Sunday was Mother's Day. One of my favorite days each year - not because I get breakfast in bed (girls, the eggs were DIVINE!!) or flowers (fresh-picked tulips in a wine-bottle vase...), but because for one whole day I get as many hugs and kisses as my girls can come up with. My day started with all three girls following Scott into our bedroom to deliver breakfast to me on a tray. Of course, my eggs and toast were shared among all four females as we talked about how much I love being a mom and how each of them were born (our own little tradition).
Madison gave me a very special gift - the most precious a mom could ask for. Her second grade class made books: "The ABC's of a Loving Mother". It was priceless. While I am sure she had some help with certain letters from her teacher, Mrs. Boonstra, you could tell that she really thought about our moments together. "F" was for helping her with First Communion. "T" was a thank you for taking her to Toledo Zoo a few summers ago - things that her teacher just wouldn't know to write. It touched my heart to know she spent so much time and effort on a gift for me. It was very personal and, of course, I cried like a baby reading it (according to Maddie, she got extra credit for making me tear up!! She's always the over-achiever). She is just such a light in my life and I am grateful every day that I have her to show me the sunshine through the clouds. At times like these, I think that maybe Scott and I are doing something right as parents.
Sammi and Alison had surprises for me too! They proudly showed me the purple dragonfly stake that they bought at the farmers' market for me. Dragonflies are my favorite and the girls definitely know this. Sammi and Ali later got to pick their very own spot in my garden to place the stake. Alison was so proud that she could carry it all by herself - after all, she'll be three this week! What a big girl. Sammi patiently walked with her sister to the garden and pushed the stake into the ground. She preceded to sing me her songs about Mother's Day. They go something like this: "you are the best mo-mo-mommy. La la. And I could not ask for more. What time is it? It's mother's day - time for celebration. What time is it? Summertime, yeah, yeah. I love you ooohhh". Just the funniest thing you ever heard!
In addition to starting my day off with sweet kisses and heart-felt gifts, I got the best present of all - time with my mom, my mother-in-law and my brother's family all in one place at one time. We all gathered at my mom's house for Sunday dinner in celebration of the day. My dear husband made a wonderful gourmet meal and we all enjoyed each other's company. After dinner, the kids went outside and we started up a baseball game. All five grandkids (and some of us adults that should have known better) took turns hitting the ball and running bases while the adults played clumsy infielders. It's amazing how many bases those kids can steal when you can't quite get the ball out of your mother's garden!! We left the bats and balls for a fun-loving game of football. Of course, my brother and my husband chose to pick on me (okay, boys, it is my blog...I can write it anyway I see it!!:) and my body was not quite the same on Monday morning. Touch turned to tackle and tackle turned to good ole fashioned wresting - you know the kind you used to do with your brother when you were twelve? News flash...I'm not twelve anymore!! My nephew, Clayton, got in on the fun too by swatting me in the rear just to "be a boy". Can't say that I blame him - out of five grandkids, he's the only boy so he has to have his fun with his Uncle Scott, his Papa and his dad before the girls make him settle down for tea and crumpits!!:)
Mother's Day turned out to be a fabulous day - even though it was cold and rainy. Regardless of the weather, I am so thankful for days like these. They are the bread and butter of our family - the glue that keeps us all together. The big moments, the ones that you sweat about and stress over, are great and fabulous pages in our scrapbooks. But it is the little moments - the ones that just kind of happen - unplanned, spontaneous, fun-loving - that make me realize life is just so much sweeter than we ever dreamed it could be.
To all the mothers in my life - my mother, my mother-in-law, my grandmothers, my Godmother - and to all of you who are mothers or aspire to be mothers:
A blessing and prayer tribute to all mothers
Blessed be all mothers
Who have come into our lives
Whose kindness, care and loving
Remain with us to guide.
Your inspiration in us
Made us strive in every way
Especially to remember
Helping others makes our day.
Mothers, this little tribute
Flows directly from my heart
You are so loved and cherished
Invaluable, one and all, you are.
~ Susan Kramer
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