Mother's Day

Sunday was Mother's Day and it was one of the best days of my life.  The giftedness of each of our sons was revealed throughout the day, and I rejoiced in all that the Lord has done in our family.   Earlier last week, I posted about a drawing Franklin was working on for me for Mother's Day.  To make a long story short, he spilled Coke on it then crumpled it up because he felt it was ruined.  That crumpled up drawing was such a reflection of where we are these days.  Broken in so many areas, yet on a journey toward the place where God is leading us.  

The first gift I opened on Mother's Day was this sketch by Franklin titled "The Journey."  He had "redone" the entire drawing especially for me!  When he gave it to me, he told me the crumpled up one is behind the new one within the frame.  What a picture of our reality.  God is covering our broken, messy, hurting places with His grace.  Isn't that a reflection of who we are?  All crumpled up on the inside, but God covering us with his beauty?  Thank you for a piece of your heart Franklin.  It means the world to me.  I love it!  It will be beautiful hanging in our home in Ghana.

Braden is also an artist  He painted a box with his own little hands.  It's precious.  I plan to use it to hold some very special things.  I love it!  Thank you for taking the time to make this for me, Braden.  You are so thoughtful!  I love it!

(Friends please note how confident I am by posting pictures of myself with NO make-up.  Beauty comes from the inside.  Ha!)

Weston will not be outdone.  His creativity flows in the computer arena.  Weston sent me on a wild goose chase in the rain to find my present (a.k.a. a scavenger hunt).  Clue after clue directed me around the house.  Finally I found my final clue.  It was a picture of our LIFEGroup that Weston is having made into a 1,000 piece puzzle.  We plan to pack it and work it together as a family once we are in Ghana.  Weston, you are so creative.  You know what I like.  Your gift is such a reminder of all of the people who are pieces of this puzzle!  Thank you, son!  I love it!

I am so blessed to be the mother of these five arrows for the Kingdom.  I pray God will use them in a mighty way for His purposes.  It is such an honor to be their Mom.  Thank you Lord for such a privilege.  I love being the mom to these boys!

My Honey teaches all the boys how to love their wives.  I think they are learning well.  Reid gave me a photo of the two of us with a verse from Proverbs 31 on it.  I love gifts that include thought for me.  Reid, I love you so much.  Thank you for loving me so well!  It's an honor to be your wife walking out the adventure with you here on earth!  What a blessing you are to me!

My morning was complete with a private Mother's Day concert from my favorite band!  Perfect Aim (a.k.a. our sons) gave me the sweet gift of sitting in their presence while listening and watching them play.  Truthfully, they were preparing to sing at Water Angels later in the day, but I took it as an unexpected gift from God.  Weston even sang back-up for the first time!  What a joy to see how God has gifted each son.  Franklin can beat out rhythms for any song, Braden can hang on the bass with all of his older brothers - even though he's only 8, Mason sings, plays, writes music and leads the band well,  Weston handles all the electronics (slides, sound, etc...)  and he plays the keyboard while singing! 

WOW!  Sometimes, I am honestly in awe that these are my sons.  I am amazed by what they are able to do!  God has been so good to me!

(Don't ask me how Godwin became conspicuously absent in the photos.  He is only in the family shot of the boys and me.  I'm thankful he's my son this Mother's Day too!)


After our breakfast on the porch, my present opening, and the early morning concert, we went to church with my mom and dad.  I sat by my 93 year old grandmother and relished her signing beside me.  Into the service, she began nodding off and I held her frail body up so she wouldn't fall over.  It was sweet to  hold her close on this special day.  I know there are few days like this left with my family...

My mom was on the other side of Mamaw holding Godwin during the service.  I loved seeing her love on him.  My mom is so wonderful with kids.  She emulates Jesus's love for children when he said, "Let the children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belong the kingdom of God."  My mom loves to be with kids!  I love that about her!

Right now, the most precious gift I want is time with those I love.  I took my mom out earlier in the week to celebrate Mother's Day.  We enjoyed a special day doing "girly" things.   (Do you know how rare that is for me?)

As I continue to grow older, I realize all that my mom has sacrificed and given up for me.  She is doing more of that now as all seven of us live in her home.  She's graciously allowed us to stay here, and has helped us tremendously through everything she has done.  She gives of herself to others behind the scenes and loves to bless people through her delicious cooking.  She doesn't like to be fussed over (in fact, she wanted to wring my neck for having this picture taken - now she will really have my goozle for posting it on the blog!)  Thank you Mom for giving so much.  I love you and am proud to be your daughter.  Part of you has made me who I am today.  You've never been afraid of chasing your dreams, and I think the Lord gave me some of your courage to do hard things.  I love you!

Our family served at Water Angels later in the day, and I plan to write about that in another post.  However, I do want to share how my day ended.  

Mason wrote me the sweetest letter.   As I read it, I realized our relationship is morphing into a new stage.  Parts of Mason's letter were written to me from a brother in Christ - not my son.  It was beautiful.  His wisdom comes from his father, and I was deeply touched by his words.  I don't feel comfortable posting his words without asking him first, but I want to share one sentence from this precious letter:


"I know this is an especially hard time for you leaving all of our friends and family, but remember there is light at the end of the tunnel, no pain no gain, and most of all, look at the pain as a way of thankfulness..." 


This Mother's Day, I am learning from my sons.  I rejoice over the lives they are living - they are continuing to grow into "strong plants in their youth."  Lord, I thank you for the incredible blessing of motherhood.  

Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.

Proverbs 23:25

Her children rise up and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her.

Proverbs 31:28