This week we attended the funeral for Cal's 98-year-old Grandma Minnie.
I didn't expect to cry....
We were ready for this day. She had lived a long life, and during the last 15 years of her life she had severe memory loss. She didn't really know anyone anymore. It was a day to rejoice. A day to celebrate the life she lived. There is joy in knowing she is now in heaven where her body and MIND have been restored.
But I did...I cried. How silly of me to think I wouldn't. I cried out of appreciation for the legacy of faith she left behind. MANY of her family were there. While a number of her family members have proceeded her in death, she left behind a small village -- 4 children (1 proceeded her), 19 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren. (Who hears of that anymore? Great-great grandchildren?) Her daughter spoke of her mother's faith, her grand-daughter spoke of her grandma's faith, and her great-granddaughter sang praises to our Jesus. The pastor recalled how on his visits with Minnie they would always conclude with the Lord's Prayer or Psalm 23 or the Apostles Creed. And while she didn't remember much, those words always came back. I pray that those promises are as deeply rooted in my heart and mind and that they are passed onto my children and eventual grandchildren.
As we stood around her gravesite -- I was struck by how ALL of our many lives exist as they do today because of her...one person. And we all know Jesus. I pictured her smiling at us all with her twinkling eyes. How proud she would be to see us all gathered. Thank you Grandma Minnie for the heritage you left for us. Thank you God!
(While this is all very sentimental, I must also confess a typical "Jen Moment" at the cemetary. We parked quite away back from the grave site and had to walk through the grass to get there. I am, of course, wearing spiky open toed heals and so I am watching the ground very carefully so as not to trip or sink my heals into the earth. All of a sudden, a snake slithers right in front of my toes and I naturally yell out "Snake!". I look up and everyone is looking at me -- I'm literally 5 feet from the tented area. I had no idea I was that close or that loud. Nice!)
Friday, September 18, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Things That Made Me...
Below is a random assortment of things that I came across this week that struck me for one reason or another. I thought I would share them.
This made me....
...Laugh -- Have you ever spent time deliberating over a "holy" ending to an e-mail or letter? In my line of work...fundraising for a ministry...I've attempted many appropriate "holy" conclusions to letters. Maybe that's why I found this so funny...because for me it is sooo true! BooMama
This made me...
...Reminisce -- If you went to high school in the 80's, you must read this post from one of my favorite mommy blogs. Big Mama
This made me...
...Think of being a mom in a new way -- I know very little about this blog -- but this particular post struck a cord in me. Especially when she says, "As I drifted off, I felt her little hand on my tummy. She rubbed my stomach, much like I rub hers when she’s tired or sad to calm her, and I smiled with the realization that she’d been waiting for me to sleep, too. Her fingers fell into the deep grooves of the stretch marks 27 months of pregnancy have left on me and she paused. She backtracked slightly. She took the tip of her finger and began tracing the marks, the lines marking the roads on the map of our lives together. At that moment I realized something I’d not honestly grasped in 11 years of parenting; that I am hers. I am this thing, this pile of bones and skin that belongs to her. To them. That I am not just a 30 something girl with big hips covered in silvering tracks; I am an extension of three people, and I belong to them completely. And that, the giving over of myself to someone else, well…that is motherhood." On Motherhood
This made me...
...Excited -- I will admit that one of the things that gets me most excited is a good deal. I just bought a pair of boots for me and for my daughter from this website and then we got a third pair for FREE! There is also FREE shipping and we got 3 FREE lip glosses. Check it out http://www.wantedshoes.com/
My favorite quote for the week:
We will never know how much good just a simple smile can do. We tell people how kind, forgiving, and understanding God is, but are we the living proof? Mother Teresa
My favorite Bible verse for the week:
Psalm 34: 8-9
Taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his saints for those who fear him lack nothing.
This made me....
...Laugh -- Have you ever spent time deliberating over a "holy" ending to an e-mail or letter? In my line of work...fundraising for a ministry...I've attempted many appropriate "holy" conclusions to letters. Maybe that's why I found this so funny...because for me it is sooo true! BooMama
This made me...
...Reminisce -- If you went to high school in the 80's, you must read this post from one of my favorite mommy blogs. Big Mama
This made me...
...Think of being a mom in a new way -- I know very little about this blog -- but this particular post struck a cord in me. Especially when she says, "As I drifted off, I felt her little hand on my tummy. She rubbed my stomach, much like I rub hers when she’s tired or sad to calm her, and I smiled with the realization that she’d been waiting for me to sleep, too. Her fingers fell into the deep grooves of the stretch marks 27 months of pregnancy have left on me and she paused. She backtracked slightly. She took the tip of her finger and began tracing the marks, the lines marking the roads on the map of our lives together. At that moment I realized something I’d not honestly grasped in 11 years of parenting; that I am hers. I am this thing, this pile of bones and skin that belongs to her. To them. That I am not just a 30 something girl with big hips covered in silvering tracks; I am an extension of three people, and I belong to them completely. And that, the giving over of myself to someone else, well…that is motherhood." On Motherhood
This made me...
...Excited -- I will admit that one of the things that gets me most excited is a good deal. I just bought a pair of boots for me and for my daughter from this website and then we got a third pair for FREE! There is also FREE shipping and we got 3 FREE lip glosses. Check it out http://www.wantedshoes.com/
My favorite quote for the week:
We will never know how much good just a simple smile can do. We tell people how kind, forgiving, and understanding God is, but are we the living proof? Mother Teresa
My favorite Bible verse for the week:
Psalm 34: 8-9
Taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his saints for those who fear him lack nothing.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Today
Recently, I stood in line at the post office fighting back tears. (You might think that this not such an abnormal thing considering how long you often have to wait in line.) However, I was fighting back tears because as I watched a toddler and her mother in front of me, I was struck with the realization that my days of little hands reaching up for me and little giggles as I nuzzled a neck were over. For more than a decade I have had a little one tagging along. A little one who asked questions, clung to my leg, chattered unceasingly, and yes, threw the occasional tantrum. Now...those "little ones" are all at school.
I think I must be overly emotional since my baby went off to Kindergarten because truthfully -- I think I'm O.K. with where we are at.
In the midst of those days with my little ones I heard over and over --" enjoy them while they last...they will be gone before you know it." I knew that to be true, and I did enjoy them, but in retrospect, I'm not sure I savored them as much as I wish I had. But isn't that always the case? Isn't that why people tell you to enjoy them...because they too wish they had enjoyed them more?
When I was living the days of cuddling and tummy zerberts, first steps and first words, trips to the zoo and lapsit at the library. I was also in the midst of spit up and ear infections, diapers and tantrums, potty training and sleepless nights. It's all just a blur. During those years, I struggled to complete a thought, let alone savor a moment. I didn't appreciate a cute conversation in the post office line because I still had to address the package, find the right box, & get frustrated over why the line wasn't moving faster so that I could complete my next 10 tasks. The never ending "Mommy, can I have some candy?" questions just didn't seem so cute. My perspective is quite different now as I witness just one adorable chubby cheeked snapshot of my past and not my reality.
Do I miss the precious moments of that time of our life? Yes. Do I want to go back to that time, I'm not so sure.
What I do know is this...I did those years to the best of my ability and I loved them. And now I have today. And today...I can actually complete a thought!
Today, I enjoy my sixth grade daughter immensely...our conversations, the new opportunities she has, and the activities we can do together as mother and daughter. I enjoy my 3rd grade son who still gives me a hug in front of all his friends in the cafeteria at school and marvels with me over how much milkweed our "pet" caterpillar can eat & digest, resulting in crazy amounts of poop. And I'm finding I have the time to savor every moment of Kindergarten with my baby. Taryn has the same teacher as both Carter and Paige and I love hearing her come home from school with the same stories they did. In fact, today was "purple day", she got to wear purple, color purple and learn the "purple song". We all sang it together at the top of our lungs on the drive home from school.
The Purple Song:
(Sung to the tune of Camptown Races)
P-U-R-P-L-E -- Purple, Purple. P-U-R-P-L-E Purple's what that spells. Purple grapes on the vine. Purple Kool-Aids fine. P-U-R-P-L-E Purple's what that spells.
Pretty catchy, huh?
It was a good moment, a good snapshot, one I took the time to savor.
I think I must be overly emotional since my baby went off to Kindergarten because truthfully -- I think I'm O.K. with where we are at.
In the midst of those days with my little ones I heard over and over --" enjoy them while they last...they will be gone before you know it." I knew that to be true, and I did enjoy them, but in retrospect, I'm not sure I savored them as much as I wish I had. But isn't that always the case? Isn't that why people tell you to enjoy them...because they too wish they had enjoyed them more?
When I was living the days of cuddling and tummy zerberts, first steps and first words, trips to the zoo and lapsit at the library. I was also in the midst of spit up and ear infections, diapers and tantrums, potty training and sleepless nights. It's all just a blur. During those years, I struggled to complete a thought, let alone savor a moment. I didn't appreciate a cute conversation in the post office line because I still had to address the package, find the right box, & get frustrated over why the line wasn't moving faster so that I could complete my next 10 tasks. The never ending "Mommy, can I have some candy?" questions just didn't seem so cute. My perspective is quite different now as I witness just one adorable chubby cheeked snapshot of my past and not my reality.
Do I miss the precious moments of that time of our life? Yes. Do I want to go back to that time, I'm not so sure.
What I do know is this...I did those years to the best of my ability and I loved them. And now I have today. And today...I can actually complete a thought!
Today, I enjoy my sixth grade daughter immensely...our conversations, the new opportunities she has, and the activities we can do together as mother and daughter. I enjoy my 3rd grade son who still gives me a hug in front of all his friends in the cafeteria at school and marvels with me over how much milkweed our "pet" caterpillar can eat & digest, resulting in crazy amounts of poop. And I'm finding I have the time to savor every moment of Kindergarten with my baby. Taryn has the same teacher as both Carter and Paige and I love hearing her come home from school with the same stories they did. In fact, today was "purple day", she got to wear purple, color purple and learn the "purple song". We all sang it together at the top of our lungs on the drive home from school.
The Purple Song:
(Sung to the tune of Camptown Races)
P-U-R-P-L-E -- Purple, Purple. P-U-R-P-L-E Purple's what that spells. Purple grapes on the vine. Purple Kool-Aids fine. P-U-R-P-L-E Purple's what that spells.
Pretty catchy, huh?
It was a good moment, a good snapshot, one I took the time to savor.
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