Her family will rise up and call her blessed
I think by now you are getting the idea that I pretty much worshiped my brother. And that my Dad was and is my hero. And my sister is awaiting her own feature post. :) But I've waited a bit to really introduce you to my Mama. Like I've said before, she has the kindest heart and purest motives of anyone I know. And she is one of those people who has been stunning her whole life, and hasn't figured it out yet.
My Mom is the glue that holds our family of five together. She is what made our house a home. Since we did have to move a lot, she had settling in down to a science. We all waited for it, and within a couple of days, she turned those four walls into the new home of the Meyer clan. We would walk into the house and know immediately that we were "home." There they were...4 steaming, crusty loaves of freshly baked bread sitting on the counter. Their aroma filling up all the new, awkward spaces that we weren't used to yet. Timed perfectly to be pulled from the oven as we came in from school, or points beyond, just begging to be sliced into and slathered with melting butter. Oh my tastebuds are doing the happy dance just remembering it!
She made many traditions as we were growing up. What stability that gave us. No matter what happened we could count on these things. Steamed rice with cinnamon and milk every Friday night followed by story time while she wore her purple robe with the pink stripe down the middle. Freshly baked cinnamon rolls most every Saturday morning. The smell of lemon Pledge heralded Thursday as cleaning day. (lest you think all of my memories are food motivated...)
She also has the ability to turn ordinary happenings into an event to be celebrated. I remember coming home to a special dinner because I had made the honor roll, or being able to wear a new apron to help in the kitchen while we had company...an apron that she had just pulled off her sewing table. How much more fun is it to do dishes while wearing an apron your Mama made just for you??
My Dad always used to quote Proverbs 31:28 where it talks about the traits of a noble woman, "Her children will rise up and call her blessed, and her husband will also praise her..." While saying this he would get this special, tender, misty look in his eyes (my Daddy is a leaker...and raised leakers...unashamed ones), his head would cock over to one side in a half shrug as he reached out an arm to pull her close. These times taught me that my Dad loved my Mom with his every fiber. You can't beat that for security as a kid. They also taught me to find a man that would look at ME that way when I was his wife. (I did). And my Dad's public affirmation of my Mom showed me that having a noble character was definitely worth striving for. Who wouldn't want one of those? I still do for Pete's sake! God just keeps nudging me in the right direction, He's so very patient.
Now I've painted a picture of my Mama as the consummate wife, mother, and homemaker. Kinda makes her sound all soft and fuzzy doesn't it? Not even close. This woman has grit. She put her own dreams and plans on hold for YEARS to move back to the ranch and care for her in-laws. Who at frequent if not daily intervals would do and say things to cut her to the quick. And yet she stayed. And pampered. And manicured. And bathed. And prepared special meals. She gave my grandparents the most privileged final years that anyone could ask for.
And when she wasn't doing all of those things INSIDE the ranch house? Why she was on her beloved Case tractor hauling 1500 pound bales of hay for a total of 26 ton at a time on a 35 foot trailer for hours to the hay yard. And I've seen her with my own eyes crawl up onto the back of many a horse to ride with my Dad. She's always had a fear of horses and how powerful they are. With a back that was broken in a rollover car accident with my Brother as a baby. I can't imagine the pain she knew she'd be in for days after, but she did it anyway because she wanted to be by his side.
I hope you are able to see why it has taken me a bit of time to write this particular post. Every time I would add to it, I would have to stop after a bit because I could no longer see the screen. I would have to busy myself by yelling at the kids or kicking the cats. KIDDING! :)
My Mama is very very special to me. God saw fit to bless me with the best ever role model that he could find. My only hope is that someday I can resemble some part of her lovely spirit (my precious husband has the SAME hope...)
I sure wish my folks and I lived closer. Phone calls just don't cut it. Someday. Parents put a lot out to raise a family. Give yours a call if you're inclined. Just to say Thank You. And when you do, it's okay to leak a little.
Make it a great day!!
My Mom is the glue that holds our family of five together. She is what made our house a home. Since we did have to move a lot, she had settling in down to a science. We all waited for it, and within a couple of days, she turned those four walls into the new home of the Meyer clan. We would walk into the house and know immediately that we were "home." There they were...4 steaming, crusty loaves of freshly baked bread sitting on the counter. Their aroma filling up all the new, awkward spaces that we weren't used to yet. Timed perfectly to be pulled from the oven as we came in from school, or points beyond, just begging to be sliced into and slathered with melting butter. Oh my tastebuds are doing the happy dance just remembering it!
She made many traditions as we were growing up. What stability that gave us. No matter what happened we could count on these things. Steamed rice with cinnamon and milk every Friday night followed by story time while she wore her purple robe with the pink stripe down the middle. Freshly baked cinnamon rolls most every Saturday morning. The smell of lemon Pledge heralded Thursday as cleaning day. (lest you think all of my memories are food motivated...)
She also has the ability to turn ordinary happenings into an event to be celebrated. I remember coming home to a special dinner because I had made the honor roll, or being able to wear a new apron to help in the kitchen while we had company...an apron that she had just pulled off her sewing table. How much more fun is it to do dishes while wearing an apron your Mama made just for you??
My Dad always used to quote Proverbs 31:28 where it talks about the traits of a noble woman, "Her children will rise up and call her blessed, and her husband will also praise her..." While saying this he would get this special, tender, misty look in his eyes (my Daddy is a leaker...and raised leakers...unashamed ones), his head would cock over to one side in a half shrug as he reached out an arm to pull her close. These times taught me that my Dad loved my Mom with his every fiber. You can't beat that for security as a kid. They also taught me to find a man that would look at ME that way when I was his wife. (I did). And my Dad's public affirmation of my Mom showed me that having a noble character was definitely worth striving for. Who wouldn't want one of those? I still do for Pete's sake! God just keeps nudging me in the right direction, He's so very patient.
Now I've painted a picture of my Mama as the consummate wife, mother, and homemaker. Kinda makes her sound all soft and fuzzy doesn't it? Not even close. This woman has grit. She put her own dreams and plans on hold for YEARS to move back to the ranch and care for her in-laws. Who at frequent if not daily intervals would do and say things to cut her to the quick. And yet she stayed. And pampered. And manicured. And bathed. And prepared special meals. She gave my grandparents the most privileged final years that anyone could ask for.
And when she wasn't doing all of those things INSIDE the ranch house? Why she was on her beloved Case tractor hauling 1500 pound bales of hay for a total of 26 ton at a time on a 35 foot trailer for hours to the hay yard. And I've seen her with my own eyes crawl up onto the back of many a horse to ride with my Dad. She's always had a fear of horses and how powerful they are. With a back that was broken in a rollover car accident with my Brother as a baby. I can't imagine the pain she knew she'd be in for days after, but she did it anyway because she wanted to be by his side.
I hope you are able to see why it has taken me a bit of time to write this particular post. Every time I would add to it, I would have to stop after a bit because I could no longer see the screen. I would have to busy myself by yelling at the kids or kicking the cats. KIDDING! :)
My Mama is very very special to me. God saw fit to bless me with the best ever role model that he could find. My only hope is that someday I can resemble some part of her lovely spirit (my precious husband has the SAME hope...)
I sure wish my folks and I lived closer. Phone calls just don't cut it. Someday. Parents put a lot out to raise a family. Give yours a call if you're inclined. Just to say Thank You. And when you do, it's okay to leak a little.
Make it a great day!!
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