My Mother’s Birthday

Today is my mother’s birthday. 

As I grew- family history, memories and stories were told at every opportunity.  If just two family members got together their spoken memories would engulf the room.  I saw their words as vivid pictures- like movies playing on a large drive in picture screen filling me with delight. Family memories were repeated over and over and told from many different perspectives depending on who was doing the sharing.  I greedily drank in every word like a person wandering in the desert under a scorching sun. I listened and one of the many things I learned about was what took place shortly after this day long ago, the day that my mother left the hospital and moved into what would be her home for 18 years.   Because of the memories so often shared by those that were there I can close my eyes and see it as clearly as if I were standing there next to my grandparents as they gazed in wonder upon their sweet daughter. I can easily feel for myself the joy that her birth brought to them.  I heard over and over how their hearts filled to near bursting as they gazed upon her while she slept soundly in an cleared out old cedar chest drawer with a soft feather pillow place on the bottom to become her perfect, personal crib.  How there wasn’t much money but how she was clothed in a delicate handmade, hand smocked baby gown.  How she was tightly swaddled in the folds of a soft pink hand crocheted crib blanket and how she had just a whisper of dried breast milk clinging to the corners of her tiny o shaped mouth.  How she lay as totally content and peaceful and protected as any rich fairytale princess ever conceived.

Yes, it’s my mother’s birthday and shortly after this day, 84 years ago, a grateful family   gathered together in a huge, old, 2 story house. A house that always needed something repaired but was kept spotless clean. Where there was always room for one more visitor to sleep even if it meant making a pallet on the floor because there were no more beds, couches or chairs to be shared. How no one ever came by without eating a little something and always left carrying a few left overs in a brown paper bag just in case they got hungry on the way home and even how the big old house was rumored by all to be just a little bit haunted. In that house, shortly after this special day in history stood a large, quiet, proud father, a small gentle, kind mother, a  very young but very protective big brother all together, all rejoicing over a cherished little newborn that would grow to become my precious, beloved mother. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM

Thank you LORD for the time you gave me with her. Thank you for the magical, amazing, unbeliveable blessing of her!

A little history in pictures

To all the rest of her children and grandchildren. I hope that you understand that this writing was about my personal relationship and memories of mom that are different than those that you have. You know she loved each one of us deeply and with an amazing love we can get from no one else. Some of you have had children or grandchildren since her passing. If possible take the time to write down or record your memories of her. Take the time to share her love with those that never got to know her – bless them with the personal memories only you hold. Share a funny story, a time you were hurt and she held you close. Talk about a time she held a secret of yours and never told anyone. Tell them about a time you were so mad at her because you thought she was being unfair but then realized once you got older that she was right all along. Tell them all about your life with her. Let them get to know her through your eyes. Teach them how important “family” is. It will bless everyone.

I love you……………..