Happy Mothers Day to all of my sweet mommy friends and readers. I hope that you all had a great day spent in the company of loved ones.

I enjoyed getting to spend some time with some of our family and especially my wonderful husband and of course the 2 precious reasons that I celebrate this special day.

We headed out for lunch after church this morning with Jay’s parents, brother and his family and my brother Matthew and grandparents. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the best experience, actually it was TERRIBLE. Needless to say, we will not be going back to that restaurant again. As my hubby said, two thumbs way down! Hahaha

Since our morning got off to a bit of a bad start, we all came home and laid down for naps to start the day over…..3 hours later, there wasn’t much of the day left. However everyone woke up refreshed and in better moods so it was well worth it! After we got up and around, we decided to head into town and pick up some flowers and head out to the cemetery to visit my mom. On our way back home, we stopped by Archies, a local ice cream stand, and get some yummy treats.

Today was a little bittersweet and had a lot to do with why the morning didn’t really get off to such a great start. All I could think about was how Mothers Day last year, I had all of my family, but namely my mom,  with us at our church for Caroline’s baby dedication. I remember exactly what my mom was wearing and how she smelled. Mothers Day last year would be the last time that my mom wasn’t confined to a hospital bed and that memory just brought out so many emotions.

In service this morning I had my first of a couple melt downs as we sang a very familiar hymn from my childhood. I held it together until we got to this part in the chorus. You may be familiar with it.

O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.
I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory.
And I heard about the streets of gold
Beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing,
And the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I’ll sing up there
The song of victory.

One of my dear friends from high school had stated it perfectly this week as being homesick for Heaven. To unbelievers, that may be hard to grasp, but when I hear about the mansion in paradise that is waiting for me and my heart is aching so badly for my mom, this is exactly how I feel. Homesick.

Of course I did not want my missing mom to overshadow the fact that I have so much to celebrate today and everyday, so I spent a lot of time reflecting on and remembering how blessed I was to have the very best mom and what I want to learn from her. In my slightly biased opinion, my mom was was the perfect example of what a Proverbs 31 woman is. I am so thankful for the example that she set for my sister and I in the life that she lived and the love that she gave. This is my prayer of the kind of woman that I long to be refined into by the grace of God.

10  An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14 She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
15 She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She dresses herself  with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.

I know that for so many, today can be so cruel and is not full of celebration for a multitude of different reasons. Maybe you did not or do not have a good relationship with your mom and your relationship is broken. Maybe like me, you have lost a mom and brings up so much pain. Or you have been longing to become a mommy and that prayer has not been answered. Know that I have been thinking of and praying for you today. Know that you have a Heavenly Father that knows your hurts and loves you so much. He is our healer and comforter.

Father, I thank you for choosing me to be a mommy to Joel Dewey and Caroline Grace. My life is forever changed because of them and the joy that they bring to my life. I pray that I am the best mommy that I can be to them and always raise and teach them in a way that brings glory and honor to you.

Related posts:

1. Happy Thanksgiving! (A Bit Belated)
2. Happy 2nd Birthday