Mother's Day

It is Mother's Day and I am posting a picture my hubby snapped while we were on the beach yesterday. To be on the other side of the lens for once is kind of nice. After uploading this picture I had a few mental notes:

1. Pretty good composition Pal. Way to go. Like I'm not sure if I could have done better?

2. Nice wind-blown look, but it's kinda...fresh. Blustery can be beautiful?

3. When my son starts parting his hair in the middle like Luke Skywalker, it's time to call my girlfriend up and get him in for a hair cut.

4. I can't remember the last time I actually had a picture like this with my children. I am sooooo thankful I handed the hubby my camera. 

So we took my parents over to the coast yesterday afternoon on a pre-Mother's Day outing. Our mission was to get to the beach and more importantly dine at Phil's Fish Market--a local place that serves up some pretty tasty grub. It's right on the beach and always packed. I received quite the teasing for calling it Fred's Fish Shack. I can still hear my mom on the phone, "I've never heard of Fred's Fish Shack...but I've eaten at Phil's Fish Market." And then in the car on the way there I got an earful from everyone. Personally, I like my alliteration the best, so whatever.

I really do not have a lot of pictures with my mom in them so I made a point to snap some of her with me and her grand kids, despite the fact that she complained she wasn't camera ready (lipstick). Fuey with it mom. You need to have more pictures with those who love you!

In honor of her today I want to share what I love about her...

She loves her children and grandchildren passionately. 

She has a sensitive heart.

She values friendship...is a friend to me!

She is also a faithful friend and keeps in touch with those she has known all her life. My most vivid memories of growing up were of being with family friends, lots of them. I believe this instilled in me the same natural bent to fostering friends and having a large circle of them.

She loves to be with me..and my family.

My family adores her. My kids LOVE Grammy. For this, I am so blessed.

She is a woman of prayer. I have always known that my mom is my number one prayer fan. In fact, she probably prays more for me than I do for myself. 

She loves nature...flowers, the beach, road trips.

She is always willing to learn about herself and grow, even when it is hard, and exhausting.

She is still married (and still deeply my loves) my father. To have two parents together, forever, is more than a blessing. It's a gift.

She loves my husband like a son. That top picture of her in the collage? Laughing at him...because he can tease her and she loves it.
She has always let me be me. Supported me.

She will drop anything to go shopping with me.

She loves to talk with me.

She is a my number one fan. Always encouraging. Always believing in me, often more than I am in myself.

For all these things I am thankful and aware that I am blessed with a mother who has loved me without inhibition. I have always felt her love and known of its presence and influence in my life. It has shaped who I am, decisions I have made, and ultimately how I have mother my own children. I cannot imagine my life without her.

So on this day Mom, know that I love you, I love you, I love you. I am so thankful to have you in my life and hope your day is spent in with the knowledge of how much you mean to me...which is a lot, a ton, more than I can hold, or express, or ever completely show you.

Happy Mother's Day

xoxo