It's been a year since I've laid my eyes on my mother and wrapped my arms around her. We live across the country from each other, and the last time she was in town was for my younger son's Eagle Scout ceremony. Now she and Pop are back on the East Coast celebrating my nephew's high school graduation and Eagle Scout ceremony. What a difference a year makes...
A year and a month ago, when they were here last, our only issue was dh's pesky gall bladder surgery, and the fact that he couldn't eat that delicious bbq he made for the teenager's Eagle celebration, and a brand new Windows laptop with a bad screen. Little did we know. Less than a month later, my precious DIL would begin her downhill slide in earnest, and my older son, her husband, would soon follow suit. And here we are today, my dh and I, raising babies again, with all the stress and exhaustion that the whole situation brings.
Mom and Pop came 3 hours down the road from my brother's house and spent a long weekend at our house this past weekend. What an absolute pleasure! They bring such a sense of calm, and comfort, and wisdom with them, a few things that we really need right now. They got to enjoy some time with their great-grandchildren. And the teenager is home from college right now, so they got to enjoy him as well. And Sunday night, they braved the babies' supper, bath, and bedtime all by themselves while dh and I got to go on a date! ... ALONE!!! ... YES!!!!!
But Mom and I got the first date, Friday night, just the two of us with our cameras, chasing the full moon. Well, I can't quite explain what happened with the moon shots, but the sunset was gorgeous. She has no idea I took this photo. I happened to be standing behind her, and the beauty of the scene overwhelmed me. When she sees this, she'll complain about how she thinks she looks. But she doesn't realize how beautiful she really is. She's one of those people who connects deeply with everyone she meets. She listens to people. Really listens. With her heart. And she truly hears what they say. She accepts people for who and what they are and doesn't pass judgement. She's full of wisdom, but doesn't flaunt it. She knows how to tell a good story, and she knows how to laugh. She's quick witted, and an excellent writer. She told me one time that, in her younger adult years, she struggled with what her ministry on this earth was, and she came to the conclusion that her ministry was being a mother to her children. You should see the relationship she has with her children! And her grandchildren. And now, her great-grandchildren. Her children know that they can come to her with anything, and everything, and she's there for them. She's their biggest cheerleader, and encourager, and voice of reason and trust. And when you pour your heart out to her, you know that what you have entrusted to her is received with generosity and honor, and kept with the utmost care. She loves us deeply, and loves whoever we bring home with us. If you step into her and Pop's house, you are family, and you feel it deep in your soul.
And honestly, I actually do hope that when I grow up, I can be just like my mom!
