Mom

Today is my mom's birthday so I am dedicating this blog to her. I am so thankful to have a wonderful mom, God has truly blessed me with her. As I look back growing up my mom was always there for me. She did not work outside our home and I am very thankful for this. I remember when we were living in an apartment my mom repaired window blinds to help with the finances, she did this in our livingroom or outside on the patio so she could be there for us. In the summers,she would try to get her work finished so she could take my brother, Greg and me to the pool in the afternoon. She would sit on the side of the pool and watch us play and let us hang on her legs while she moved them up and down to give us "a ride" in the water. She didn't get in the water much, she didn't want to get her hair wet : ). I remember when she would make homemade popsicles, they were so good. Of course, she didn't only make them for Greg and I many of the kids in the apartment complex loved them too : ). In the winter if we would have snow I remember my mom at times going out and sledding with us, she would give us ideas of how to make our sleds go faster. We would come in and have hot chocolate, yum. My mom would read a Bible story to us every night before we went to bed from, "The Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes" I can still see this book in my mind today, in fact she bought that book for me when I had my own children so I could read to them. She would pray with us every night before we went to bed. We would kneel beside the bed and I remember she would always remind us to pray for "pappap" (this was her dad), he was not saved, so every night we would pray that PapPap would ask "Jesus to come into his heart". It almost became a habit but our prayers were answered many years later and PapPap gave his life to Jesus. As I grew my mom taught me so much, she taught me how to cook, clean, take care of a family. Many of this she taught me by example, she didn't just tell me how to do it she showed me. I still think of times when she let me "skip" school and we would go shopping and just enjoy our day together, what wonderful memories. I heard a song the other day which really describes my mom in so many ways, I can't remember all the words but I remember this part,"....but now that I am gone, she covers me with prayer" and this is so true I know my mom is praying for me every day, I am sure that it is because of her prayers that I have made the most important decision I will ever make in my life, at a young age I gave my life to Jesus and because of her prayers I continue to try and live my life for Him. Last year my mom was diagnosed with colon cancer and this past year has not been a good year for her. She had to go through chemo treatments which caused her to be really sick and lose a lot of weight. It made me so sad to see her have to go through this. It was so hard for her, you see my mom cares for my dad who has MS and not only this she is a true servant and it is very hard for her to have people wait on her when she is the one who is usually serving others. God has given her such a servant's heart and she is so unselfish. I remember times when she was going through such a difficult time yet she would always want to know how I was doing or how my brothers were doing. Even when she was feeling bad if we had good news she was so happy to hear it. There were times during her battle with cancer that she would have to be in the hospital and she would always be concerned about dad being taken care of. Praise the Lord that she is now cancer free and feeling much better. But what a women! I could go on and on she has taught me so much and she truly is the women that Proverbs 31 talks about "She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." I am truly blessed and I do rise up and praise her. Happy Birthday Mom!!! I love you and I am so thankful to be celebrating your birthday.