Happy Mother's Day!!!

I had a wonderful Mother's Day! First of all, I was the mother of four this year, and that forth one came without pregnancy, labor or delivery! All my little chicks were lined up in church with me on Sunday morning, and even a few "adopted" ones too. After church we came home and had lunch and DQ cake, opened gifts and just did nothing. It was great! I did a whole lot of thinking about being a mother last week, while anticipating yesterday. It took children to make me a mother, and I said many prayers of thanks. Without a wonderful father, there would have been no children, and he's still around and even still wonderful! It was Joshua that made me a mother, and he probably gave me more than his fair share of practice at being a mother. Joshua was and is the most tenderhearted child I've seen. Along the way he gave me many weed bouquets, and a few roses from our yard. He knows how to make me laugh. Just month ago today, he provided a way for me to become a mother-in-law. I like being a mother of four, and Jen has made me excited about one day being a mother of six! I hope I can love the son-in-laws one day like I love her! Carissa is back at home and keeping us young. She keeps a steady flow of friends coming through to play cards, eat, and visit with us. We sleep very well when we make it to bed now! She makes us shake our heads and wonder how she came from us as parents. Perfection, focus, commitment, excellence. And then, there's Kaylee. All too quickly she seems to be slipping from our hands, becoming very independent, just growing up. Mature beyond her years in every way. I wish I could have been like her when I was 15. As I sat in church yesterday I thought about how thankful I am that all of them are serving. Serving God. Serving others. Giving. Sacrificing. Making a difference in the lives of those they come in contact with. As a family, we have fun and love being together, but they all know how to reach outside these walls and share what we have been given. Just a few weeks ago, we were at the Wailing Wall. It brought mixed feelings for me. I have no doubt that God hears and answers my prayers, wherever I am. Yet, there was something intriguing about being there and seeing all the small pieces of paper stuck in every crack and crevice. I wanted to do it, and started to think of what I would ask for if I could sum up a request on a small piece of paper, something timeless, something that would always be the desire of my heart. It came to me very quickly. When I leave this world, all that will be left of me is these precious ones that I call my children. They will be the ones to live out the rest of what I feel is important. So, naming each one by name-all four of them-I asked that they would come to love Jesus more with every passing day of their lives. I am getting to watch this prayer answered every day! When I am gone, that is how they will carry on for me, making a difference in other's lives, but more importantly, living their own lives today to the fullest because of knowing Him. That's what I want. I want them to continue to know and love Him more all the time, every day of their lives. That is what makes me wealthy. Very wealthy. Couldn't ask for anything more. I am blessed.