Girls at the Gap

Women need each other. Who else could understand us???

A few weeks ago, a lady in our church offered her home away from home up at Gap Creek for the ladies of our church to have a Girls Night at the Gap. She was so excited! She kept calling me the week before telling me howexcited she was and asking if I was excited. Well, I just hadn't had much time to think about being excited. You know....2 little girls, dirty house, new dog, surprise birthday party for our Mimi, wedding shower for my niece, handsome husband.....my plate was full! I could have so easily stayed home that Friday night. But I didn't. How could I disappoint my sweet friend?

WOW! I would have missed such a blessing if I had not gone and spent time with these wonderful women! Some were old friends that I hadn't had much time with lately. Some of them were women that I just haven't had a chance to get to know yet. It was such a sweet time of fellowship. It will be a memory I hold dear.

Thank you sweet friend - for your enthusiasm, generosity, love, friendship and a wonderful retreat!

Gifts

I am a blessed woman. I have so much to be thankful for. Sometimes I feel like my heart is going to explode!

This morning, Olivia got up and first thing said, "Happy Mother's Day, Mama. Me and Caroline made you a card." Brad brought my coffee (he does this every day - not just Mother's Day). Then, the girls and I piled up in the recliner and opened my gift. Caroline was so excited to help! I now have a beautiful summer purse! I am thankful.

Today, the children stayed in the service at church. No children's church. Brad sat us down on the very front row. My girls behaved like angels. I am thankful.

After church, I picked my mom up and brought her here for lunch. I don't take her out very often. It really confuses her. She was a little iffy about going out...they were about to have a party at her place and she doesn't like to miss anything. I convinced her that she would have more fun going with me....and she did. We had a great day together. Brad's mom came over and my other mom, Penny (another blog post) came. My brother and nephew came by. Mama was with it today. She seemed less confused than normal. She called me Karen all day. I told her that I had a great day today with her and she said, "I had a great day with you. I'll always remember it." She won't always remember coming here on Mother's Day. She's probably already forgotten. She will remember that she had a good day, though. She will remember that she is loved and that she loves. I am thankful.

Caroline wrapped her little arms around my neck tonight and I rocked her to sleep. I am blessed.

Olivia went to bed willingly and we finished a Junie B. Jones book. There was a sentence in there about how having money is all that's important. I said, "that's not true" and Olivia said, "having a family that loves you is more important than having money." I am thankful.

I had so many gifts today....homemade cards, a new purse, coffee delivered by my handsome husband, well behaved children at church, a sweet time of fellowship with my church family, time with all of my mom's, Brad cooking lunch AND cleaning up, being called Karen all day by my mom, and my sweet girls cooperating at bedtime.

God is good. God is faithful. I am thankful. I am blessed.

Mama

I've been thinking about my mom a lot more lately. Maybe it's because Mother's Day is this weekend. Maybe it's because I'm reading a book about old ladies in a nursing home (my mom is in a nursing home). Maybe God put her heavy on my heart for a specific reason. The girls and I went to see her yesterday. I don't go as much as I should. There's so much to do all the time. I don't' make the time. I feel guilty. All she has is time and that's all she wants from me.

My mom is amazing. She is strong. She is sweet. She is fun. She is fiesty. She is loyal. She is beautiful. She is loving and encouraging. She always told me that I was beautiful and made me believe it. She always told me that I could do or be anything that I wanted to be. She gives the best hugs.

Most of the time when I visit her, she calls me Adell (her sister). When someone comes in while I'm there, she introduces me as her sister. She knows I am someone who loves her. She knows that she loves me. If I say, "you know that I'm your daughter, right?" - she will say "yes, you're Karen". And sometimes, she says something that really makes me feel like she knows who I am. Those moments are rare and precious. I miss her.

On this Mother's Day weekend, I want to give thanks to God for giving me the best Mother ever. I love you, Mama.