A Tribute to My Mom on Mother's Day

The following is what I posted on my mom's CaringBridge site yesterday.

A Tribute to My Mom...

I just got to spend a lovely afternoon with my mom for Mother's Day.  I felt thankful that I could be with her today.  Thankful that she felt up to coming to Hudson to visit, thankful our family could be together, thankful to enjoy good food, sunshine, and the nicer weather after a few days of cold and rain.

I also wanted to write a little (actually, it's going to be long) tribute to my mom--some of the memories I have as well as some things I am grateful for about her...

Mom, I remember and am thankful for:

• The way you have always loved us unconditionally.  Even when we made choices you didn't agree with, you still supported us and always let us know you were proud of us.
• The many sacrifices you've made over the years for our ultimate good.  Now being a mother myself, I know that many of those sacrifices probably seemed to go unnoticed at the time...but I want you to know they mattered.
• In all my years of various school concerts and performances and such, you always rearranged your schedule to be at every one.  Every one.  I think I took that for granted back then, but I want you to know that it really means something to me that you did that.  You really invested hugely in your children.
• The good listener that you are.  Being an empathetic and encouraging listener is something I value highly, and I have seen it modeled in you.  
• Childhood memories of you reading Dr. Seuss books to me, and playing games together such as Memory, Candyland, Go Fish, Yahtzee, and Boggle.  (You always let me use two letter words and get a head start handicap for scoring when I was younger.  *smile* )  Those same Dr. Seuss books now grace my children's book shelf, and they enjoy having me read to them often.  Honestly, every time time I read one, I think of you and it takes me right back to being a kid.  I also play the same games with my children.  They've heard me fondly say many times  "I used to play this with my mom when I was little." 
• Warm chocolate pudding with whipped cream on top.
• Special new dresses every Christmas and Easter.
• The birthday poems you'd write for us recapping each year--complete with picture sketches, too!
• You tucking me into bed every night.  I remember one night when I was three years old you taught me the Lord's Prayer at bedtime.  I also remember you explaining how God wants us to love Him more than anything else in this world.  As a child I thought that sounded crazy at the time...but you were right.  Thank you for teaching me that truth...for planting the seeds of faith in my young heart and mind.
• Trips to Target on the weekends with the Clark gals.  Living in Waconia, the nearest Target back then was all the way in Eden Prairie!  (And remember, there were virtually no stop lights the whole way there!)  Still to this day, whenever I'm in Target with my kids, I remember how we used to shop until we dropped--and then we'd ask to get a $.39 popcorn in the snack bar.
• How you & Dad took us swimming every day when we were little--sometimes multiple times!  I loved the evening swims at dusk right before bed.  The water would feel warmer than the air and Bria and I would beg to stay in just a few minutes longer.  When swimming made us hungry, I remember having 'Chicken in a Biscuit' crackers, and when we had a garden we'd often get to go straight to it to pick strawberries and pea pods for a snack.  :)

• Family camping trips.  Though we didn't take big trips to exotic places, we had plenty of fun camping at various Midwest parks, and even took some special trips to visit relatives in Washington, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Idaho.  Thanks for taking us, and for all the fun memories.
• When I was 13, you announced to me one day that I would be allowed to wear makeup!  You and Marty Cramer had a Mary Kay consultant come and do facials and teach Christine and I how to properly adorn ourselves.  :)  What fun!
• The patience you've always shown as a mother.  In my own life, I sometimes find I compare myself to you and confess to Wade that "I don't know how she did it...she very rarely seemed to lose her cool."  And I can remember calling you once crying, wanting counsel on how to parent a very young Abby (who is now 9).  You shared with me mistakes you felt you'd made and what you'd learned along the way.  I so appreciated your transparency Mom.
• The wonderful Grandma you are to my kids.  Honestly, I cannot imagine a more attentive grandparent than you.  You listen to each of them with genuine interest in anything that matters to them.  You plan for months ahead of time in order to make their birthdays, Christmas, and other holidays special.  And now, just like you did for Bria and me when we were kids, you come to every show, concert, play or performance that you possibly can and truly seem to enjoy every minute.  We love having you fairly nearby and so appreciate having you so involved in our lives.
• That your heart trusts God.  You walk with Him, knowing that He is taking care of you, and that He is truth.  You have a peace about you because of your faith in Him that enables you to walk in thankfulness each day without living in fear of all the future unknowns.  Thank you for your example.

I love you, Mom.  You mean the world to me.  Thank you for all you have given, done, and been for us over all these years. 

Happy Mother's Day
Love,
Kara Jo

Pondering

Wade and I spent some time cleaning out the garage this weekend. We came across an old box with all of our wedding cards--from 13 years ago. I wanted to go through them to find & save the one from my Grandma Sallie who passed away last year. Wade wanted to go through them to see if there was any money we missed :) As we read through them, though, we were both struck by how many of the people who attended our wedding 13 years ago have now either passed away or gotten divorced. We were reminded not to take life--or marriage for granted.

My prayer...Lord, keep us faithful...to one another, and to You. Let us use our lives in such a way that we will have few regrets. And may our highest priority be to know You well, and make You known by the way that we live and love.

Honestly, so often my life falls far short of that prayer. Yet that is still my prayer.

Dear Erin...

You are a gem. I feel so honored and blessed that you & Shirley Jean would drive all this way to bring us a meal and fold my ratty underwear. I am truly humbled and grateful.

It was a breath of fresh air to have you here. (All except for the spit-up waftage. LOL.) I loved the company and the conversation. Thank you, Erin!


Love,
Kara Jo & Baby