Happy Birthday to My Mom! (& Excerts from Mom's Book....)

I told you in my post about Mom's party, that I'd share the things that Josh and I wrote to Mom, so in honor of her birthday (officially 60 today!), here they are!

We're so proud of her and the amazing Godly mother she's been to us. I hope you enjoy them!

Here's Josh's:

"To You My Mom,   
       

"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me.  They have clung to me all my life".  ~Abraham Lincoln

I found this quote as I was thinking of what to write down for this book and I thought it exemplified one of the biggest elements that makes you the great mom that you are! I feel your prayers daily as you poor your heart out to Jesus asking him to protect me and guide me. Mom, for this I love and thank you!

There is no way that I could write down every amazing memory we have, there isn’t enough paper in the world to publish them! So instead I picked a few of my favorites to remind you of on your 60th birthday.

“When I was sick and you were young, you lived between my shin."

I remember my birthday party when we had thirty kids in our back yard and even though you were working full-time and tired and sick, you pulled out all the stops and made it great. Thank You Momma!

I remember the fifth grade and working so hard to make the patrols; and when that teacher gave me a 'C' that I didn’t deserve, that got me kicked off, you went to bat for me. Every time I needed someone to fight for me, you were there. Thank You!

I remember every time you taught me right from wrong and all the times you showed
me how to be a good man. Mom because of you, I am who I am. Thank You.

I remember getting a call one Saturday morning that would change our lives. Mom those were the longest two months of my life and you will never know how just how truly thankful I am that God chose to heal you that year! You fought so hard when so many others would have thrown in the towel. Mom you have shown me how to fight and what it means to survive. Thank You.

I could go on for days and days of memories I have of the great times we have had threw the years but I will leave you with this. Mom you are beautiful, kind, loving, passionate, intelligent, bold, and everything I want to be. There is no one that could have given me what you have given me. Enjoy your 60th and I cant wait to enjoy another 60 years learning from and loving You!

Thank You for being my mom.
~Love Your Son

"If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not
already been."  ~Robert Brault"   "

Isn't he sweet? I sure think so, and Mom loved it! :) Here is what I wrote....


"Mom,

When I try to think about my favorite memory of you, there are obviously too many to name. Most of the things that come to mind include the events or times when we laughed too hard or the ones where I could see on your face that I made you proud. Of course there were plenty of memorable times when you would sit Josh and me down to dish out whatever punishment that fit our current crimes, but in hindsight, most of those are even fond to me now.

Over the years, we have had a lot of tough times, but you always made it clear to me, that with God, you and Josh, we could make it through anything. I always smile when I think of the Three Musketeers and the way that we always supported each other. “All for One and One for All.” I’m so thankful that you didn’t give us an option, whether we wanted to or not, we were going to be at each others games, competitions and plays and be kind to each other. I don’t know that I would love Josh as much as I do today if you weren’t the Mom that you were to us, and I’m so grateful for that. I honestly cherish the times of cheering Josh on and seeing him succeed more than I do my own successes and the fact that at the end of the game, we celebrated as a family was always so special to me.

I remember so many times when we would misunderstand you and end up laughing hysterically over what we thought you had said. Like, “When you were young, and I was sick, you lived between my shins!” I can still see us laughing in the middle of that Walmart isle for what seemed like 20 minutes! I wish we had written them all down because I’m pretty sure we’d have days worth of entertainment by now! I was always so grateful that you were able to laugh at yourself and didn’t take things too seriously, because that’s something that I have to work at. Seeing you laugh at yourself, makes it easier for me to lighten up too.

In the past few years, I have had the privilege of developing a friendship with you. While I’m so thankful for that, I am much more thankful that you choose to be a mother first. So many parents refuse to take the hard stances and fight the hard fights and while I know it wasn’t easy or fun, I’m so thankful that you choose to do what was right and be my mom first. I wouldn’t be the woman that I am today without those standards, so Thank You.

When I think back and determine which moments with you that I am most grateful for, I can honestly say that they are the ones where I knew that I made you proud of me and did something worthwhile. I remember the day that I had Brookelynne and watching you hold her after everyone had left and seeing how truly proud of me you were. I’m so grateful that the Lord has allowed you this ‘borrowed time’ to spend meeting and knowing my children.

Most of all, I am thankful for the woman that you have been in our lives. None of us are perfect, but you have always strived to seek the Lord’s wisdom in raising us and to point us to Him. I have grown up watching you put what seemed like unwavering faith into our Lord and His sovereignty even when things seemed impossible to overcome. While I don’t remember you saying the words, I remember knowing that you truly believed that if the Lord chose to take you away from us, that that must be the best thing for us and that you wouldn’t waiver in your faith if that was what He did. What a testimony that has been! I remember you praying for us, not just saying you would or had, but actually praying for us, in front of us. Each night you put us, our futures, our mates, our problems and our successes before the Lord, and asked that His will be done. Each day I pray for my children and I pray for their salvation and for their mates. I pray for their futures and that they will live their lives honoring and glorifying the Lord. That’s a heritage you started.

When I look back on my wedding day, I remember the look on your face when they called you to the dance floor to dance with me. You were so confused and surprised, and while unconventional, I had known the first time I heard that song that I had to dance to it with you on that day, because you truly are “Somebody’s Hero”. You’re mine.


I love you ALLLLLL Much!
Jenny  "

Hope you like them!