Mother's Day!

 I have several of these type photos,

 not one where they all are looking.

So

this is my new Blog header photo!

I said "smile!"

 My Grandma's hands!

(she's almost 91)

 My beautiful Grandma!

(my dad's mom)

 My mom and Grandma

(not her mom, but she calls her mom.

 My grandma was talking about how much she loves her children's spouses

call her "mom". I like that too)

 4 generation photo!
Click on the photos to see them better!

 Nice boob shelf there Jamie.

My little sister Brenna!

We are almost 9 years apart

My little brother Jordan.

I was 16 when he was born.

He's getting married in September

He shot an arrow, and then shot another one 

and the 2nd shot landed exactly in the 1st arrow
(he's showing all of us here)

 Isn't he handsome?

He's so cuuuuute.  

He's the baby of the family.

Jordy.

One of my girls was telling me how he played "tag" with them

yesterday.  I thought this odd, as Jordan is not known for speed.

At least when he was growing up anyway.

I said to the girls, "Jordan ran and chased you?" 

They said, "Oh, no, he kind of walked."  

That sounds like the Jordan I know.

I have another brother, John,
 (he's one year younger than me)
who was not able to come,
it was also the MN fishing opener so...

 The kiddos and me

Already cleaned that window this morning, thanks though.

 Caught on camera mid "Old MacDonald had a farm"

 My kids are weird.

She's playing that she's sleeping.

 I have no idea why.

 But she sure is a sweetie pie.

 Individual shots

 If I sit, he brings me books constantly

She decorated the house with balloons and streamers for me!

I love a teen who still gives tons of hugs.

I cherish every one.

Happy Monday everyone!

We All Have a Mother!

 Not everyone looks forward to each holiday,

has a family where everyone gets along

 and is happy to see each other.

For a lot of people, 

holidays are hard.

They often are stressful.

They bring up pain

either from broken relationships, 

dysfunctional family life growing up, 

or even loss.

I have several friends who have 

lost their mothers, some very recent 

and some years ago.
This holiday in particular, has a double sword,
because many women are out there in pain
because they'd love to be mothers
but for some reason are not.

 We all have a mother, our Heavenly Mother

Christ's Mother, 

He gave to us on the Cross

 "When Jesus saw his mother,

 and the disciple whom he loved standing near,

 he said to his mother,

 'Woman, behold, your son!'.

 Then he said to the disciple,

 'Behold, your mother!’"

 (John 19:26-27).

I've always loved Mary.
I've never had a problem with it.
She's the Mother of Jesus.
I've always loved Jesus.
In fact my love for Jesus is a yearning,
like I can't love Him enough.

"Because God has made us for Himself, 
our hearts are restless until they rest in Him."
-St Augustine of Hippo 

I do not have the same feelings towards Mary.
I love her, I feel love from her,
I trust her, but I do NOT yearn for her.
Her love is always there, as a mother's love should be.

The Hail Mary is biblical, 

the first part comes straight from the Bible, 

the 2nd part is asking for her intercession.

She always leads us to her Son, Jesus.

All the people I know that have a love for the Blessed  Mother,

have an even deeper love for Christ, her Son.

She loves you and knows you as a mother should

For all of you out there hurting this weekend, 

May our Mother Mary cover you in her mantle,

wrapping her love around you, 

and bring you to her Son, 

the way only she can.

It is so fitting that May is known as the month of Mary
A month to honor our Blessed Mother

God bless you 

Happy Mother's day !

Mother's Day 2011

Very blessed arms
Flowers, cards, kisses and hugs.
Jedi hugged me every time he saw me (about 100 times yesterday I estimate)
I got what I asked for
It was wonderful!


Daddy put up the trampoline and now the kiddos are never bored!
But
we do have new fights.....


I decided this can be my "BEFORE" picture.
There will be an "AFTER" picture.

My mother

My father.

He is now smoking cigars.

Just like his father did.

Mary Hannah kept saying

"My daddy doesn't smoke."

"Can we go in the puddle?"

Me, mom, my little sister, Brenna (she's 33)

I am the oldest

My brother Jordan (he's like 25, the baby)

I was 16 when he was born.
He is graduating from welding school this Thursday.

He's been with his girlfriend Sarah for almost 4 years.

My other little brother, John, in the background. (he's 40, I'm 41)

He's married and has 3 kiddos, ages 10-13

Here's a picture of my mom her senior year, in the spirit of Margaret and a few other bloggers I've seen out there. I wish they still made photos like this!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's day!