HAPPY MOMMA’S DAY!

May 13, 2007 in random

My mother is one of the most amazing women in the world. Really. Sometimes I just look at her and wonder how I got so lucky to have her as my mom. She’s incredibly smart, fun, light-hearted, diligent, passionate, loving and self-less. She grew up on a farm in Ohio with 5 brothers and became a nun out of highschool, which she graduated from at the top of her class. After she graduated college and before making her final vows, she got radically saved, met my dad during the Jesus Movement in the 70’s and the rest…well, the rest is below, from my point of view, anyways. For each of my 28 years, my mom has impacted me beyond measure.  I want to share a snapshot of that impact below. Here’s to you mom! I love you!

1979 – January 12, 1:18am to be exact. My mom goes through excruciating pain once again to bring her second child (me!) into the world. Thanks mom!

1980 - My sister Megan is 3. I’m almost 2 and I’m a handful. We go to Lake Chitaqua in New York for vacation and I wander off in the hotel, climbing out of a window and up on the fire escape, where I peacefully remain unseen for about an hour while the entire hotel is frantically searching for me. Sorry, mom!

1981 – July 1st, My brother Nathan is born. Lots of diaper changes, cheerios, and Sesame Street for the 3 of us kids, not a lot of sleep, fun, or adult conversation for my mom.

1982 – I’m 3. I wander into my parents’ room in the middle of the night, half asleep, go into their closet and pee on my mom’s high heels. Oh, the things moms have to deal with! Sorry again, mom!

1983 – I’m 4. My mom and I make a book together. It’s called my “God Book.” I still have it – it’s a book about who God is and His love for me – complete with pictures that we drew together, collages, Bible verses and my own commentary. It is precious and one of my favorite memories from my childhood.

1984 – I’m 5 and I’m starting kindergarten. My mom packs my first lunch for me, which she does not stop doing for the next 9 years.

1985 - I’m 6 and my mom teaches me how to carve “J-E-S-U-S” into our pumpkins on Halloween. I think she is the coolest for this.

1986 – I’m 7 and I love cottage cheese. My mom buys me a strawberry shortcake thermos and puts cottage cheese in it for me to take to school. I know, weird, but that’s what I wanted and she made it happen because she loves me.

1987 - I want to play the piano. My mom lets me take lessons. I write thousands of songs, which she patiently listens to over and over again. They are all basically the same song with different creative names, like “The lamp”, “The dog,” and “The bus.” My mom made me feel like I was the best piano player ever.

1988 – I’m 9 and I’m in the fourth grade. My mom tirelessly accompanies me to my softball games, basketball games, helps me start a neighborhood newspaper, let’s me get my own library card and buys me a gerbil, which promptly escapes it’s cage.

1989 – I’m 10 and we get a dog!!! This is so cool, but means that my mom will pretty much take care of the dog while she’s at home, my dad’s at work and we’re at school. She cleans up after it, feeds it, walks it, housebreaks it and grooms it. From then on, the dog would only ever go to my mom when it needed something. The dog would sleep in my room, but in the morning, it would jump down off of my bed, go into my parents’ room and wake my mom up to let it outside. This was dumbfounding to her. Thanks, mom!

1990- I’m 11 and I switch schools. I’m now going to a Catholic school. My mom stands in line for over an hour at “Schoolbells” to get my new uniform. 

1991- I’m in the 7th grade and the most important thing to me is making the tryouts for the cheerleading squad. I ask my mom to pray with me and of course she does. We drive to the tryouts, praying out loud the whole way. This made me feel like my little 12-yr-old dreams were of major importance. I made the tryouts! That meant 2 years of games, practices, and competitions that my mom faithfully accompanied me to. Not to mention all the pom-poms and tennis shoes she bought for me!

1992 – I’m in the 8th grade and we have a house fire. We live in a hotel for 2 months. This is the best thing that has ever happened to me – swimming pool, room service delivering chicken fingers and jello, air conditioning – it’s like vacation! Looking back on it, I know it must have been stressful for my mom to try to keep everything running smoothly, but she never showed any signs of strain. She was always happy, light-hearted and positive, and the whole experience was actually fun because of that.

1993 - I’m a freshman in highschool. My mom is still packing me a lunch – every school day.

1994 – I’m 15. I really want to go to a party with my friends but my mom tells me I have to go to this meeting at church to hear a man from Toronto speak. I am so mad. I get radically touched at the meeting and experience the power of the Holy Spirit for the first time. Thanks for making me go, mom!

1995 – I’m 16. My mom listens to me talk about the boy I like every night. She helps me through all the craziness.

1996 -I’m 17 and I think I know everything and I don’t understand why my mom is trying to “ruin” my life.  She patiently loves me through my selfish immaturity.

1997 – My mom cries when they drop me off at college – Bowling Green State University. I don’t understand why she’s crying, but it makes me feel really loved.

1998- I’m a sophomore in college. I come home for the summer with dreadlocks and patchwork clothes, blaring Phish around the clock. My mom smiles and is very gracious about it and doesn’t make me feel like the dirty hippie I was.

1999 – I’m 20 years old and making terrible decisions. My mom prays for me every day, and pursues me tirelessly. I didn’t want to hear it. She never gave up on me.

2000 - 21 years old – Still making bad decisions, worse than ever. My mom still praying for me, still speaking truth to me, still loving me. I’m still rotten and impatient with her. She is still kind.

2001 – I’m 22. Jesus strikes my heart massively and I repent and turn. I drop out of school and move back to Cleveland. My mom was my biggest cheerleader, supporter and friend that year. She helped me get back on track and “make straight paths for my feet.” I want to cry just thinking about that year. She reminded me of the parable in Luke of the prodigal son returning home. Her heart was wide open to me.

2002 – 23 yrs. old – My mom hires me to work for her – she was the Executive Director of an abstinence until marriage education organization. I loved working with my mom. She taught us teachers how to teach. I learned so much from her and grew to respect her even more, seeing how hard she worked to make a way for what she believed in. She has changed careers since then, but the impact of what she accomplished is still felt in Cleveland schools. She transformed that system. I am so proud of her.

2003 - I’m 24. I express to my parents that I want more of God. They suggest I do an internship at IHOP. I do “Fire in the Night.” This year is crazy for my heart – if you’ve ever done an IHOP internship, you know what I’m talking about. My mom poured herself into me and helped me through my issues while helping my sister plan her wedding – no small thing. 

2004 – I’m 25. More than ever before, I feel like I’m friends with my mom. We talk about life, dreams, ideas – we share things. I realize that not only does she love me, she likes me. She treats me like a woman and I realize I am one.

2005 – My mom changes careers. She is now much more busy and has more opportunities to do what she loves – influence public policy through writing and speaking. I am amazed at how brilliant she is. I could listen to her talk about all matters political for hours. The thing I love about her is that she’ll be explaining in detail the ins and outs of government and at the drop of a hat she can talk about a cute pair of shoes she saw or the latest episode of 24. I look up to her so much and have so much fun with her.

2006 – I’m 27. To date, the hardest year of my life. I’m on the phone with my mom every day, and she is incredibly attentive, comforting and patient. Talking to her gives me perspective in the midst of confusion.

2007- My mom is more beautiful than ever, inside and out. She is still as giving, kindhearted and patient as she was when I was 3 and needed a band-aid and a hug. Despite her never-ending schedule, in which she travels all over the country, she always picks up the phone when I call and makes time for me. She still teaches me, encourages me, grounds me and loves me with all of her heart. She has poured her life into me and has helped me get through the hardest times in my life. She’s the best mom in the world. I look forward to a lifetime of friendship with her and I know I will be the better for it. I HAVE AN AWESOME MOM!

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!