A Flower For Mom

Today is my mom's birthday. I would tell you how old but I know that most normal women don't enjoy having their "real" age plastered all over the Internet! (Also I can't remember her exact age...bad daughter!) Anyway I love my mom! She is a rock. She is never, and I mean never, afraid to tell you what is on her mind and ask you what you are thinking. As a 15 year old I didn't always appreciate that. But now that I am older and much wiser I have learned to appreciate that. My dad told me the other day that he is a mercy person and my mom is a justice person. Wow can I relate to Mom!

I have noticed, and sometimes tried to deny, how much I am like my mom. We both looooove to shop. Now I don't have to touch everything in the store like she does (unless I am in the shoe department, then, yes, I do), but I definitely got my shopping genes from her!

Something else I got from Mom was my child birthing ability. There is a reason why my parents have 5 kids. Mom says she enjoyed being pregnant and had fairly easy deliveries. So easy that she just went ahead and had me (her third) at home, in her bed, with my dad there to play catcher. Now, granted, I was born in the 70's and they were a bit hippieish, but seriously! THERE ARE NO EPIDURALS IN A PERSON'S BEDROOM! (Except maybe Michael Jackson.) I don't know if I respect my parents for that decision, or if I think they are a little...cookoo. Anyway...I came out fine. And so did my kids. Lickity split, really. I had a 13 hour labor with Josh, my first, and 16 hours with Hannah. Did I mention that Hannah came out in two pushes (TMI, I know). It just wasn't that hard (EPIDURAL!), in fact, I enjoyed both of my labors and deliveries, much like my mom.

Finally I got a lot of my faith from Mom. She loves God and has a very close relationship with Him. She has and continues to teach me so much about God and life. I really appreciate the example of a Godly woman she has shown me through my childhood and into my adult life, now.

Mom had a very hard job, raising 5 kids. I don't really know how she survived and I ask her frequently how she did it. I really look up to her has a wife, mom and grandma. She loves her family, and anyone connected to her family, fully and completely. She has a real heart for us and for God. I enjoy watching her teach my kids about God and never holding back with them. She is loving and compassionate. I just want to wish Mom a happy birthday and thank God that I got to have her for my mom!