Happy Mom's Day 2018

Being A Mom and Grandmother

It’s the day before Mother’s Day and I’m reflecting on mothers and the blessing of being one!

I THINK BACK WITH PRAISE THROUGH THE YEARS:

Busy baby time, four children in nine years then watching each child’s interests and personality develop.  Tamara with her tennis, novels and daily running with me - okay only about one mile. Pam her face red and dripping from playing super basketball or experimenting to create the best-ever croissant recipe. David with his army men and board games battles covering the floor of his bedroom along with history books. Dan playing a favorite game like the Little Green Things between soccer, B-ball and golf. 

Remembering all these “mom moments” is so rich. What might yours be?

I see in my mind our immediate family, six of us, at the kitchen table during dinner at Delavan Lake and I can almost hear the laughter pealing forth. Dear God, it was SO GOOD. We were all wrapped up with the love of God and one another.

I know the day the laughter paused, but only for a time when our son David’s  cancer was diagnosed. We determined as a family to fight with love and faith and prayer and laughter. And by God’s grace the cancer was eradicated.

I look at a souvenir stone from our family Smoky Mountain trip and remember yearly trips to Florida and Disney World – splurges despite a tight budget – times that brought us forever memories steeped in joy.

And then on top of this to get to be a mother-in-law, grandmother and great grandmother to enjoy ongoing mom moments! Like baby Brayden, everyone’s delight!

I grin remembering a joke our grandson DJ told me years ago and today he's graduating from college. In my mind I see Jack running down the Upper Gardens Road on our scavenger hunt beating us all and his face lighting up when Grandpa said, “You’re really fast!” Now Joshua streaks across the soccer field. 

Sweet memories, like ten-year-old Anna and Joshua enrapt as we build a bonfire for them and tell them stories about their mommy and daddy. I see Drew playing the piano at the senior home and then directing the older grandchildren on our sun porch making cards to welcome their new twin cousins, Anna and Joshua. 

In my mind I see Katie in the kitchen making fudge with me. And Steven helping me make a rock border in the back yard. Now I even have a grandson-in-law Alex - all six foot plus of him with a huge heart as well. 

And then I think of other women:

Like the moms who never had children of their own but “mothered” nieces and nephews and neighborhood kids or students.

I remember moms I met through my work - unwed moms who courageously gave their babies to other women yearning to have the sacred joy of nurturing a child. To them I say don’t mourn. Your little ones will praise you face to face in heaven. I think of single moms who struggle financially and emotionally, but say it’s worth it all to mother their child(ren). I think of divorced families for whom Mother’s Day can be complicated and I hurt for these moms and I pray. I also think of abandoned elderly moms who sit alone in nursing homes. May none be forgotten this year. For these moms may we all pray.

I smile at the thought of all the love that’s going to be expressed on Sunday– the cards and flowers that will change hands. The moms taken for granted far too often will hear the love song that’s always within their children’s hearts.

I think of Moms, like me, who didn’t do our mothering perfectly, but we did it wholeheartedly having a ton of fun along the way. And we have children who know we tried and rise up and call us blessed.

We moms know, don’t we, that ordinary family days are so precious – so fragile and the most meaningful days of all.

So Happy Mom’s Day to me, to you and to the Dads who facilitated our roles. Children we celebrate you, too, for the great blessing of watching you grow in delightful ways.

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Luke 1: 38 Then the angel left her. How amazing the news of pregnancy always is!

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2: 18-20

Don’t we all?

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”

2 Timothy 1:4-6 May our children walk with faith in God always.

SPEAKING NEWS:

Lake Geneva Christian Women's Connection Guest Night at the Red Geranium Restaurant,  Lake Geneva, WI July 11th. My husband Wayne and I will both speak. His talk is "Humor and Hope in Golf and Life." Mine is: "Enhancing Emotional Closeness in Important Relationships." 

Lake Geneva Authorfest at the Lake Geneva Lakefront, July 14th

July 16th at 6:30 p.m. and July 17th 9:30 a.m. Christian Women's Dinner and Breakfast in the Rice Lake, Wisconsin area.

Christian Women's Connection Guest Night, Monroe, Wisconsin August 22nd 6:00 p.m. My husband Wayne and I both speak again. His talk is "Humor and Hope in Golf and Life." Mine is: "Enhancing Emotional Closeness in Important Relationships."

BOOK NEWS:

JESUS TIME, 365 Love Notes of Wonder & Worship was released this week. It's available at amazon and Barnes & Noble in paperback or readers can order ebooks to carry on their smart phone for instant spiritual refreshment.
For JESUS TIME info click here to connect with amazon: http://amzn.to/MZtUBA

Next Murder Mystery Novel is In Final Editing With Pelican! 
I recently received this cover from my editor. I love the colors! 

It's my most intense mystery yet. I'll let you know when I have a release date.

Blessed Mother's Day Everyone!