Mother's Day

Mother's Day started with an early awakening.  I had to be at church an hour ahead of everyone else because I was getting baptized.

Growing up, my family was not religious.  We didn't go to church on a regular basis, although I vaguely recall Sunday school at the local Presbyterian church when I was 4-7yrs old.  We didn't discuss faith or spirituality.  In high school, I would occasionally go to the Baptist church and on some of the youth retreats with my friends.  I was in awe of their stories of epiphanies where they were hit with this knock-out, powerful moment where they suddenly just knew who Jesus was and how that moment changed their lives.  That they suddenly got IT.  They got HIM.  That He is so overwhelmingly powerful and good.  And I waited.  I waited for that moment and it never came. 

But what I have come to realize in the last ten or so years is that I didn't need that moment.  Because I have always known He was there for me and loves me.  As far back as I can remember as a child, when I was six or seven years old, I would secretly get out of bed after my parents had kissed me good night and shut my door.  I would kneel beside my bed and pray.  I didn't pray for A's on tests or the next best bicycle or toy.  I prayed to be transformed into a better person.  For the people I knew who were sick.  To be who He wanted me to be.  To make the right choices.  To follow the right path.  My late teen years were a struggle from my junior year of high school and after.  He led me to Todd, with a stable and strong marriage.  He made me a mother and finds ways to reaffirm my faith is real on a daily basis.  I see now the plans He had for me, so I would appreciate my life so much more.  And my prayers now are not much different than they were when I was six.

After church, I split off from the family to grocery shop and spent a good hour inside Whole Foods as I picked out fresh produce and gluten-free ingredients.  I spent the rest of the afternoon cooking in preparation for dinner.  The kids played in the backyard with Dylan.

They played a little soccer.

My Mom and Grandma came over for dinner, as did Todd's sister.  Our dinner table was filled with family, laughter and good food.  There was a lot of story telling going on as we recalled family histories, many involving events where one of us had had the snot scared out of ourselves like this.  Funny the things that get us giggling.

I made my mashed sweet potatoes, a meatloaf using crushed gluten-free crackers instead of oatmeal (my mom was just diagnosed with celiac disease, so gluten is now a no-no), stuffed shells which were the BOMB, asparagus salad which was also very delicious and this raspberry jello salad for dessert.

These are all recipes from my friend at Thy Hand Hath Provided blog that my mouth has been watering to try for weeks.  They were so delicious and I know I will be adding them to my book of favorite recipes!  Thank you Thy Hand for sharing your recipes on your blog!!!  Chloe had to show us how BIG her stomach was after eating all of this delicious food.

The Grandmas opened cards.

And caused a little trouble.

Chloe showed off her new sandals which she just HAD to wear, even though it was too chilly for them. :)

The kids had fun with two of their grandmas.  They played Scrabble together and with Aunt Kiki and had a close game.  We wished our other grandmas could have been with us to celebrate Mother's Day, but Minnesota is a long hike from us.

Mother's Day at Discovery Point

Discovery Point held an early celebration for Mother's Day.  The set out cookies, tea and punch.  And tons of artwork was displayed everywhere.  On the tables.  Along the walls.  Hanging from the ceiling.  The kids in the preschool classes and after school all had artwork on display for their moms.

I love the ears that Chloe drew for me.  She acknowledged that she didn't draw hands or feet for me and seemed disappointed in herself.  I thought all the details were wonderful.  The colors in the eyes.  The teeth in the smile.  Long hair and a colorful shirt.  She has been writing my name for well over a year.  Chloe can write the name of almost all family members and many of her friends' names.

This was a large collage made on a piece of cardboard.  She painted it, covered it in glitter and glued popsicle sticks and feathers to it, as well as buttons and bows.  Chloe was so proud of this piece of artwork!

Owen made this decoupaged mirror for me and was so pleased when I told him I was going to put it in my office (since I don't have a mirror in there) and can use it every day.

Chloe also drew this shark for me.  It is a very friendly shark, as evidenced by all the hearts.  My girls loooooovvvveeeeesssss to draw hearts.  She draws hearts on everything.  And stars.  But mostly hearts.  I love her little hearts and the look of concentration on her face as she draws them.

The Grandmas came along to see their artwork and enjoyed watching the kids run around outside on the playground.  I like my Mom's new hair cut and can't believe my Grandma is 91.  She doesn't look like it, does she?

I always worry that when the kids jump up to give my Grandma hugs and kisses, they will knock her down.  But she manages to keep her balance as she leans over to their height.

Chloe also made this butterfly for me for Mother's Day.

Both kids were so proud to point out their artwork and special little details that they added in on each piece.  They made me feel so special.  It was nice that their teachers made time for the kids to make special Mother's Day gifts.

Mother

The day started off not with breakfast in bed, but with my bulldozer of a 4 year old climbing on top of me at 6am. I made my own breakfast later and ate at the counter between prepping the barbecue ribs and chopping up sweet potatoes for the big Mother's Day dinner. A 10am trip to Publix brought home flowers and cards from the kids, which they very proudly watched me open so they could point out their particular artsy drawings of hearts and their names. I loved their strong little hugs & kisses.

During the day, I marked a couple of items off of my mental To-Do list, like trimming the cypress trees in the backyard so they don't attack me every week when I cut the grass and writing up the annual Wenzel letter to put in the Christmas cards I had addressed & stuffed with pictures at the beginning of December (finally mailed them out today...who doesn't like getting Christmas cards in May?!). I thought about how nice a massage would be and maybe a pedicure, since it has been months for the former & years for the latter, but realized most places would be booked and I'd just have to make an appointment for another time.

My Mom and Grandma came over for dinner and Todd's Mom was in town from Minnesota for the weekend. While I was setting the table and turning the ribs, I got to listen to my Mom tickle the ever-loving snot out of my kids, which sent them into fits of giggles that drifted downstairs. God, how I love listening to them giggle and giggle till they can't breathe! Todd's sister was kind enough to clean up ALL the dishes and the kitchen counters after dinner, which was much appreciated.

As we sat around the table, I thought about how our mothers and grandmothers have impacted my life and how I am in turn shaping the lives of my children. My Grandma is 90 years old and for the last 33, she has been a source of unconditional love in my life. She has seen alot in these nine decades and is always smiling or laughing. Todd's Mom helped him grow into a compassionate and fair man, qualities which I admire and sometimes draw on when I'm lacking.

But mostly, I thought about how my Mom has shaped and changed my life. Without her, I surely would never have cultivated such a strong love for reading and learning. And for crafts, she was ALWAYS helping me start new art projects that my little fingers could handle as a child and advancing as I grew. From painting, to needlepoint, to crocheting, to quilting, to building shelves to believing in me beyond any realistic realm, I grew up believing in myself that there really wasn't anything I couldn't do if I put my mind to it. I have very little self doubt in my abilities and know I can teach myself how to do something new if I can't find a teacher. I only hope I can instill the same belief in my children as they grow up.

At the end of the day, I realized that Mother's Day for some is about being pampered and given a break from the daily routine of caring for everyone else (I won't lie, I would have liked it if that had been my day, too), but that wasn't my day. Instead, I think what I found was a deeper appreciation of my Mom and the other mothers in my life who have helped me become who I am, who shaped my husband and who put love and laughter into my own children's lives. And for that introspection, I don't think I should be disappointed in the day.

That. Was. Priceless.