More Lasts and A Nice Mothers Day Weekend

 The weekend started with a band concert on Friday night.  This is the last one both of my kids will perform in together and I watched with tears.  

All of the seniors were recognized and given a rose, which Matthew gave to me at the end of the concert.  He had the honor of being the band treasurer this year.  It went by fast.  

Mother's Day was special for me and it was a weekend event.  On Saturday I did a little housework but did a lot of relaxing too.  My husband made a very delicious meal with homemade pasta and chicken parmesan.  He worked so hard.  I appreciated it.  On Sunday we went to church and they had some backdrops in place for pictures.  They also gave all the ladies a bouquet of flowers.  

Motherhood is a gift and a blessing.  It can be frustrating, messy and exhausting but it can also be fun, delightful and full of proud moments.  I'm grateful for these two and especially to God for trusting me with them.  I know I mess it up a lot but it's good to see that despite that they are growing up to be good humans.  They also love the Lord and nothing is more important to me than that.  

My husband also made me this dessert, which was delicious.  I can't remember what it's called but it has crushed pecans and caramel.  I failed to take a picture of dinner.  

We had plans of going to my parents' house after church and my oldest sister and her husband were going to visit from Long Island but my dad cancelled.  My mom had a rough night and he knew she'd be a zombie all day.  So, we stayed at home.  As much as I would have loved to see my mother on Mother's Day the time at home was good too.  We went out to eat at a diner, my choice.  Then my daughter taught me how to play Dress to Impress on Roblox.  

These last two days my daughter has had state exams at school and had her first practice for the new marching band season last night.  I don't know why they start so early.  Because of the state exams, which is only for 9th and 10 grade, my son has been able to arrive at school later in the day.  I've been getting through housework and yardwork but that never ends.  There's always something to do.  

My son had his senior pictures done by a friend who had been a teammate and graduated last year.  He is going to school for photography and trying to grow a business so I thought he'd be the perfect one to do the pictures.  We got them yesterday.  I'll just share a few.  

13 more school days until graduation (counting today) 

For Mother's Day!

 

I wanted to take a moment to wish all of you wonderful ladies a Happy Mother's Day!

I hope you all feel loved on this special day.  I hope you are showered with love and goodness.  If you are someone who may not look forward to this day, because maybe you no longer have your mother or maybe you even lost a child, I do hope that you can somehow find some peace and comfort.  I will be taking a moment tomorrow to pray for those who will be spending the day grieving.  Please know that you are needed, loved, and very special.  

Oh, not again!

 So, now there is a huge virus spreading called the Hantavirus.  I don't know much about it aside from what I hear - that this is a virus worse than Covid and there is a small chance of survival when contracted with it.  People are beginning to panic - wondering if they will get it, wondering if the government will shut us down again.  Ugh!  I hope not.  I really, really, really don't want to go through what we did 6 years ago.  

Instead of joining in on all the fear I'm just going to take the time to pray, and just like I did during Covid, Psalm 91 is great to read and pray over in a time like this.  If you'd like to join me grab your Bible or I will have it copied below.  

Psalms 91

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

"Mommy, Push Me"

 I remember hearing that voice so clearly ... 

"Mommy push me!"

My son would jump on the swing and ask me to push him.  My mind would go to thinking about all of the things I had to get done around the house or even pulling weeds while being outside.  The house has always been in need of my attention but my kids needed me too.  Even when I wanted to focus on getting things done I knew my son's need for a push on the swing was not going to last forever.  He would grow up and not have any interest in playing anymore.  So, I let the housework wait and I pushed him.  I'd listen to his sweet voice sing songs or ask me questions about life.  I would watch as that sweet little innocence moved back and forth stretching his legs into the air.  

"Make me go higher!"

Laughter would always follow.  

I looked over at the swing set the other day and began to cry as I thought of those sweet days that had quickly gone by.  The swing sits empty.  No longer being used.  No longer does anyone ask me to push them.  The housework remains the same.  The laundry, the dishes, the dust.  The weeds are continuously sprouting and the grass keeps on growing - and my kids, well, they grew too.  

Mothers of little ones, let me be the one to assure you that all of the errands and housework can wait.  Your little ones can't, because they don't stay little forever and all that is left of those precious moments is the memory.