When I think of my mom, so many images and memories come to mind. My earliest memory of my mom is at the cottage. She was painting the front door when I climbed onto the counter (against her wishes), took the plate I wanted out of the cupboard, stepped back on to the stool and it tipped over. I managed to cut my chin open on the plate and needed to get to the hospital for stitches. We made the one hour trip to GR and I received 17 stitches in the shape of a backwards "L". On the way back to the cottage, mom stopped at the Ice Cream shop in Cedar Springs and I got a butterscotch sundae. This memory is so vivid.
I also remember the time dad punished me and sent me to my room without dinner. After he left for a school board meeting, mom came up to my room with dinner for me. Dad never knew about that until many years later!
Mom was always home when we got home from school. She was usually watching General Hospital. I remember her ironing absolutely everything, even the bed sheets and dad's undershirts! Our home was always open to our friends. Mom and Dad did a lot of entertaining. Sunday nights were often spent with other families from our church. The summer was always busy at the cottage too. Family reunions, company picnics and many other friends were always welcome and mom would have lots of good food and dad would do the grilling.
Every summer my mom and sisters and I go on a girls overnighter. We just got back this year from Indiana where we had a wonderful time visiting the Amish, attending a gospel music show and just having a good time and a lot of laughs.
Mom has been a source of strength and a wonderful role model for me. She has seen many good times and many difficult times. She has been blessed financially and her generosity is overwhelming. She has been blessed with two wonderful husbands and she will be the first to tell anyone that! Above all, she has been blessed with good health and a wonderful, loving spirit.
I wanted to take this space and time to let you know what a blessing my mother is to me. I want to wish her a happy 81st birthday this Sunday, September 2. I pray that God continues to bless her with many more years of happiness and good health. Thank you mom for who you are. I love you.
Mom and Dad (in Paris maybe?)
Mom and Rich on Mother's Day, 2007