Thoughts on Motherhood

Amber and sifted through a box full of old photos. What we found amazed me. I mean, look at this picture. So many details of this moment flood my mind, facts, opinions, smells, sights, circumstances that our family was faced with during this time of our lives. These pics were taken while we were on vacation in the Smokey Mountains, Tennessee. Amber was in 2nd grade in Mr. Young's class, Nic was in first grade in Mrs. Gladwell's class and Hannah and Grace were both in Ms. Janis' age 3 & 4 year old Preschool class. I was teaching a fourth grade class of 24 super students. So, these are the beginning thoughts that sparked my interest and decisions to take some time and think about Motherhood.

Here are a few quotes on that subject :)...

• In the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, look around you. - Leo Tolstoy (1828 - 1910)


• The most important thing she'd learned over the years was that there was no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one. -Jill Churchill


• I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only love. -Mother Teresa (1910 - 1997)


• A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. - Agatha Christie (1890 - 1976)


• By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life...~ 2 Peter 1:3
• The art of mothering is to teach the art of living to children. - Elain Heffner
• Motherly love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible. - M. C. Garretty
• Sooner or later we all quote our own mothers. - Bern Williams


• Genius is Childhood recaptured. - Bauldaire
  http://www.quotationspage.com/

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Memories of my Grandmother

Amber and her cousin, Allan on Christmas

Well, this marks another week spent working hour after hour on generating a long review of documents and accumulating comp time. My career requires that I travel at times, and this week was very different in one dramatic way. I actually found myself working out of an office that is a mere block from my Granny’s former home and my childhood “home away from home”. So, I REALLY missed her this week. Granny did a lot for me, my siblings and our family. After my parents divorced, Granny’s house was a place that I still felt remained wholesome and safe (from the turmoil of broken relationships). So, this week, as I produced high volumes of work on behalf of the public, my mind skipped along the precious path of distant yet, not forgotten places. Memories that are treasured but not often indulged were playing in my heart and mind. Although I haven’t walked through her doorway in many years, I still felt today that same fresh feeling of having spent time with Granny when I was little girl.

By the grace of God, I remember my time with Granny in detail. I fondly remember my brother and sister (and me too) opening presents at Christmas. Even Santa left gifts for all the children at her house. Gosh, I LOVE that! Her gifts were thrilling J! She had stockings hung by the fire, stuffed full of goodies and each gift was decorated with a variety of ribbons, bows and accents that made the recipient always feel special to her. I can even remember my brother laughing as he unwrapped a surprise (and pulling off a “surprise” is not easy, is it?!). I remember the garden in the backyard and the fresh vegetables that grew there. I remember the books all over the house. And, then nights when she read to me at bedtime. I remember falling asleep hearing the sound of her voice reading Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingles Wilder.

I remember my sister and Granny talking, catching us all up on details of what had happened while we apart during that mostly brief but sometimes long stretch of time Granny loved to call a “Coon’s age!” Trust me, I could write an entire book about the stories both sister and Granny told.

I remember the scarecrow made of stuffed blue jeans, a stuffed flannel shirt and a straw hat sitting on the porch in the fall. I remember Dad, Aunt Jonnie, and the rest of us sitting around the dinner table eating Granny’s fried chicken on Thanksgiving. She always had enough delicious chicken legs for me.  And, she was known to make a delicious pot FULL of chicken and dumplings for Michele. Yes, Granny even made frog legs. I ate some of those while sitting on the front porch waiting for the turtle soup to be ready to eat. Ah, and sitting on the front porch swing with Granny (just the two of us) was like heaven on earth. What wonderful memories my Granny gave me.
May you experience the love of Christ ... Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.~ Ephesians 3:19

Neighbors

Today was difficult for many of us. After talking to my children, I think I speak for all of my them when I say remember to, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." We will remember to do this. Will you? Just this week, my neighbor has given my children a ride to school, given us a cup of milk and an egg so we could make a meal, and we have returned favors to them. America, we should do something every day for our neighbor. Our neighbor at home. Our neighbor at work. Our neighbor in line (even if only for a few moments). Be watching and be ready because you will see a way that you can step in and help someone. You might even make that your way of honoring America's heros. Pay it forward. Pass it on. Be a Hero (yourself). And, be willing to accept a neighborly favor when one is offered.
Written in Honor of those we lost on 9-11-01.

I want you to be concerned about your next door neighbor. Do you know your next door neighbor? Mother Teresa

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. Mother Teresa

Thanks to: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mother_teresa.html

Amber at age 2

My little girl was 18 months old and sweet as can be. She still is.

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.~ John 3:16

Waterfall

Waterfall

Labor Day Weekend

Nic is in his happy place. Just fishing at the creek. He didn't have much to say about it, other than it was "okay".

Grace is wearing her new shirt. Amber, Hannah, Grace and I bought it at JC Penney's this weekend where we shopped and found a few things.