I know as well as any mother how seemingly thankless our job of raising children can be. One of my online friends posted this in a forum, and I immediately thought of all the mothers I could share with. This is an amazing read!
Invisible Mother
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'
Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this??
Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'
Some days I'm a crystal ball; 'Where's my other sock?, Where's my phone?, What's for dinner?'
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history, music and literature -but now, they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. She had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when she turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'With admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: 1) No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. 2) These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. 3) They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. 4) The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A story of legend in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was Almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does.
No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, no Cub Scout meeting, no last minute errand is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.
I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, he'd say, 'You're gonna love it there...'
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible mothers.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Forever in My Heart
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| Robert Clayton (BoBo) Williams |
April 9, 1987 -- February 25, 2009
730 days...17,520 hours...1,051,200 minutes...63,072,200 seconds
Gremlins in the House!!!
Gremlins...that's the ONLY possible explanation for what happened last night. As I left the gym, I made sure to pick up my cellphone. I don't have good service at home, but can get texts and that number is the one I give my students. Almost as soon as I got in the truck, I got a text...
I arrived home 30 minutes later. Robbie is at the river for the rest of the week, so I was unloading the truck by myself (actually, I usually unload by myself...but I digress). I got my purse. I got my computer case. I got the bag with my school clothes. As soon as I got in the house I fed Chiclet, the 5 pound ,6 inch tall guard dog. I got settled, and then realized I needed to send a text about ads in the Miss CCA program. No phone. No problem...I must have left it in the truck. Back out to the truck to look...no phone. Hmmmm...back in the house to retrace steps... I had stopped in the laundry room to feed Chiclet, so I looked there...no phone. Just inside the kitchen door I had laid my keys on the counter...no phone. Next I went to the dining room to check the thermostat...no phone. Thinking I had left it in my gym pants pocket, I resorted to digging through the clothes hamper...no phone. Imagine how ridiculous I must have looked to the fireflies and dogs as I went back outside to the truck. This time I took Robbie's brand new, superduper LED worklight with me. I went over the inside of the truck and all around it with the light...radioactive-like glow emitting from the truck. I get tickled just thinking about it. I found my sense of humor. I did not find my phone. Back in the house...call my cell from the house phone...no phone.
So this morning, I made plans to call at&t and cancel my phone. Obviously, someone had been lurking outside and, when I came in, he snagged my phone. I know how ridiculous that sounds, but NO PHONE could be found!!
I picked up Grace and she played happily in the back with her mp3 player and Leapster. Suddenly, about 20 miles from school, the phone started ringing!!! Then the "doorbell" indicating a text message started sounding!! "Grace, where is that coming from??" "I don't know, ZiZi! I promise I don't have the phone!" I wasn't accusing her, but I could NOT find the phone. Once we got to school, I went on a search. Looking as ridiculous as I did last night, I stood on my head to find the phone ...and there it was -- underneath the PASSENGER seat, W AY BACK toward the back! How in the world did that happen? I already told you.
It's gremlins.
I arrived home 30 minutes later. Robbie is at the river for the rest of the week, so I was unloading the truck by myself (actually, I usually unload by myself...but I digress). I got my purse. I got my computer case. I got the bag with my school clothes. As soon as I got in the house I fed Chiclet, the 5 pound ,6 inch tall guard dog. I got settled, and then realized I needed to send a text about ads in the Miss CCA program. No phone. No problem...I must have left it in the truck. Back out to the truck to look...no phone. Hmmmm...back in the house to retrace steps... I had stopped in the laundry room to feed Chiclet, so I looked there...no phone. Just inside the kitchen door I had laid my keys on the counter...no phone. Next I went to the dining room to check the thermostat...no phone. Thinking I had left it in my gym pants pocket, I resorted to digging through the clothes hamper...no phone. Imagine how ridiculous I must have looked to the fireflies and dogs as I went back outside to the truck. This time I took Robbie's brand new, superduper LED worklight with me. I went over the inside of the truck and all around it with the light...radioactive-like glow emitting from the truck. I get tickled just thinking about it. I found my sense of humor. I did not find my phone. Back in the house...call my cell from the house phone...no phone.
So this morning, I made plans to call at&t and cancel my phone. Obviously, someone had been lurking outside and, when I came in, he snagged my phone. I know how ridiculous that sounds, but NO PHONE could be found!!
I picked up Grace and she played happily in the back with her mp3 player and Leapster. Suddenly, about 20 miles from school, the phone started ringing!!! Then the "doorbell" indicating a text message started sounding!! "Grace, where is that coming from??" "I don't know, ZiZi! I promise I don't have the phone!" I wasn't accusing her, but I could NOT find the phone. Once we got to school, I went on a search. Looking as ridiculous as I did last night, I stood on my head to find the phone ...and there it was -- underneath the PASSENGER seat, W AY BACK toward the back! How in the world did that happen? I already told you.
It's gremlins.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Gymnastics Meets, Birthday Parties, and River Time
What a great weekend this has been! Lauren and I went to United Gymstars in Montgomery with Ashley for her meet. She did so well! 9 on bars!!! And her highest floor score in 2 years!! Great job! Then we made a flying trip home for a second special event.
Tyler (my great nephew) had his first birthday party Saturday afternoon. We all had a blast! Kecia and her crew did a great job of decorating the gym in his green and yellow frog theme. Robbie had gone to pick up Dylan, Daniel, and Kaylee, so all of ours were together. I also discovered the trick for making Lauren almost invisible to Carsyn...feed her cupcakes!! I'll bet Lauren walked by 100 times and Carsyn never even noticed!
The kids slept great that night (worn out from the bouncy house I'm sure), and I got up early Sunday morning to finish up some projects. Robbie and I had decided to keep the bouncy house up for Children's Church...the kids don't get that many chances to play on it, so we used it while we had it. Sad note...Kennleigh could not play...she fell off the horse Saturday afternoon and broke her wrist :( I think she's determined to be the better person, though...she keeps asking to go feed an apple to the horse she fell off :)
Sunday afternoon Robbie and I headed to the river. There is some work we wanted to get done before the swimming/fishing/tubing/boating season gets in full swing. We were so excited that Mama and Daddy decided to come on over to spend the night. Robbie went to work Monday, but Mama, Daddy, and I did our own thing at the river. It looks so good!!! Kitchen cabinets are painted, windows and doors have new casings, new curtains are up, the pantry is freshly stocked and organized, the refrigerator is stocked, and the laundry area is cleaned and organized.
I was reminded yesterday of what fun it is being a child. It doesn't matter how old I get, when I'm with Mama and Daddy I'm just their kid. I'm at that wonderful time in my life when I can do grown up things (drive, paint by myself, cook bacon) and still love being a child. I have the most awesome parents...it is still my goal to grow up and be just like them.
Tyler (my great nephew) had his first birthday party Saturday afternoon. We all had a blast! Kecia and her crew did a great job of decorating the gym in his green and yellow frog theme. Robbie had gone to pick up Dylan, Daniel, and Kaylee, so all of ours were together. I also discovered the trick for making Lauren almost invisible to Carsyn...feed her cupcakes!! I'll bet Lauren walked by 100 times and Carsyn never even noticed!
The kids slept great that night (worn out from the bouncy house I'm sure), and I got up early Sunday morning to finish up some projects. Robbie and I had decided to keep the bouncy house up for Children's Church...the kids don't get that many chances to play on it, so we used it while we had it. Sad note...Kennleigh could not play...she fell off the horse Saturday afternoon and broke her wrist :( I think she's determined to be the better person, though...she keeps asking to go feed an apple to the horse she fell off :)
Sunday afternoon Robbie and I headed to the river. There is some work we wanted to get done before the swimming/fishing/tubing/boating season gets in full swing. We were so excited that Mama and Daddy decided to come on over to spend the night. Robbie went to work Monday, but Mama, Daddy, and I did our own thing at the river. It looks so good!!! Kitchen cabinets are painted, windows and doors have new casings, new curtains are up, the pantry is freshly stocked and organized, the refrigerator is stocked, and the laundry area is cleaned and organized.
I was reminded yesterday of what fun it is being a child. It doesn't matter how old I get, when I'm with Mama and Daddy I'm just their kid. I'm at that wonderful time in my life when I can do grown up things (drive, paint by myself, cook bacon) and still love being a child. I have the most awesome parents...it is still my goal to grow up and be just like them.
Aren't those frog plates the cutest things?
Kecia and Berkeley, Kelly and Tyler
Karissa helping the kids
Kecia and Tyler opening gifts
Vicki and Casey...not helping anybody :) Just having fun!
Tyler's signature plate I made for him
Look at all those gifts...Casey did the little chair
Can anyone be happier than a 1 year old with a cake of his own?
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Championship Games, Here We Come!!
Crenshaw Christian Academy girls and boys played in the Final Four basketball tournament today at Huntingdon College. We won!!!! Both games!!!! To say we are excited is a complete and total understatement!
Tomorrow we go back to play the championship games. The girls will play Coosa Valley and the boys will play Ellwood. Both teams will really have to play hard to win!!
Grace and I went today to cheer the teams on...in her mind, that is the ONLY reason they won. We listened to "Justin Beaver" and "Gusher" sing the same songs 1000 times (that is NOT an exaggeration) on the way there and back. I listened to her read her book Martha Speaks (which she told me was made possible by viewers like me :) ). I tried hard to focus only on this year, these teams...but my mind sometimes wanders.
It's hard not to think that two years ago, Robbie and I attended the championship game for the boys and were so excited when they won. Less than a week later, our lives were completely changed when we lost our own sweet basketball player.
And so we'll cheer the Cougars on tomorrow, and I'll find peace in knowing that if heaven is all we love, Robert is happily playing his own game. Nothin' but net, BoBo...nothin' but net.
Tomorrow we go back to play the championship games. The girls will play Coosa Valley and the boys will play Ellwood. Both teams will really have to play hard to win!!
Grace and I went today to cheer the teams on...in her mind, that is the ONLY reason they won. We listened to "Justin Beaver" and "Gusher" sing the same songs 1000 times (that is NOT an exaggeration) on the way there and back. I listened to her read her book Martha Speaks (which she told me was made possible by viewers like me :) ). I tried hard to focus only on this year, these teams...but my mind sometimes wanders.
It's hard not to think that two years ago, Robbie and I attended the championship game for the boys and were so excited when they won. Less than a week later, our lives were completely changed when we lost our own sweet basketball player.
And so we'll cheer the Cougars on tomorrow, and I'll find peace in knowing that if heaven is all we love, Robert is happily playing his own game. Nothin' but net, BoBo...nothin' but net.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
The Jumperline
Finally...the last Christmas present has been given. Yes, people, I said CHRISTMAS. We bought a little trampoline for all the grandchildren at Christmas, but the weather was sooooo cold and nasty. God blessed us this weekend with a gorgeous Saturday and Sunday, so we made the big presentation. It was a hit!
And of course, we had to get some baseball time in there...
And of course, we had to get some baseball time in there...
Hard to tell by this picture that snow was in the forecast just a few days before, isn't it?
Finally, get this...I have been asking Robbie for almost TWO years to put the basketball goal up, and there was always some reason not to that day. So Dylan came up to me Saturday and asked why the basketball goal couldn't be put up. Quick-thinking me said, "Just ask PopPop." So he did...and Robbie got up RIGHT THEN and started digging the hole for the basketball goal. What the heck??? I'll take pictures after Robbie gets the concrete around it...maybe he can get to it before Dylan goes to college.
Tell the Good News!
Let's see, I promised to take notes on the pre-baptism week. I have never seen anyone sooooo excited to tell her good news! Grace met so many people at school with, "Guess what? It's only ____ more days until Sunday. That's when I'm getting baptized!"
There were lots of things going on during the week. We had gymnastics...she told everybody there. We went to the Elite 8 basketball game...she told everybody there. She called people on my cell phone to tell them she was going to be baptized. We had a little birthday party for a 1-year old at our church...she told everyone she was getting baptized in just a few minutes.
When the service was over (and she announced that she was "all wet" from "just regular water" and "it didn't hurt a bit,") her announcements changed. Now it's, "Guess what? I got baptized last Sunday!" Her excitement is so sweet!
There were lots of things going on during the week. We had gymnastics...she told everybody there. We went to the Elite 8 basketball game...she told everybody there. She called people on my cell phone to tell them she was going to be baptized. We had a little birthday party for a 1-year old at our church...she told everyone she was getting baptized in just a few minutes.
When the service was over (and she announced that she was "all wet" from "just regular water" and "it didn't hurt a bit,") her announcements changed. Now it's, "Guess what? I got baptized last Sunday!" Her excitement is so sweet!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
I Wanna Be Baptized!!!
That's what Grace threw her arms up in the air and screamed at Allen, our preacher and cousin, when he came into Children's Church this morning. How sweet! How rewarding!
To bring you up-to-date, Grace has known for a while that she wanted to be baptized, but she wanted to talk to "Uncle Allen" in Children's Church instead of going up in front of a big crowd at first. And can you blame her? Children's Church is a comfort zone, where she hears all the Bible stories and prays and learns about God and his marvelous ways. But it seemed like every weekend there was something going on and we waited. This week we were going to school and she said, "ZiZi, I hope you know I want to go to heaven. Now WHEN are you gonna get that man down there? I really want to get baptized before I'm seven!" (She just turned six on Jan. 24th.) So this morning at church I asked Josh if there was any reason Allen didn't need to talk to her today, and he said he didn't know of one.
Perhaps saying that Allen needed to talk to her is misleading. She did most of the talking. He stepped in, she made her big announcement, and then said, "But I didn't bring any extra clothes today." Allen responded, "Good, because we don't have any extra water today!" He was SOOOOO GOOD with her. At the end of the service, he sent Debbie, his wife, to ask us to come up. Grace was such a big girl!!! She went right up front and agreed that next Sunday would be perfect and that everyone could come around and love on her.
There are no words to describe the sweetness of the whole morning. My only regret -- I didn't know Vicki was sick and unable to be there. She would have cried like the rest of us (our family has had a real impact on the amount of leaking her tear ducts are able to do at the drop of a hat). Grace is truly Vicki's little mini-me--her hair and eyes and the way she talks is so much like Vicki. And then sometimes she looks EXACTLY like Josh. And she has always favored Lauren. Goodness, she's just a cutie pie!
Right after church we took the four bigger kids to Burger King to eat and play and meet Kandace. We had to pick up the rolls and chicken for a meal at the church for my sister-in-law's family--her grandmother died Friday. On the way, Grace wondered why we were going to Burger King. In her defense, she wanted to know if she should get excited about going in as opposed to BK being simply a drop off place. This is the conversation:
Grace: Ummm, ZiZi, why are we going to Burger King?
Daniel: (playfully) To eat, you little crazy!
Grace: (very seriously) Daniel, after I get baptized next week, I'm gonna be different. I'm not going to be able to let you say things like that. I'll have to say, "I'm sorry, Daniel, but Jesus is in my heart and we cannot say mean things or call people crazy." Today you can, but after next Sunday, no way. When I pop up out of the water, it'll be different.
It was the sweetest conversation! I can't wait to hear the conversations we'll have this week. I'll have to take notes :)
To bring you up-to-date, Grace has known for a while that she wanted to be baptized, but she wanted to talk to "Uncle Allen" in Children's Church instead of going up in front of a big crowd at first. And can you blame her? Children's Church is a comfort zone, where she hears all the Bible stories and prays and learns about God and his marvelous ways. But it seemed like every weekend there was something going on and we waited. This week we were going to school and she said, "ZiZi, I hope you know I want to go to heaven. Now WHEN are you gonna get that man down there? I really want to get baptized before I'm seven!" (She just turned six on Jan. 24th.) So this morning at church I asked Josh if there was any reason Allen didn't need to talk to her today, and he said he didn't know of one.
Perhaps saying that Allen needed to talk to her is misleading. She did most of the talking. He stepped in, she made her big announcement, and then said, "But I didn't bring any extra clothes today." Allen responded, "Good, because we don't have any extra water today!" He was SOOOOO GOOD with her. At the end of the service, he sent Debbie, his wife, to ask us to come up. Grace was such a big girl!!! She went right up front and agreed that next Sunday would be perfect and that everyone could come around and love on her.
There are no words to describe the sweetness of the whole morning. My only regret -- I didn't know Vicki was sick and unable to be there. She would have cried like the rest of us (our family has had a real impact on the amount of leaking her tear ducts are able to do at the drop of a hat). Grace is truly Vicki's little mini-me--her hair and eyes and the way she talks is so much like Vicki. And then sometimes she looks EXACTLY like Josh. And she has always favored Lauren. Goodness, she's just a cutie pie!
Right after church we took the four bigger kids to Burger King to eat and play and meet Kandace. We had to pick up the rolls and chicken for a meal at the church for my sister-in-law's family--her grandmother died Friday. On the way, Grace wondered why we were going to Burger King. In her defense, she wanted to know if she should get excited about going in as opposed to BK being simply a drop off place. This is the conversation:
Grace: Ummm, ZiZi, why are we going to Burger King?
Daniel: (playfully) To eat, you little crazy!
Grace: (very seriously) Daniel, after I get baptized next week, I'm gonna be different. I'm not going to be able to let you say things like that. I'll have to say, "I'm sorry, Daniel, but Jesus is in my heart and we cannot say mean things or call people crazy." Today you can, but after next Sunday, no way. When I pop up out of the water, it'll be different.
It was the sweetest conversation! I can't wait to hear the conversations we'll have this week. I'll have to take notes :)
Looks like an angel, don't you think?
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Can It Be True?
Really? Can it be true? No more need to wear full camo to school? No more pretend sick excuses only to talk about "the hunt" in the hallways? No more late night suppers after waiting for "the one" to show up? No more tree stands on the back of the truck? No more hard-earned money going for ammo, doe pee, and deer grunts? No more pictures on phones of mutilated Bambi look alikes? Enjoy the next few days you non-hunters, neglected wives, temporarily fatherless children, teachers of empty classrooms...turkey season is coming!!
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