Happy Birthday...

How do I begin to wish my mom a 'Happy Birthday'? I guess I could thank her for her 'godly example' throughout the years... or tell her how much she means to me... or tell her that, of all the people I've met and known throughout my lifetime, she has ,by far, impacted me and taught me the most. All these things are true, but I'd like to take you back in time... when fresh white keds were the standard...
White keds and bright lipstick. One of my favorite memories of my mom is getting a bright lipstick kiss on my hand, every time she and my dad would go out.

Ahhh... my best memories of life either happened with, or because of, my mom. So, of course, I can't include everything I want to describe right now... but I'll try to give you at least a glimpse of, hands down, THE MOST FABULOUS PERSON I KNOW.

I remember my mom pushing me around Disney world in our old, navy blue pram. I'm sure I was old enough to walk, because I actually remember being in it with my brother, Jacob. She would pile us in that thing no matter how big we were getting... one of my earliest memories.


I remember sitting in the balcony at Chrysler Hall every year on 'Dress-rehearsal night'. After 'all us kids' finished our dances... she would put our jammies on us, give us a few snacks and we would sit in the balcony and watch my mom's dance class practice for the rest of the evening. I thought my mom was the most beautiful dancer I had ever seen. I definitely loved ballet because of her.

One day, when I was in the fourth grade, my mom dropped me, Jacob and Rebekah off at school just like any normal day. We had only been there about 30 minutes before we each got called to the principal's office.
"Your mom needs to pick you up." we were told.
As soon as we got to the car, my mom and dad let us know that 'we had lot's of days for school... but only one day for Busch Gardens'.

I never remember my mom getting 'stressed out' when we were little, (although I'm sure she had her moments). We always had a house full of neighborhood kids. She never seemed to mind the chaos or the mess that came along with all the fun.

I remember my family going through a pretty rough time when my mom was expecting my youngest brother, Reed. We lived with my grandparents throughout her entire pregnancy. I was about 13 years old and just starting to make friends at our church. Every sunday, while my dad was working to build our house, my mom would pack all four of us kids in the car and drive from Norfolk to our church in Virginia Beach, just to drop me off at church by myself for sunday school (I was too embarrassed to go to the worship service alone). She did this by herself, every sunday for nine months.

Fast forward through endless birthday parties, ballet performances, years of homeschooling, family roadtrips across the country and back... she was always 'game for anything' and was never thrown off by my dad's fabulous sense of spontaneity.

I've learned so much from my mom. She was always perfectly content to be at home with her kids. Not in the 'a woman's place is in the home' sort of way... but in a 'I can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing' sort of way. 'HOME' has always been my favorite place to be because of her.

My mom is a strong woman. Sometimes a bit too strong... I don't think I ever remember her crying... EVER. I always tell her "We're gonna work on that one"... a few tears are good for the soul. I think she's gotten better lately.

Several years ago, as I was going through my second back surgery. My mom was having some health issues as well. Her doctor found a 'DVT'(pretty dangerous blood clot) in her leg. They wanted to keep her in the hospital for observation, but she didn't want me to be alone during my surgery. She had to give herself painful shots in the stomach... the whole time she was caring for me. I'm sure I could've made it without her there. But she saw how hard the first surgery was on me and just didn't want me to be alone. Looking back, I guess we were quite the sight... talk about the blind leading the blind.

My mom has taught me to put other's need above my own. To put God first. She has quietly, yet not so subtly, reminded our family of God's word, by taping index cards of scripture on any random surface you can imagine... inside closet doors, boxes of cereal in the pantry, etc.

I'm a lot like my mom. Anytime there is a family discussion, I will confidently give my two cents, though mostly I prefer to contribute at least 50... my mom will glide through the room a few minutes later and give the same opinion. We usually all get quite a chuckle, although it is a bit disconcerting, especially for my husband. My mom taught me to enjoy my kids... no matter what else is screaming for my attention. She has taught me that sometimes 'enough is enough' and at that point the only thing left to do is to screech out of the driveway leaving a billow of gravel and dust in your wake. (I didn't want to leave you with the impression that she's some sort of Saint). I even learned how to hurl a mug across the room from my mom. Not directly at someone, as to severely injure them... but close enough for dramatic effect. But more importantly, I learned how to ask forgiveness for throwing the mug across the room. I remember my mom asking us to forgive her for being angry... and she changed. I see my mom losing control of her dreams of 'how things should've been'... and instead of tightening her grip... I see her opening her hands to receive whatever the Lord brings to her. She is a remarkable woman... and the only thing I regret inheriting from her is her 'sense of time'... being that her birthday was two days ago.

I love you mom. Happy Birthday.