lot for him to do."  Sigh, schooled again.

catch up time

Ugh, I am so behind on this blog and it has been causing me so much anxiety that I am just going to post pictures and forget about all the wonderful bits of insight that I was planning on sharing along with them.  Add your own, I know you can!
 As these mostly date back from Spring Break, there aren't any of Noah and Lydia...they were at their mom's.  Ben and Mac had to suffer with me! (see below)

Day #1. Can you feel the excitment?

We spent a lot of the week like this (I was parked at the time, by the way).

The sun apparently did come out, but notice the winter coat and hat....

We decided to re set the stones around the remaining raised bed.

Flashbacks from two years ago. *^%$#(* roots!

A day at the Park.

A day at the Roller Rink.

Some one is a really good sport (and a Hokey Pokey Pro)

This was about the extent of her skating for the day.

Opening day. I SO dispise the SEEDS!!

Possibly my favorite picture of all time...hee hee.

This was right before Spring Break at their Heading West assembly.