Mom’s Day

The next holiday for celebration is Mother’s Day, May 9th this year, just around the corner! (May Day is next, but just doesn’t get the attention like Mother’s Day. 🙂 )

Boy, oh boy, do I miss my moms! My mom, “G Bet,” as the grandkids endearingly called her, fit that name quite well. Adjectives for her would be spunky, witty, bright, determined, fun-loving, fancy, hard-working and devoted Christian; not necessarily in that order. Her grandfather came over from London-town in the early 1900’s and one grandmother’s folks hailed from Wales, so Mom was brought up drinking tea. “G Bet” (Grandma Betty) loved a fancy tea party. Entertaining was right up her alley–her husband’s alley,(my father’s) too. He wasn’t into tea parties, but both of them loved to display their gift of hospitality by inviting folks in for a meal and time together. I feel it’s becoming somewhat of a lost art in this day and age, do you?

Mom reminded me of “Lucy” in “I Love Lucy.” She often times would get herself into a predicament, only following right intentions, and we would have to laugh our way through it. Her fun spirit would make you want to sit beside her and have great conversations that you would not want to end. We would laugh til we cried, so often. I loved her so much!

My other mom (my mother-in-law), “Grandma Maxine,” lived right on the farm where I call home today. She and her husband built the house we live in. I see fingerprints of her life almost everywhere I go. Kindness and compassion were her trademarks, along with many other attributes. Some adjectives that described her are kindhearted and compassionate, as I just mentioned, bright, hospitable, hard-working, humble, caring, a Proverbs 31 woman. Being an introvert, a gentle spirit, she loved country living because there were lots of wide-open spaces for her to be comfortable in. She, too, loved the Lord so much.

When I was 15, she introduced me to the idea of “making a decision” to follow Christ. I had never heard of this before. Evangelism and teaching were a couple of Maxine’s spiritual gifts. Nurturing was another. I watched her use her gifts so many times. It was quite beautiful. Our children loved coming over to eat “mousy sandwiches” and drink from children’s plastic tea cups. She dropped her schedule and focused only on them, playing with, reading to, swinging, taking walks and rocking for hours at a time to keep a little one asleep. What a Godly woman! How I miss her.

The rich heritage I have with my two Christian moms, living out their faith in front of me for many years is a beautiful treasure. One, more extroverted, teaching and hosting bible studies, taking good care of her fancy home, husband and family, and always working on “a project.” The other– quietly displaying her faith in teaching children, taking care of her husband and family and showing contentment in ordinary living.

When I go outdoors to care for our yard and gardens, I see my mom-in-law’s fingerprints on almost everything. Maxine planted a large percentage of the plants and shrubs surrounding our home and farm yard. I’ll run down to the pasture fence sometimes to pull up a winter onion when I’m fresh out of a store-bought onion. They have come in handy so many times over the 30 + years we’ve lived here. She and I would swing and talk for hours when I first became her daughter-in-law. She loved me and I could tell. 🙂 I loved her, too.

As we conversed, she would interject a, “did you hear that little wren? She is scolding us because we are too close to her nest of babies.” Or, ” oh the song of the cardinal thrills me! Did you hear it?” Needless to say, she loved the birds and taught me many of the sounds of the common birds in this area. She placed simple bird houses here and there to check in on. I loved it! Of course, in the country, the Iowa meadowlark is famous for it’s melodic song. It’s one you can only hear in the country. She, too, had the gift of hospitality, but in a very unassuming way, always inviting us for some orange drink she kept on hand at all times, along with a variety of store-bought cookies. You just can’t go wrong with Oreos!

What can you tell me about your mom? What’s your favorite thing about her? Do you talk often? Do you see each other much? What’s your favorite memory of her? What color are her eyes? What makes her laugh? How can you make her smile? The time with your mama is precious. It’s a very priceless gift. Take good care of that relationship. Cherish it. Nurture it. Love it.

Our book, The Gathering Table, would be a great gift for your mom, moms or special someone for Mother’s Day.

This lengthy project taught us a lot about love for each other, patience, diligence and answered prayer. I love each daughter of mine: 2 of my own and 2 daughters-in-law chosen for me. Perfect choices, I might add.

The recipes, menus, devotionals, stories and photos will hopefully inspire you and your mom with inspirational enrichment for daily living. (Click here to learn where to order.)

I think if my G Bet or Gramma Maxine were around, they would be so happy to see the writings we added on their behalf along with some of their fantastic recipes. These are the things that keep their memories alive as we share their lives with others.

In the meantime, you moms out there……enjoy those kiddos. Spend as much time with them as you possibly can. Journal, take photos and pull out those precious recipes or stories from your moms and grandmothers. Keep the memories going.

Happy Early Mother’s Day. It’s coming right up, so start those preparations.

Proverbs 31….take a few minutes to read this beautiful, beautiful proverb, beginning with v 10; then apply it to your life.

“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”

Proverbs 31:30