Remembering and Missing

This morning as I was enjoying a nice cup of coffee before getting ready for a Mother's Day brunch I felt a little sad.  I miss my Mother and my Mother in Law.  They have been gone now for over 2 and 3 years respectively.  Then I looked up at the window above the sliding glass door.  As I observed the reflections on the curtain a lady spoke of how her mother always is revealing herself.  Her mother had passed when she was in her 20's.  Now that she had children she understands why her mom shed happy tears.  She understands what loving a child means and how much her mother had loved her.  There was more that you can watch here.

It spoke to my heart.  It spoke in chorus with the images on the curtain.  Cause those images were reflections of different parts of their lives as well as mine.  Canning jars from my MIL, Edna.  An intertwined set of lovebirds from Mom and Dad's 50th celebration or maybe their 60th.  There is the set of chimes from my sister with the cardinals cause Mom loved cardinals.  All week long a male Northern Cardinal has been visiting my little patio.  Both Mom and Edna would have enjoyed seeing the bright red of the birds feathers.

While those two women would not be visited by us today I felt their presence.  Both women loved gardening so I noticed there were even the shadows of leaves on the curtain.  The sparkles of light as the sun etched images on the cloth brought joy to my heart.  The joy of memories, of love and of our mothers.

Thanks for stopping by and visiting.
Janice

Mother's Day Gifts

This picture was taken on the front porch, steps and yard of the only house my Mom and Dad ever owned.  The picture was made in September, 2008 following a party celebrating Mom's 90th birthday.  Members of the family have been lost to death and divorce.  Members have been added by birth and marriage.  Not all the family members were present for this picture.  Besides the half person that was cut off, two grandsons and their families of 6 total were not present.  That is a lot of prodigy to come from just two people. 

Thanks to my Mother for all she did through the years for me and later my family.  She cared for me as a child, she sewed for me as I grew up.  She hauled me to countless 4-H activities.  She loves my husband, son and grandsons.  Ever summer for 8 years she and Daddy took care of our son for from 2 weeks to 6 weeks.  It took us a while to get him back in the routine after those visits.  Just this Easter season, she sent cards with just a little money to thirteen of her great and great great grandchildren.   Just because she is a giving person and wants them to know she loves and thinks of them.

From Proverbs 31, The Message:

She designs gowns and sells them,

    brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.

Her clothes are well-made and elegant,

    and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.

When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,

    and she always says it kindly.

She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,

    and keeps them all busy and productive.

Her children respect and bless her;

    her husband joins in with words of praise:

“Many women have done wonderful things,

    but you’ve outclassed them all!”

Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.

    The woman to be admired and praised

    is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.

Give her everything she deserves!

    Festoon her life with praises!

Mom was more likely to give away anything she sold.  And she is a bit of a glass half full person.  My Mom is not perfect, but she does love her family the best she knows how.  That is all any mother can do, the best she knows how.  May God continue to bless her and us with her presence.

Texan to the core!  And a Democrat, too, she adds.

The best gift I can give my Mother on Mother's Day is to be in her presence.  This year I will not be celebrating with her.  I spent a good deal of time with her last week during the sew a thon for my younger sister.  This year for the first time since 1991 I will be with my one and only child and he is doing the cooking!  I cannot ask for a better Mother's Day gift.

For more takes on Mother's Day or to add to the fun, join Gretchen or Ginny over at The Spin Cycle.

Moms the Word

From her womb we all emerge

Pushed into a world of uncertainty

But always held in her heart by love.

Momma, seated surrounded by two daughters, two sons in law and one grandson

My Mom's mother.

Daddy's mother, Anna Mae, along with his dad, Aunt Cordie and her husband, circa 1915.

Momma is the stylin' lady in the spectator heels.  I am next to her with sister Suzie in the back.  Aunt Opal is in shorts and Granny Chandler is on the steps.  Yella, my dog from my Uncle Claydie is behind me.

Momma, me and Aunt Opal snuggled together on a ski lift during our "Yellowstone Trip" in the summer of 1950.

Momma sitting in her favorite chair in her living room in her precious home in Allen, Tx.  Did I mention she is a fourth generation Texan that thinks all that cession talk is, "Just plain stupid, damn Republicans/".?