My Mom!

I adore my mom. She is a true servant with a heart that is bigger than she is. And I have the privilege of being her first born.

When I got married the song I wanted played as my mom was escorted to her seat was "Wind beneath my wings" by Bette Midler. The words in that song really summed up my relationship with my mom.

She has always been my cheerleader. Her support has meant more to me than almost anything else in my life.

She makes me laugh, all the time. Sometimes it is at her expense. Not to offend her at all but she has a hearing loss that can at times also be "selective". And then the phrases that she puts together are just hysterical. One time one of my boys asked her if she like "caramel" like on ice-cream" and she answered "yes, grandma (her mom) put her dogs in a kennel." Huh?! Oh, the list can go on and on. She cracks us up! Except at the movies when she doesn't wear her hearing-aid..........

And she gets so tickled when people confuse us for sisters. SHe will blush and get so giddy. It is so funny! She has a youthfulness that is contagoius. I remind myself of that when I want to question the person with my own age. :) Having 4 kids is a lot of work. :)

When we shared with her what God had laid on our hearts about adopting, she was our biggest encourager. Even those dark days in March 2006 she became our Aaron and Hur and held our arms up because the battle was truly to hard to fight on our own.

She is the best play date my kids have ever known. Whether it is the swimming pool, Branson, the movies, World's of Fun, shopping, Oceans of Fun, she is there and a total hoot to be around.

She does become a Citizen Police at times and we have to keep her in check.

Proverbs 31:14 says she "brings food from afar." My mother is the BEST at this. She is the Take-Out Queen. She can go far and bring us home the yummiest food. My husband is amazed at this. He is one who doesn't like to eat out and would rather me make a dinner. But when my mom invites us for dinner, I know I am in for a treat because it is most likely a favorite restaurant's take -out! ( idea from Beth Moore's Wising Up!)

We both have a love of books. We are constantly passing books back and forth. We love reading series books. We love Father Tim in Mitford and would love to spend a day in Mitford. We have endured the Left Behind series, although mom is a couple of books ahead of me. We couldn't read through Joel Rosenberg series " The Last Jihad" fast enough. And our new found favorite is Karen Kingsbury "Redemption", "First Born", and "Sunrise". We love the Baxter family and talk about them like they were dearly loved friends.

Okay, so we are both a little quirky. I get that.

Mom, on this Mother's Day, I just want you to know that I love you with my whole heart. Words fall short when I try to express my appreciation for all you do for my family. The ginormous love the boys have for you would fill the Grand Canyon to overflowing. In their eyes, you are adored and a priceless treasure. Tatumn's little life has been exceedingly blessed all the more because YOU are her grammy. No one else on this planet could ever take that place in her heart. I am beyond thankful to the Father that He chose YOU to fill that place in her heart. I can picture Him as He was fashioning her little life together and whispering over her tiny soul, "Oh wait until you see who your grammy will be! I have picked her out among all the grammy's in this world. You are gonna love her. She has been waiting her whole life to meet you. You will delight in each other." Kip, loves you mom and is filled with a gratitude that has no words. Although, he thinks you are a little on the kooky side at times, he would have you no other way! And mom, your first born knows she has been blessed by your fierce love and protection that chose life for me. Fought hard for me. Today, and all days before and after, I thank you for giving me wind beneath my wings to follow God on this Great Adventure. I love you.