May. The month of all things mother-ish. Mother's day. May flowers. Memorial day. This month is all about moms. And when your mom is now in heaven, May becomes a month of sweet memories

What was the best advice your mom shared with you? What words of encouragement did she often share with you?

This was the question asked of me today.

While I'm sure there were many moments in my growing up years that my mom offered advice (sometimes wanted but most times not), what I really remembered ... and cherished ... was the encouragement that came just by hearing her voice in my grown-up years.

While she may have not always said the right words I had hoped to hear, she always said just the right words that made me feel better as a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend.

She was my encourager often and my mother always.

I miss her voice of reason, encouragement, and most of all ... love. Oh, to hear her voice. Just one more time.

"Mimi, can you sew some dresses for our barbies?"

Picture this...three sisters on Christmas morning sitting by the tree and excitedly opening individual boxes of the sweetest barbie clothes, personally sewn by Mrs. Claus herself, with the tiniest little buttons and snaps on the softest fabrics, many that resembled some of our mom's articles of clothing.
I wonder how much time Mrs. Claus spent on crafting these clothing articles. I wonder if she mindfully thought of each girl as she stitched tiny, little seams. I wonder if she knew that years and years later, the little girls would still remember the excitement of that Christmas morning.

It wasn't until I became a parent myself that I fully appreciated the time spent on these precious, homemade, gifts of love and the hands who lovingly created them. Did "Mrs. Claus" wait until after we were tucked into bed at night or did she squeeze in moments between household chores and duties throughout the day? I suspect she did both. Because that's what moms ... I mean, Mrs. Claus ... do/does.
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"Yes. I can make a couple of dresses."
#madewithlove #mrsclaus #barbieclothes #christmasmemories #mom #sewing

Do you remember your BFF in 6th grade? The one who saw you through all the ups and downs and ins and outs of pre-adolescence? The one who encouraged you with words of 6th grade wisdom and reminded you that adolescence was just a season of life, not your forever life?

Her name was Margaret. And though we had a fictional relationship, she just got me. At the end of a tough school day, she was there. When it seemed like all my friends were changing and yet I was not, she assured me that I was ok. She was the one who could relate to my secret crush emotions. She's the one who got me through hormones, undergarments, and life.

She was my best friend. And on some days, she was my only friend.
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But then, some books are like that.
#judyblume #areyoutheregoditsmemargaret #booklover #booksarefriends #FridayFlashback #authorlife

There's a sweet quote in my children's book "Kangaroo Jane" that reads:

"Stuff is stuff, this much is true.
But the love for one another is meant for you."

As a person who likes stuff, at the end of the day, it's just stuff. Take it all away and I may be sad for a moment or more, but as long as I have love for others and am surrounded by WHO is important, then I have all that I really need.

This weekend, an estate sale will take place in a little town in Kansas in a little house that is full of stuff. Stuff that made my late mother-in-law happy. Stuff that made her house a home. The apple decor and red appliances that made her kitchen so cheery; the Corelle dish-wear that served up plates of countless family dinners; the wall decor that cozied up her house; the kitchen table and chairs that provided hours of loving conversations and laughter ... it's all just stuff.

One of the items that will be sold is a sign that says "Live, Laugh, Love". And that's exactly what she did. She lived. She laughed. And oh, how she loved.

And at the end of one's life, that's what is most important.
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#kangaroojane #MondayMusings #MondayMemories #estatesale #griefjourney #livelaughlove #treasures #stuff

It was a tiny little silver jewelry charm...the kind of charm that belonged on a chain. But there was no chain and apparently no owner. The charm mysteriously appeared with the coins my dad had collected. He had taken them to the bank to be counted and deposited. No time to wait, he had somewhere to be.

It was a beautiful spring day and also the start of Holy Week. The sheriff said it was a single car fatality. A rollover accident on a country road. Easter had just became a bit more personal.

The bank called, expressing condolences but also to inform her of the jewelry charm. My mother had never seen it before. She didn't know how it ended up in my dad's possession. It was a mystery.
The jewelry charm was that of a crucifix.

Shortly after, she found a chain, perfect for the precious little charm. A sweet reminder of death and life. Faithfully she wore that necklace until one day, it was just gone. Never to be found again. A mystery. Her memory had begun to slip and she no longer remembered the significance of the little cross nor the date and event it was discovered.
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But I still remember.
#MondayMemories #Holyweek #Easter #heaven #griefjourney #hope #marvelousmystery

Back in the day ... long before texting, snaps, and social media drama ... this was a thing.

Passing notes via a best friend who was related to someone who once liked someone else but now was BFF's with your crush of the month. And then waiting, waiting, waiting for the note to get passed back to you with the answer that was sure to either crush you or seal your relationship destiny with the love of your 13-yr-old life.

This. Was. Torture.

High school years were not much better. No notes but rather, spoken words said to a BFF who shared with the head cheerleader who then told a classmate who was related to someone who used to live acoss the street and now shares a chair next to you in Biology class. "He likes you but thinks you are too ______." Well, you fill in the blank.

Crushing.

Those days are just a blip in the past. And yet...I can still recall the brief moments of elation and all the moments of deflation. Adolescent years are tough.

In my devotion time this morning, this comment caught my attention and had me spiral down the rabbit hole to my adolescent years. "Ask God how he feels about you and He will tell you!"

Gulp.

Here we go again... 40+ years later and still the same emotions of the waiting, waiting, waiting.

I just couldn't do it.

And yet...I did.

If this sounds familiarly painful, know you are not alone. Ask the question and pass the note to God.
His reply just might surprise you.
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(Spoiler alert...He REALLY likes you. I promise. )
#askthequestion #Wednesdaywisdom #youareloved #chosen #devotionoftheday

And on Tuesdays, we bake.

A delicious aroma of baked banana bread and blueberry muffins fills my kitchen this morning. The oven door is left open as the warm air swirls around me - just like my memories. And once again, my favorite recipe book has been wiped clean of floured fingers.

This recipe book, though. It has seen me through the early days of marriage; school day treats; comfort meals for friends; and so much more.

The best recipe book is one that is stained, ear-marked, and with penciled notes written in the margins.

The best recipe book is a treasured collection of comfort foods and sweet life tips shared from generation to generation.

The best recipe book is one that fills your heart with memories that leak from your eyes, creating more stains on the worn pages.

The best recipe book is one that celebrates all the happy days of life while providing comfort on the not-so-happy days.
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So, today I bake. And I remember. And I smile. And I am comforted.
#bakeday #blueberrymuffins #bananabread #dinoglass #comfortfood #recipebook #bakingmemories #griefjourney #life

"To everything, there is a season, a time for every purpose under Heaven." ~ Ecclesiastes 3

"M" is for March. This month, we look forward to spring life. Grass that has been dormant is beginning to poke through the cold ground with blades of green. Tiny little leaf buds have started to adorn bare tree branches. Spring is waking up after a sleepy winter season.

"M" is for moms. This is the birthday month for my mom and my mother-in-law. Birthday flowers look a little different this year as they both will be celebrating their birthdays in Heaven. They are missed terribly but oh so loved.

"M" is for memories. So many memories. Memories are special little treasures that we hold in our heart and I'm so thankful for a heart filled with treasures.

Yes. To everything, there is a season.

A time for every purpose under Heaven. 🪻
#MarchMemories #happybirthdaymom #heaven #griefjourney #Ecclesiastes #MondayMusings #springvibes