Unconditional Love

Hugs, hand prints, and homemade cards...kisses and coupons for more hugs, back rubs, helping hands with a smile. What a sweet Mother's Day! These days are like snowflakes...each one unique, never to be equaled. My boys are reaching an age where they have their own ideas, and they enjoy being creative. I love to see what comes out of their imaginations, without any help from anyone. To Josh, I am the "best Mom in the whole wide world", and Jonathan loves me "so so much" and he "loves me like a flower"...and with the way that boy loves flowers, that's saying a bunch!

Just as we have unconditional love for our children, they have the same love for us. I am definitely not a Supermom. I have moments when I yell, and probably exasperate my children with all my "pick up this" and "clean that", but there is no doubt in my childrens' minds that they are loved immensely. When it comes right down to it, even with the occasional craziness in our home, and the debates on what is acceptable for attitudes and actions, and after all is said and done, there is so much love. I am so very thankful that I had parents that were free to express their love towards me, and told me often that they were proud of me. I never felt like I was a burden on my parents, or in the way, even with all eight kids romping around. When I think back over the years as a child in my parents' home, the sweet, special times shine so bright in my memory. Sure, there were times of stress and conflict as there is in any home where people are close to each other, but those times have faded into an almost non-existent realm. I guess it's all in what we choose to remember, and being that there were innumerable good times, and only a handful of difficult ones, it's easy to dwell on the good!

For Mother's Day, I bought my husband a present, because if it weren't for him and the Lord, I wouldn't have the privilege of all this love that has been lavished on me! So I found this book entitled "Raising a Modern-Day Knight". It's a focus on the family book, and he's really enjoying it. Luis and I had a very different childhood. I firmly believe that his upbringing was very instrumental in bringing him to the feet of Jesus. The Lord knows our spirit, and knows what each of us need to experience to return to Him. His parents did the best they knew how to do, and he is thankful for them, and always knew that his parents loved him, even if they could not express it openly. They both had an alcohol problem, and fighting was the norm instead of the exception. He grew up with a lot of strife all around him, and felt "on his own" at an early age. I looked up the meaning of Luis's name on line the other day. Luis means "famous warrior", and Fernando means "daring, adventurous".   I'm sure his mother had no idea the meaning of her middle son's name, but it fits him perfectly. Luis has always had drive and motivation. He has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. He ran his own store out of his Mom's garage when he was young. At age 14, he ran away from home and travelled by train from his town in the mountains between Guadalajara and Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, all the way to Huntington Park, California where his Uncle Hector lived. As a mother, whenever I hear this story, my heart sinks. I can't imagine one of my children running off. In my limited thinking, I pray that never happens. But I realize fully that these "trips" to LA changed my husbands life forever, and made him the man, and the Christian that he is today. One of my favorite quotes is "Nothing is ever wasted". I have to remember when I pray for my children, not to pray for the easy life, or the problem free life, but to pray for the life that will bring them so very close to the Lord. That is NOT easy.

So this Mother's Day was wonderful and reflective. Thank you, Lord for the opportunity to raise the children you have given us. I know they are yours, first, and a special gift from you to my husband and I. Continue to teach us, Lord, how to raise our children so they will follow you sincerely, with their whole hearts. As much as I strive to be the perfect parent, I acknowledge that you, Lord, are the only perfect parent, and I lean on your wisdom, and strength. Thank you for giving me unconditional love, even when I didn't deserve it, and teaching me how to extend that unconditional love to my precious little ones.

Saturday at the park and Easter Sunday

Dr. Cadin would be proud!

Larger than life

This morning, Lily, my darling one year old, decided to pick up the broom and run with it. Before I could reach her, she had already darted into the livingroom, with the broom handle a clear three feet taller than her little frame. She headed toward the fireplace where the mantle holds framed pictures of those closest to me. In horror, I leaped from my chair. The race was on! Thankfully I managed to apprehend my little sprinter before she could invoke any damage. And then I thought, wow, she had no idea of what she was about to do with that broom. A second later, another thought raced through my mind...I am not much different than my little Lily.

How many times do we take hold of things (offenses, anger, selfish ambitions, pride) and we run full steam ahead with them. Then, burdened down by the weight of that very thing, we look and realize it is larger than life in our small hands. We thought we were fine. We thought we could handle it. But we could not see how much damage was on the brink if we kept running with those things in hand. And not only will it effect us, but those closest to us as well. God calls us to be wise, not reckless.

James 1:19-26 says:
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.

My sweet baby boy

This is Jonathan and his best friend Morgan from school. Jonathan has always loved making friends and he has been the least shy of all my kids. I'm sure he gets his "never meets a stranger" personality from his Dad.

Lately Jonathan and I have had several conversations about when he grows up, gets married and has his own kids. He has informed me that he is going to stay with me forever. Every once in a blue moon I long for the day when my kids are grown and Luis and I can "date" again, but I know that when that day comes, I am going to wish for the days of hugs and kisses before breakfast, prayers before bed, and everything else in between. I never dreamed about being a Mom...in fact, the whole idea scared me to death. Luis and I had been married for six years when I discovered that I was pregnant for the first time. I sobbed. No, not out of thrill and expectation, but out of shear fear.  Thankfully it didn't take long to embrace reality, and I have become the happiest, sappiest Mama in the whole world! I really love my little ones!

Recently I had the opportunity to meet Morgan at art night at their school. She is sweet and bubbly, and I could see instantly why Jonathan likes to play with her. But I have to admit when Jonathan said, "Mom, I want to go sit in the front with Morgan", my heart sunk, and I thought that one day, I will not be the most important girl in his life.