Mom

Happy Mother's Day to all the ladies out there. Whether you have had children of your own or not, you have likely "mothered" someone along the way.

Most especially, Happy Mother's Day to my Mom, Grace. Don't you just love her name?. It suits her well.

I am wishing I could be with my Mom today.  I thought I would be with my Mom today. But, this happened. 

It didn't matter that I had already folded all my winter close into my under-the-bed storage container. It still happened.

That is how it looks out my back door at this very moment, May 10. That just seems all wrong. Our lilacs were just starting to bloom!  

Under all that snow is a lawn that needs mowed, weeds that need pulled and new little flowers that should be soaking up the sun. Oh well. It is moisture and we need that.

Anyway, it would not be a gift to my Mom to make her worry if I chose to make that 2 hour drive across an icy Wyoming prairie that is frosted with so much white fluff. I bet it would be a beautiful view, though! 

Anyway, let me tell you a couple things about my Mom.

My Mom raised her children with love that required a lot of sacrifices. She taught us all, by example, how to put other's needs even before our own. She protected us from some harsh realities that she had to face quietly, while showing us only a smile. She protected our childhoods with ferocity. I only recognized this in retrospect but I am so grateful for it.

My Mom also taught us to do things for our own enjoyment. She was already a mother when she discovered she was also an artist. We all watched her study and work and learn and progress with her talent. That set a good example for us as well.

My Mom was my first best friend. Even in high school, she was the one I wanted to come home and talk to after something exciting/sad/funny happened. I really love my Mom. 

My Mom was also the first and maybe most important gift I received from God. Thank you, God, for my Mom.

Spring Gone Wild

I admit it. I have been watching The Weather Channel again today. Well, in my defense, I do believe it is one of the best reality shows on television and today it was really fun. 

One thing I enjoy about the weather channel is how excited the reporters get when the weather is all wound up as it is this week-end. They try to show their concern for those in the path of scary weather, and I know they are sincere about that. But it is fun to see how excited they get about the vortexes and the rotations and the different bright colors on the radar. I like seeing people enjoy their work.

I admit it; I like a good storm. I like them in the way I like a good movie. I want a bit of excitement and tension, but I also want to knew it will all turn out to be ok in the end.

The thing I like about BIG weather, like wind and such, is it really demonstrates to me the power of nature, and by nature

I mean God. It is a good reminder of who is in charge.

So, we have ourselves a bit of a weather situation here. It is May and we have snow. Yep, SNOW!. 

While that is not unheard of in these here parts, it certainly isn't our usual. Sure, we are all complaining about it but not too seriously. After seeing The Weather Channel and knowing others have tornadoes, tropical storms, giant hail and flooding going on this weekend, our sloppy, wet snow doesn't seem so bad.

Speaking off wind, though, that is always a powerful force here. Look at these trees by our church. They are permanently pointed East, thanks to our wind so often coming at us from the West. Oh well, it keeps our air refreshed.

I postponed posting more photos from our Minnesota trip because it seemed important that I report on our snow. Those Weather Channel people get me all fired up!. Thanks for reading, "weather" you wanted to or not.