My Wonderful Group of Friends

Friday, May 8, 2009

~A Mother.... Me ... and My Mother~

Have you ever really thought about what it takes to be a mother? Starting out as a new mother isn't that big of a deal. You have to kiss all boo boo's and make them feel better, chase away monsters from under bed, cook a good hot dog, and know how to play hide and seek. As time goes on you have to have to know how to listen without commenting and know that when things are not alright, you aren't supposed to ask "what's wrong." Man that is hard to do sometimes.

My firstborn Aaron was my "Little Man." We did everything together. He was my shopping buddy and I was his biggest fan. He was so darn smart too. There wasn't anything that kid couldn't figure out for himself. He was so polite and well mannered that adults would come up to me in the store and say what a well behaved little boy he was. That was music to my ears. (sorry the pictures are so blurry. i had to take pictures of pictures for this post)


My "Little Man" is now my "Big Man". He is 21 years old and will embark on his Senior Year of College this fall. My hubby and I had already been married for 2 years when I was 21. I can't even imagine him being married now. I was Aaron's Biggest Fan when he played sports. He always asked me after each game, "Mom how come you are the only mother I heard yelling when we were playing?" I guess his playing just excited me so and I couldn't control my emotions.


My second little pride and joy was my baby girl, better known as "Sissy Girl." God blessed me with a beautiful curly red head baby girl. How lucky was I. Allison of course hated the red hair. For Christmas one year she asked Santa for a black wig. She loved to perform and sing for us. I thought she had star potential at an early age. I mean what mother doesn't think her little girl has talent!! Allison was such a momma's girl. She would tag after me and try to do everything I did. How easy things were then. (doesn't she look a bit like the lion from the Wizard of Oz?)


Now my "Sissy Girl" is a teenager and she thinks she knows it all. Everything that happens in her life is a major drama. I don't remember it being so hard when I was a teenager. Then ago that was a hundred years ago. Allison is a lot like her dad but we do have a few similarities. We both share a passion for clothes and we love to talk. To this day she still calls Aaron "Brother." I'm not sure she knows what his real name is.

I myself have been blessed with a very special mother. My mother is a God fearing Christian woman that has been there for me no matter what I have needed. Growing up the youngest of 10 children, I had to share her quite a bit with my siblings. Mom never made us kids feel like she loved one of us more than the other. (Although secretly I know I am her favorite. Right mom?) Finally at age 13, I had her all to myself. All my brothers and sisters were married off and had families of their own. Mom taught me how to cook and clean. She was the perfect example of how to be a good wife and mother. She taught me that God should be first in my life and I should raise my children in church the way she did her kids.


Mom and dad watched my kids while my husband and I worked. I think out of the 50+ grandchildren they have, mine are the closest to them. They took my kids everywhere they went. I think hanging around with mom and dad all day made them smarter in school as well. They were always around adults. When my dad died, my son fell apart. I didn't think he would ever stop crying that day. His best buddy was gone and there was nothing he could do about it.

Mom has struggled a big part of her life with health issues but she never let her pain show through to us kids. She has had multiple surgeries, hip and knee replacements, foot surgery, stomach surgery, etc. Never once do I remember hearing her complain about the pain she was going through. All she worried about was how her family was doing and was everyone alright. Her heart problems are our biggest concern with her today. She is now 82 and pretty much set in her ways so she has no desire to have anymore surgeries to fix her heart problems or any other problems she may have. God will see her through until her last breath is her motto.

Mom now lives alone in her own home on our property so she is never far from me. I see or talk to her everyday. She is more than a mother to me. She is my best friend. We go out to eat together, we attend church together and we also just sit around and talk to each other about everything. My mother knows more secrets about me than even my best friends in high school did. I adore her.

Now I'll share with you what my kids got me for Mothers Day. These are the most beautiful flowers ever. I have been so blessed by my children and words cannot express how much I love them. They are my heart and my soul.




In closing, I would like to say "Happy Mother's Day" to all my friends old and new. Have a wonderful day.

With Warm Hugs,
~AMY~


Thursday, May 7, 2009

May 7, 2009 National Day of Prayer

Today is National Day of Prayer. I don't want to offend anyone with this subject but since this is my blog and my thoughts and beliefs, I decided to share it with you. If you choose to read today's entry that is up to you. If you want to stop now that is fine as well. The choice is yours.

A friend forwarded this to me today and I thought it was print worthy.

A dog had followed his owner to school. His owner was a fourth grader at a public elementary school. However, when the bell rang, the dog sidled inside the building and made it all the way to the child's classroom before a teacher noticed and shooed him outside, closing the door behind him. The dog sat down, whimpered and stared at the closed doors. Then God appeared beside the dog, patted his head, and said,

'Don't feel bad fella'...they won't let ME in either'.

One woman was able to take prayer out of school but no Christian has been able to put it back in.

The bible says in Matthew 21:22 Red Letter Edition of the King James Version

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." God himself made this promise to us.

The bible also tells us in 1 Thessalonians 1:17 We are to Pray without ceasing.

We as Christians better wake up and start doing what God expects of us. I would like to ask that anyone that is reading this stop and take a moment to say a prayer. It doesn't have to be a long one but just talk to God and tell him what you are in need of or just thank him for all that he has done for you and the many blessings he has poured out to you. I ask that you continue to pray everyday and not just today. Prayer changes things!!

With Love and Blessings,

~AMY~

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Natures Beauty and then some

I trust that everyone had a good weekend. Friday night after sitting in the pouring rain at my daughters track meet, I spent the evening with my mother who was having a rough time. She has a heart condition and her heart goes out of rhythm sending her pulse sky high. Around 2:00 am, it finally went back into proper rhythm on its own. Thank you Lord for not having to spend another night in the emergency room with her. Friends I would like to ask that you pray for my mom if she should happen to come to your mind through the week. She just hasn't been the same since my father died. We are approaching the one year anniversary of his death and mom still isn't quite to the point that she likes to stay by herself. Add that to all her health issues and it makes it very hard on her at times.

Now onto natures beauty. I have two of the most beautiful Rhododendron Bushes in my flower garden. Their blooms are just so magnificent. I decided their beauty was too wonderful to just leave outside that I decided to cut a few branches off and bring them inside. They just bring such a brightness to a room.






On a final note, I just wanted to show you a little something I have been working on for a couple of weeks. This is my for my friend Char over at The Pickled Pepper Patch. I was lucky enough to get her name for the "Swap" she created. The theme of this swap was "Porches." Sorry but I sealed the box before I took a picture of its contents. Not really! You'll have to wait until Char gets it to see what is inside.


I hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend. Tomorrow our church is hosting its Mother/Daughter Banquet and a few of my sisters are going and taking our mother. This is always a good meal and wonderful fellowship.

Blessings my friends,
~AMY~