Did you all have a nice Mother’s Day? We sure did at our house. With the addition of this new baby girl, it has really changed everything for our family and we took lots of family pics to remember the occasion. The older we get, the more we know that we cannot take any of this for granted. I’ve told you about my mother before, but really I don’t think words even adequately express how much she means to me and my family. She is without a doubt one of the best mothers out there. God might have broken the mold with her, although I think her own mother was such a blessing too from what I’ve heard. I never knew her, as she died when I was very little.
Growing up, I used to think my parents were so mean. We were the girls who didn’t get to do anything fun, the preacher’s kids. Back then, it was a sin to go to movies or dances or anything heathen like that. Smoking, drinking and cussing were definitely frowned upon. Everyone else got to have fun, but not us. We grew up with lots of rules and I used to think that everyone else had way more fun parents than we did. Why couldn’t our parents be cool like that and let us do whatever we wanted? It was wishful thinking back then, but now that I’m older and wiser (I hope!), I’ve certainly changed my tune on that. They did relax things a bit when Lauren came along and got into her teen years.
Now, I know that these Godly parents of ours had rules for our own good. They made us mind and do what they thought was the right thing, using Biblical principles as their guide and not what everyone else was doing . It was pretty boring to me back then, but now I wouldn’t change a thing. Now I know what a fine example of parenting they set for us and we were so blessed to have them as our parents. Mom is a special lady, with so much love, patience, and the most gentle spirit that you would ever meet. She’s an angel in mom’s clothing and I’m so glad that she is MY mom. I know my sister and my niece feel the same way.
I know she felt the love yesterday, just as we all did and it was really a special moment. I’ll be sharing a special family moment at the bottom of the post, so get the tissues ready!
My sister’s backyard has been Mother’s Day central for the past several years. She and Bruce have worked so hard on this backyard and it comes in handy for special occasions like this. My sister set up a big table for all of us. There were lots of folks there on Mother’s Day this year, including friends of my sister’s family and her husband, Bruce’s parents and brother’s family were there too. We always celebrate with them as well.
She had pretty hydrangeas on the table.
It ended up being a beautiful day to eat outside.
I’ve showed you all pics of their backyard before, but here it is again. A tropical jungle with a pond and waterfall.
Rock walls and lots of landscaping.
I captured this special pic of mom and dad and this one really shows off their personalities.
Lauren and her baby, Parker.  We all just can’t get enough of this sweet girl. She’s getting big so fast and has changed so much in the last month since we’ve seen her.
Lauren and Renee fixed a delicious lunch of pork chop spaghetti and salad. It was all yummy, as usual!
I love this pic of mom and Parker, with Lauren looking on. Sweet times, these are!
Dad doing his favorite thing, eating dessert.
Strawberry shortcake with pound cake and fresh strawberries.
As always, we girls had to take a pic on Mother’s Day to document the day. This time we have a sweet little bundle to join us and that made it extra special. We even talked ahead about what color we should all wear so the pics look better and I’m happy we did that. We will treasure these photos for years to come. Comes in handy having a blog to document all of this specialness!
We let Dad get in the pictures too. He has put up with all of us girls for a long, long time and has learned that it’s a hopeless cause if we all want him to do something. He may as well go ahead and give in now. The estrogen was running high at our house growing up.
Mom and that sweet baby girl with the most perfect lips ever.
She’s just getting cuter and cuter and of course, we all had to take turns holding her. Mom usually gets first dibs.
But I got my share of Parker time too. She’s a doll baby!
I got my share of smooches this time, kissing those sweet cheeks. She is so fun now, cooing and smiling.
After lunch, we gave mom her Mother’s Day gifts and this one was a big hit as you can imagine. We wondered where she would put it as her walls are filled with mostly pics of Lauren at various stages. We decided that a Lauren pic might have to come down to make room for this one. Lauren doesn’t mind being bumped for this angel.
The last gift that Lauren gave mom was a card with an enclosed note. Lauren came in last week and has been here for a few days. Mom was keeping Parker for awhile as Lauren had some errands to run. She was leaving but came back into the den where mom was holding Parker and this is what Lauren saw and noted on her Facebook page last week. I was there right after it happened too and got all teary-eyed during the moment.
When mom read this note, she began to weep, as did all of us.
Lauren’s words to mom:
When I walked in and saw these two napping and snuggling, I assumed it was their typical cuteness…until I saw Nana’s lips moving and heard her whispering. I got closer and realized she was praying for Parker, just as she has always done for me. It will be many many years before Parker understands how special it is to have a grandmother who cloaks her in prayer every morning on her knees in front of the worn armchair in her bedroom, and I realize that Nana may not be with us when that day comes. For as long as I live though, this little girl will always know how privileged she is to have come from such a meek but mighty warrior of God.
And that, my friends, sums it all up. Happy Mother’s Day! This one was extra special.Â
Our God is an awesome and caring Savior.
What awesome pictures Rhonda. So full of love and cuteness. Thanks for sharing.
How lovely and so so sweet! Nothing is better than spending time with family!!!! Oh I loved your mother’s expressions… got a little teary eyed!
Precious memories!!
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing with us!
There is something truly special about a praying mother! Sunday I tearfully thanked my mom for being a praying mother. She has prayed over all of us, including the grandchildren and great grandchildren for more than 50 years. And I have to agree with you regarding having strict parents. We didn’t complain as it wouldn’t have done any good! But I am grateful for the upbringing I had when I see how parents are today. Thanks for sharing your amazing day. Blessings to you and your family!
The bishop of our church once told me, “There are no prayers as powerful as that of a righteous and loving mother.” I believe that. And that goes for grandmas, and great grandmas too.
Just curious, is Lauren the only grandchild in the family?
Yes, Susan, she is the only grandchild. I don’t have children. So you can see why she is so special, as well as her new baby. She bonded with my parents at an early age, since her mom was a single mother.
What a wonderful blessing it is for you all to have her, and now her baby girl! (ps >> Our family loves pork chop spaghetti) 🙂
Oh, the happy tears! So sweet. Your mom is a Proverbs 31 woman! I got great news on Mother’s Day…I am going to be a first-time grandma in December!!!! I would like to leave this kind of legacy to my daughters and their children, too.
Oh my gosh…….that leaves me teary and speechless.
What a wonderful day you all had. I wish I could have another Mother’s Day with my Mom. She has been in a nursing home since 2007, as she is an Alzheimer patient. I come from a large family and we always had many people at Mom’s for Mother’s Day. Now, my Dad and baby Brother have passed away and it seems our family has fallen apart. Enjoy your parents each and every day …..You are so blessed.
Love ~ Love ~ Love~~~That’s special for sure.
Hello Rhoda,
I have not been to your blog in a while. However, this morning, your dad ran “fresh in my mind.” I stopped to pray for him. That prompted me to read your blog today.
What a special day full of many wonderful memories! So glad your family had this special time together.
I have enjoyed your blog since 2008. It is always a breath of fresh air. Thanks for being yourself.
What a special day, special note and special photos to document it all. God bless you all.
Tears coming down here….this September I will become a grandmother for the first time. Your mother is a wonderful example. I want to pray for my grandchild daily as she has. That’s not the grandmothers that I had, but my mother raised me with rules and love just like yours did. I know the power of prayer, and little Parker is so blessed.
Rhonda ,I loved seeing the photos of the mum,s and your special dad offcourse ,Parker is adorable ,like others I also have tears running down my face ,
what joy your mum is having with baby Parker to cuddle .
All right I am sitting here at work crying and trying to look away so no one will see me!! What gorgeous pictures I love that you all wore pink it is so pretty and that beautiful baby!! But the one thing what really got to me was your mom holding that beautiful baby and praying!! What a awesome family you have. I am so glad that you have these memories of your sweet parents cherish every minute you have with them!!
My daughter and I were both crying at Lauren’s note. But what a legacy for your family to have such a godly mother and father! And a great grandmother who prays for her newborn granddaughter. What a blessing!
Thank you so much Rhoda, for showing the world that “…because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world”. 1 John 4:4
Such a joy to read your blog and enjoy the beautiful pictures. From beginning to end…..I thoroughly enjoyed your Mother’s Day! Beautifully done.
Wow. Rhoda, you truly have a gift for sharing- yes-sharing your home and home making hints and recipes galore- but thank you for sharing your family with us as well- for those of us who don’t have our parents, I am sure I speak for those who enjoy seeing you treasure your parents as you do. Thank you so much for wanting to share them with us- and thanks to your Mom and Dad for being so ‘friendly’ and wiling to expose themselves to us. I am sure the whole internet thing and computers are were an adjustment for them. I have written to you before- how I LOVE seeing your photos of your parents- especially closeups of their hands. Seeing pics of your Dad’s carpenter thumbnails reminds me of my Dad’s, whom I lost when I was 6. I can still remember those bruised fingernails! And I never realized how much Lauren resembles your Dad! And that baby? Beautiful! And that note? Took my breath away and left me only with tears. You are truly blessed to have such a wonderful family and more than blessed to know it…
A beautiful post! And, BTW, I think that Parker looks like her Great-Granddaddy.
Thank you for sharing your special Mother’s Day. May God continue to bless each of you.