My Mom

My mom and I are 17 years apart in age, I love telling people that.  I love the idea that mom and me have been together for most of her life, how awesome is that! (maybe she would think differently) (insert smiley face)

  It’s almost Mother’s Day and I thought I would write down some of my thoughts and feelings from my 46 years with this fascinating, lady.

my mom and me with my grandson Liam

 My Mom -  Faithful, Strong, Rocking babies, Country Girl, Gardener, Poet, Enduring, Long Suffering, Spiritual, In tune, Singing, Smiling, Piano, Banjo, Guitar, playing and any other instrument she could get her hands on, always sacrificing for others, Nice,  Loving,Praying,Trusting in God, Listening, Friend, Confidante, Worried, Anxious, Strong, Proud of her Heritage, Genealogist, Patriotic, Migraine Sufferer,Quietly Sad,Funny, Thoughtful, Choir Director, Grandma, Caretaker, Good, Trustworthy, Hard Working,  and Believing… Always Believing.

 My mom was born and raised in a small town in Indiana. She grew up as a farmer/carpenters daughter.  She has two younger brothers and an older sister.  It was a home that did not have a lot of money but it was filled with music, good food, laughter and love. 

My mom's little brothers.

My mom was a widow at the age of 21, and lost her only son in his early thirties, neither of which do I think she has ever gotten over but has pushed forward, silently enduring.  Strong should be her middle name.

She has us 3 girls and dad now.

 We, I am sure do not tell her often enough how much we love her, and how much we appreciate her, and how much we still need her.

 I am a mom and grandmother myself, and still need my mom!   I am not sure what I would do if I could not pick up the phone and hear my mom’s voice on the other end.

 

I always use to pray that I would live long enough to raise my kids and see them married and that would be good enough, Right?  I bet some of you moms out there did the same thing.

  But you know what… it’s not enough!  I still need my mom, I still like to talk things over with her, I needed to cry on her shoulder when Sean was out of work, there was no one else.  I need her prayers for me,  I need to hear her testimony of the gospel, I still want her  to call me up read me a poem that she has recently written or read, or play me a song she just heard on the radio.  I still need to hear stories from her childhood,  I need her reassuring voice, which tells me I can do 'it', whatever ‘it’ is. 

I don’t think there is a time we don’t need our mom’s,that unconditional love that they always have in truck loads, we just kind of assume they will always be there. 

I know my mom one day will be separated from me for a time, but hopefully I will be MUCH older and maybe won’t need her as much as I do now… ah who am I kidding,  I… (we)  always need our mom’s.

So mom, today, and for all the tomorrows I want you to know I love you.  You are my hero,you always have been.  You are still the one I go to for guidance, and assurance, I am still learning from you.   Thank you, thank you, for everything.  I’m glad your mine. 

XOXO
Missy

Your Doing Great!

When I was a new mom, I sure would have liked to know I was doing a good job. 

When we were first married we took our 3 week old son packed everything we owned in a tiny little Toyota Celica, and U-haul that we hitched to the back and headed from Indiana to Utah leaving behind all members of my family. 

I remember how isolated I felt, and that someone was surely going to stop us, what in the world did I know about taking care of a baby, I barely knew how to scramble an egg. 

Last year that baby that we traveled across the states with 25 years ago,  took his own little family, packed everything they owned up and headed from Utah to Georgia, taking my 18 month old grandson with him, and my soon to be born grand daughter.  I knew they were excited about the new adventure but I also knew that hard times would come for that little mama sitting next to him.

So this is for my daughter in law... your doing great!  Happy Mothers Day!  See you in 37 days, but who's counting!

Is this empty nest syndrome? Did I miss something?

My children's age range is 19 to 26, they are all in school and trying to figure out what they want to be when they grow up.

I am in my late 40's and have devoted my life to the raising of my children and loved every minute.  

Now they are grown up and although they still need me at times, I have a lot of time to think about... what I what to be... now that I am all grown up.

I've heard other women say, don't lose sight of who 'you' are a long the way... I don't think I did.  I had read many times that you need to take care of your needs as you are raising your kids, I did, I had my nails done, I colored my hair, I went out with friends, my hubby took me on a date every Friday night,I scrap booked my guts out, I went to the gym with my girlfriends sometimes for hours. I don't remember feeling sad or neglected.  I had a some great friends doing the same thing I was, we spent our summers at the parks with our kids, went to the pool, bike rides, road trips and field trips. 

                                      July 4th Parade with my best friend and her family

 I'm also LDS and being a Mormon is like having a full time job!  I was involved in working with the young women in my neighborhood for many years, this meant planning weekly activities and Sunday lessons, and helping them achieve their goals, I was PTA president and home room mom, I was never bored!

                                          Girls camp with other awesome women 'Moms'

  My family went on yearly trips to Disney World and we all became Scuba Certified, we were blessed to have the financial ability to do lots of fun trips.

So I didn't think I was missing out or needed to add anything. 

 I still had my fair share of trials don't get me wrong, but that is a blog(s) for another day.

So that leads me to today... this stage of life. I know I would like to  spend a lot more time if I could with grand kids but they are far away as of now, so until I get a chance to revel in my 'grandma - ness' I need to make some goals, start a few hobbies, something...

 

So here I sit...  wondering, is there something that will make me as happy and as content as when I was raising my kids? 

 Or was that the best years of my life? Nah, I refuse to believe that! I am and will continue finding new interests, I mean who knew I liked gardening, certainly not me!   I know I am not alone, I have talked with you... all my friends/readers around the neighborhood,  I/we can do this!

 I think this could this be the empty nest syndrome that I have heard so much about! Well, I am not giving up, I will keep searching and along the way I'll let you know what I discover. I want you to know I am not sad, or depressed quite the opposite actually, just trying to figure out what next? If you have any ideas, give me a call I'm ready to try new stuff (insert smiley face)

Hmmm, maybe a quick weekend trip with my favorite husband will inspire me!  

Instead of Mom, call me point B...

I love Sarah Kay, I heard this for the first time last year and just found it again.  She is known for her spoken word poetry,  I think she is just one of the best.  If you get a chance check out the rest of her poems on YouTube.

I think she is wise beyond her years.

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.
- Tenneva Jordan