One Happy Mom

Last Sunday, I was one happy mom. I was treated like royalty by my family. I felt rather guilty soaking it all in, but....oh, it was wonderful.

The day began with a delightful breakfast that I had nothing to do with. (I humbly admit, this in itself is not unusual at all on a Sunday. What was amazing this particular morning was the fact that all the regular effort was applied to its making even though we had been out very late the night before- and up later still the night prior to that. I had prepared myself for cold cereal.) 

The sun was shining onto the table in a most beautiful way when I was invited to the kitchen, illuminating the lovely bouquet of sweet-smelling lilacs that had been brought in the day before. I love fresh flowers at any time! 

Here's my favorite five! I love going to church with my family. (These smiles aren't even fake, Dana :) )

I thought a bike ride after church would make the perfect addition to this special day, but it ended up being pretty cold and windy. No one else thought bike riding made the perfect addition.... so I decided to go myself anyway. With the wind pushing against me, I barely made it to the cemetery, my destination. But the rest was so sweet once there. My back to the road, I leaned against Malachi's headstone and God and I spent some time talking together. In the freshness of the air, the softness of the lush grass, the song of the birds...His presence was palpable. It would have been nice to find forever together there, but eventually, I had to go back.

 I wanted to go back. A part of my heart is in heaven, but there's a lot of me on earth, too.

Now the wind was at my back- the miles whipped past like a happy daydream. It was hard to even remember the struggle I had in getting there. I soaked in the sunny, easy glory of the moment, and came to understand that the full blessing wouldn't have been -couldn't be- realized had I not had the uphill, hard grit and determination of the trip there...

When I arrived back home, I found my family working away together on another delicious meal. Among the fare was homegrown spinach, asparagus, rhubarb, chives, green onion, and mint- I love this time of year!

When it was all done and family had scattered, I looked at the table of what had just been. One time a fresh perspective was shed on the all too familiar after meal messy scene of food so quickly gone. I remembered this now, as I looked back at the table: life and love (and plenty) were just here, gathered around, and a tableful of dirty dishes must mean a tableful of family- my own- and who doesn't want that, no matter how big the mess? 

(of course, its easy to have nice thoughts when you are excused from the dishes...)

I was sent to the couch to await a little music program provided by each family member in his/her own special way, complete with scripture recitations, too! 

Kenan singing "Jesus Loves Me" with the help of Dad and Marcus

After supper, we plopped down in the living room to play a game of Life together- something we all can play, but we'd been playing life all day and it was good- so good- much better than any game. 

Dave, Faith, Marcus, Jared, Lily and Kenan: thanks for making the day so special for this undeserving mom!! God gave me so much when He gave me all of you....

-Kara

Ps- I do need to add, that for the second year in a row, Jared had to know, when there's a Mother's Day and a Father's Day, why isn't there a KIDS day?!!