Momma
I have learned much about strength, independence and accomplishment from my mom. She is a natural leader and always kept things in motion in our home. She is creative and has a natural knack for using a combination of skills and materials on hand, and carries a continuous "make-it-work with what we have" attitude! She can bring the sparkle out of scraps! When mom has an idea, nothing can stop her in finding a way to bring it to fruition...even if the materials are not available! We were never wealthy people, but it sometimes seemed like we were better off than we might have been, simply because mom made a lot out of a little!
Holidays and birthdays were a special time when she often got very creative in order to make memories with our family. There were games, gifts, food and fun during those events and without fail included something home-made that made us smile. To this day, she continues the traditions of games, gifts, and interesting activities that bring the family into a one-room circle and include intermittent laughter! There are almost always prizes -and surprises!
Mom led an upright life, with an emphasis on righteous living, honesty and living by the rules. We always knew that if there was trouble anywhere but home with us kids, then there would surely be more when we got home! She was not shy about "swinging a spoon - or flyswatter" when we got out of line! As a result, I grew to know and respect authority - and I am thankful for that!
We were raised in a little church in a small town where the Sunday School teachers, including she, taught me as much about the Bible and it's stories as anyone could have. Applying it, of course, became the job of each student, but she was very diligent to tell the stories each week in ways that our young and busy minds could absorb. There were typically challenging charts with opportunities to earn stickers and prizes, flannel graph stories, and hands-on activities for us visual learners, and so I (and the others) always enjoyed her classes.
My mom was quite a seamstress and made most of our clothes when we were young - and even as we grew into our teen years, she would somehow manage to put together everything from costumes, to outfits to prom dresses! Her sewing skills didn't end with clothing...she has made quilts, afghans, curtains, table cloths, and many other crafty items for decoration or to sell at various craft events.
This lady is a fisherman! Our family has spent countless hours on the banks of rivers, creeks, lakes and streams in the southeastern parts of Missouri and surrounding states! Her joy would be to pull in the biggest catfish or bass on a given trip - and it wasn't uncommon that she would do just that! These days it also isn't uncommon for her to get up at the break of dawn, drive to Meramec Springs and catch her allotted number of trout in an hour or so and then drive home before noon!
Though dad has been the hunter for the most part, mom, in the recent few years has brought home a few prizes herself, hunting deer and turkey! She is an outdoors person and knows much about how to utilize things of nature. I remember our family mushroom hunting, digging worms for fishing bait, squirrel and rabbit hunting, picking things like poke weed, persimmons, sassafras roots, and blackberries to bring home for meals and treats! Mom was perfectly capable of doing all the above, keeping the grocery spending low and the menu full of variety!
Mom has always been involved to some extent with the community, volunteering to lead our 4-H club, entering things in the judging contests at the county fair and seeing to it that we too would have some things made, baked or put together in order to win a ribbon or even some dollars! Of course as we grew into Jr. High and High School, she was there to make sure our band uniform was clean and our cheer-leading outfits were made with letters sewn on! There were the class parties, parades, and plays that typically needed her backing, sewing, and constant "taxi" service! She was there, and she and dad, without fail, sat through games, concerts, recitals, musicals, and various school and sports activities cheering us on!
These days mom volunteers at the Senior Center in town, cleaning, preparing craft activities, putting parties and programs together, meeting with the Red Hat Club and just being available to serve in whatever way she can. She has helped many years at the voting polls and rarely misses a blood drive. This lady comes complete with a friendly heart and a willingness to offer her best. You can count on her to be loyal, prompt, hard-working and true to whatever cause she might be pursuing. She does not compromise in believing in her God and is committed to serve and obey Him and the truths presented in the Bible with her best efforts.
I am blessed to have a mother who values good and eternal things - one who loves God and knows what treasures lie in following His commands. I pray that these years will indeed be golden for her and that she will find much of the joy she has sought to provide for others returned and residing in her own heart! My prayers also include health and happiness for her as she recognizes the "wealth" to which she has and continues to contribute - in her own family and with her friends.
Happy Birthday, momma!
