It's Somebody's Birthday...

...I wonder who?

Happy Birthday Mom!
On this day some years ago (no, I will not mention a year, that's her choice;-) my Momma was born.
In such a world that we live in today of torn families and broken lives, I am blessed to say that my Brothers and I were raised in a family of believers that had our best interests at heart. I know as adults we see things differently. Hindsight, you might say. I am sure that my Mom's hindsight of us kids growing up is enormously different than what we remember. But for a child who's parents are everything, we had it great.
I truly know that things for my Mom weren't easy early on as a young Mother. I know that now from just being a young mother myself. I know the obstacles and inexperience that my Mom faced on a daily basis now that I have to climb those same peaks and valleys myself.
However, as a child....well, as a child (even into young adulthood) I just knew (yes, I knew EVERYTHING) she had it all together.

I don't think that there is ever a memory in my life that doesn't have my Mom in it. As young as I can remember, my memories are filled with her guidance in my life. I think I was around 3 years old and I had a virus or fever or something. I had fallen asleep only to wake up from a bad dream - monsters or something. When I told her about it, she told me about how when she was a little girl, she dreamed she had the three bears in her room! At that moment, I realized that she was once a child, too. She hadn't always been a mom. She used to run and play just like me. She had had a momma that would hold her when she was scared and couldn't go back to sleep. And now she was a momma to me. It also made me realize that one day I would be a momma to a child that I would also hold and rock to sleep.

I had the worst growing pains as a child. Physically and emotionally and most definitely HORMONALLY! Growing pains plagued me when I was around 10 or so. My legs would hurt so much at night, I couldn't sleep. But I remember Mom waking up to lay warm towels and heating pads over my legs, praying over me as the hours passed.
And oooo, was she a praying Woman. Many a nights, when I was seething mad over a fight we had (HORMONES!) I could see her through a crack in the door on her knees in prayer, FOR ME!! Oh, if she had given up, where would I be.

My Mom's continual walk with the Lord has been a constant in my life more than the warm towels or the bandaids or trips to the mall. When things were rough in life, finances, family, the one constant was Mom bringing everything to the cross. Seeking the Lord in even the small things.

My teenage years were oh so embarrassing, to say the least. Oh how humiliating when Mom would take a stand for righteousness! WHY couldn't I do the things some of my other friends were doing? Even more humiliating was explaining why....It frustrated me so! I couldn't figure out HOW she knew, what she knew, when she knew it. I just thought I knew better!
Now, as a, a wife, a mother, I understand why my Mom made decisions she did. It wasn't always cool, it wasn't always easy. No, it definitely wasn't easy. But it was the right thing to do.

My Mom is daughter, sister, wife, mother, Nonny, protector, prayer warrior, believer, encourager, servant, kindred spirit, friend and, most importantly today, a BIRTHDAY GIRL!!

**Mom, I am ever so grateful that you were born at such a time as this. At a time to be my Mother. I am so proud to be your daughter. I am so proud that my children know you as Nonny. I am ever thankful for the life you have led, the example you have been. You always know what to say, when to say it. Even though it may be something we don't want to hear at the time, you speak the truth in love, ever leading us back to the cross. Always pointing to Jesus with a heavenly goal in mind. In word but ALWAYS in action and example. We are ever so blessed to have you in our lives.
I love you, dear.**

Proverbs 31: 10, 15, 20, 28-30
10 Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
15 She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household....
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “ Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.