This photo is not staged and it is one I cherish. D was almost 3 months old and we had gone up to WA to see my folks at Christmas and to seem my Grandma who was then living in a nursing home. See the smile on her face as she is holding her first great grandchild? We are all looking at a 5x7 scrapbook that I made with D's baby pics for my Mom and Jack. She is also wearing a pink mohair scarf that I knit her. Grandma loved all things pink. And while I love my Mother dearly and beyond expression of any words, Mother's Day for me has been traditionally about my Grandma Hopkins. It doesn't seem the same without her. You could definitely say that we had a matriarchal family. In later years Grandma reigned over us like the Queen Mum, sitting in her chair, observing us all and smiling and just enjoying having her little chicks in one place. I really get homesick around Thanksgiving and Mother's Day because those are the two days we all got together in my Mom's family.
This is my Mom holding D shortly before my first Mother's Day. They were outside checking our roses. I love this picture! And look at what a little chunk monkey he was! LOL Oh my goodness...he's a stick now, tall and thin like Dad. My Mom and I had a fun talk on the phone tonight, catching up. I knew tomorrow would be busy as they are going to Grandma Doris'. She is the one for whom I knit the Peacock Feather's Shawl. We mailed it priority mail on Monday and she hasn't received it unless she got it today and didn't check her mail, so my Mom is going to check tomorrow.My Mother's Day present was a day by myself...a rare event! I went back up to the Iris fields and they were even more gorgeous. I got a neat shot of a Swallowtail Butterfly that I will post some time next week.
If you are reading this and pray...please pray for my friend Dale's family. She is the one on our Christian Artisan's list who died post bone marrow transplant. Thoses firsts are always hard. I am thinking my friend Laura's children will have it tough this first Mother's Day without her as well. And I know for many Mother's Day is tough...they don't communicate with their Moms, they lost a child, they experience infertility or any number of other reasons that make it hard for them to think about Motherhood. I have known several women who dread going to church on that day because of the pain...so please pray for them as well.
I hope the Lord blesses you with a wonderful Mother's Day and that you get to celebrate with your families!
1 comment:
My Mom sent me this story on Mothers day, isn't it wonderful!
"Just A Mom"
A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk 's office
Was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.
She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
"What I mean is," explained the recorder,
"do you have a job or are you just a.......?"
"Of course I have a job," snapped the woman.
"I'm a Mom."
"We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it,"
Said the recorder emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the
Same situation, this time at our own Town Hall.
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised,
Efficient and possessed of a high sounding title like,
"Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar."
"What is your occupation?" she probed.
What made me say it?
I do not know.
The words simply popped out.
"I'm a Research Associate in the field of
Child Development and Human Relations."
The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and
Looked up as though she had not heard right.
I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words.
Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written,
In bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.
"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest,
"just what you do in your field?"
Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice,
I heard myself reply,
"I have a continuing program of research,
[what mother doesn't)
In the laboratory and in the field,
(normally I would have said indoors and out).
I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family)
And already have four credits (all daughters).
Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities,
(any mother care to disagree?)
And I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it).
But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are
More of a satisfaction rather than just money."
There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she
Completed the form, stood up and personally ushered me to the door.
As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career,
I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3.
Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model,
(a 6 month old baby) in the child development program,
Testing out a new vocal pattern.
I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!
And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than
"just another Mom." Motherhood!
What a glorious career!
Especially when there's a title on the door.
Does this make grandmothers
"Senior Research associates in the field of
Child Development and Human Relations"
And great grandmothers
"Executive Senior Research Associates"?
I think so!!!
I also think it makes Aunts
"Associate Research Assistants".
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