What would cause someone to do such a thing?

Years ago I found out about this family who adopted a child who is disabled. I watched them bring him to events, park his wheelchair, and then carry on as normal. He looked younger than their other two children and I wondered why they adopted him. I mean, I had always wanted to adopt (and as you know we are) but not a child in a wheelchair. What could that boy possibly offer to that family, right? By adopting him they just added more work to their lives...and just when their other children looked old enough to get easier to take care of. Hmmm. I was puzzled.

Fast forward to June 21, 2010. I find myself in an orphanage on the other side of the world full of special needs children. At first I was scared. Really scared. Daniel and I had just made the decision after being on the non-special needs list of China for almost three years to switch to the special needs program, or waiting child program as some say. So here I was on a mission trip surrounded by children that met that criteria. Yikes! Did we really make the right decision? I mean, some of the children were completely handicapped and others' medical condition China would not even allow them to be adopted. That night I went back to my hotel room and found myself in a fog. I wanted to go home to safety, to my three healthy children, to my nice home and tell Daniel we should change our mind.

Now looking back to write this, I remember very clearly what was running through my head. But now it's hard for me to even comprehend my thought process because it changed so drastically in those next two days. As I spent time with the children and got to know them I no longer saw their "special needs." Well, I should say I saw their needs, but they didn't make me feel uncomfortable anymore. It was familiar and I felt at home. I can remember playing with a little boy with cerebral palsy. He is one of the children that I really bonded with. He's 12 years old. Once he turns 14 he can no longer be adopted according to Chinese law. I imagined me bringing him home. I imagined him going places with my kids, playing games with cousins, swimming! I imagined him GOING OUTSIDE, something I'm not sure he has ever done. Going to school! To learn! What I didn't imagine is if it would be difficult, exhausting, or expensive. Because while I was there none of that mattered. What if I he could ask me to adopt him? What would I say? Well, sweet little boy, I would adopt you and take you out of this institution forever to live with my fun, happy, loving family in America but I think you would mess up our plans. You have so many needs, and you are 12! We want a little baby that can't remember anything troublesome. And you can't speak English. Plus, we can't afford your medical care. We have to think about not ruining our children's lives by bringing in an orphan with so many needs. Sorry.

That is sad. Really sad. And while I was there I didn't think like that, returning home, back to "reality" (or is it?) I find myself pondering things that are close to the sadness above. I remember one night in China sending Daniel a text that read, "If we didn't think about all the what ifs in life it would be so easy to make decisions." Being at that orphanage, knowing what we have her in America, it's a NO BRAINER. Get a kid, ANY kid, and bring them into tour family! Why is adoption such a difficult decision anyway?

Could it be fear? Fear that they will hate us and never bond. Fear that we will go bankrupt paying their medical bills. Fear that we won't ever love them like one that comes from us. Fear that they will be a burden to raise and may never be able to function on their own. Fear that it will warp our biological children and not be fair to them. Fear that it will be way too much work.

So then how do we make our decisions in life? Based on fear? Or based on what we know we should do. Based on what God would want us to do. Based on our heart. Based on what God did for us!

I think in our minds it may be "easier" to love a child with special needs if they look like us. If they are our biological children. Because we love of biological children no matter what they act like, look like, or talk like. They are ours. I wonder how hard it is to love a child who is not your biological child and has special needs.... That week while I was there God was doing something strong in me. I felt all alone...with Him. I think that being at that orphanage with those children was the closest physically I've ever felt to God. I could feel that He was speaking things to me that I wasn't so sure I was ready for. I felt like He was looking for a response from me. I felt like He was stretching me.

I have read several blogs where well meaning women make statements about adoption that make others feel mad and guilty if they aren't adopting a child. I am not going to say everyone should adopt. I only know that I used to not consider adoption. And now, I'm amazed at the thought of us not adopting. It makes me sad and scared to think we would've missed out on so much! But my aim is to share with you my journey so that you might consider adopting, or giving money to someone's adoption, or sending donations to orphanages, or visiting orphans!

All I can say is that since Daniel and I opened our hearts WIDE OPEN to God and let go of what we had in mind, what we had planned, what we thought was "normal" then big changes started happening! And we like them. It's fun to serve God and know that His ways are perfect. And whatever His plan is for us, we are ready. I just want to be an empty vessel, a clump of clay He can do whatever He wants. I don't want ME to get in the way of HIM in ME!

Back to that family I mentioned first. How could they do such a thing as adopt that boy knowing well ahead of time the work and sacrifice that was involved??? Now I get it. Now I realize that it's not all about me and us! It's about that boy. It's about getting out of ourselves and changing someone's life. Whether it's an orphan in China or the person on the street of Tulsa. It's about doing something led by the Spirit of God without letting your flesh dictate.

Pastor Sharon said something that really hit home to me a few months ago. She was preaching on giving and serving others. She said one of the reasons why we don't get more involved with others is because we are afraid of assuming responsibility. It's easy to send a check to Haiti but it's harder to go there. It's easy to give the homeless man a couple of dollars but it's harder to sit down and talk to him for five minutes and see if he needs help.

I'm asking God to be my Lord of all my decisions. Every move I make. I just don't want to miss out on His plan for my life. Even if the road is harder.

PS. the boy pictured above is not the boy in the story

Do I value life too much?

Ever since I watched my dad pass into eternity at age 45 my perspective changed....and then when my pastor stepped into eternity at a very young 58 it changed again. And then a precious little girl close to Phoebe....and then a loving brother who gave part of his liver to save his brother from a chronic liver disease..... all stepped from this earth into eternity....way too young.

It's got me thinking about something. Maybe we place too much value on long life. I'm just thinking out loud here... but maybe we see life as our chance to shine, our chance to grow up, make a name for ourselves, travel to all the places we dream of, have children who have chidren who grow up to be successful with prosperous careers. Have cute kids that play sports and go to college and make us proud. Live a long time and grow old gracefully surrounded by markers of success all around us, and then peacefully die when we are old and everyone honor our lives.

And if that is interrupted in any way, especially if our lives are cut short by the standard of old age, then something must've gone wrong. What went wrong? What happened? What did we do? What didn't we do? What should we have done different? How could this happen? How could a little child be taken from this earth so young...without a chance to live a long life?

And we think and ponder...but never are satisfied with an answer so the next tragedy we hear about....shock again...how could that happen! And it affects us as if nothing has ever happened bad before. Why? Because we value life so much....but not just life, long life.

I've never seen a person make better use of their life than Billy Joe Daugherty, my spiritual father. And while I dream every day of him being back again as if nothing ever happened, I realize that he didn't waste any time and he used it all for the Kingdom of God, not to pursue his success.

My dad loved his family and we and he had no regrets. We loved each other, we said it, we lived it. He worked hard too provide for us. He loved God.....but 45 years, come on, that's just way to young.

But if I look at life differently for a moment, if I look at life as a vapor, just as the Word of God calls it, then I'm not so upset, mad, and confused at tragic death. Do you think God welcomes those who die young into Heaven with a hung head as if to say I'm so sorry you had to leave that wonderful place early and come here to Me? I don't think He does. I wonder if in Heaven LIFE becomes crystal clear....LIFE truly begins when we reach Eternity! What if this is just a training ground? What if this is just a blip of time given to us so that we could choose or reject God. People born everyday hopefully to grow up to choose God so that we could live with Him forever. And all that other stuff really doesn't matter. Like length of time here.

If Eternity is forever....then what difference does a short or long time on Earth really matter after all. And think about all the sad little children who die early....at least they never grew up and turned away from God, right?

I'm not saying life here doesn't matter, but that maybe we should look at our time here differently. How much time does the average American waste in their lifetime watching trash on television. How much time does the average American waste building a bank account or the facade of one through their home and vehicles? How much time does the average American waste living for themselves, and feeling sorry for their life and the things that has happened to them?

What if from this point on we made life really count? So that if we left this earth tomorrow or in 40 years it would be ok. And what if we become resilient to tragedy? We believe for miracles, prosperity, health and long life. But if life doesn't go as we want, plan, or need it to, then we adapt, we change, we grow, we bend, we stare boldly at tragedy and know that God is still God and we have a purpose in this life that goes beyond happiness and safety.

Hmmmm....I think I'm gonna try that.

Are Holy Ghosts good or bad? -Rob

In honor of Rob's birthday I thought I'd share some of his famous quotes over his 8 years with you all!

"Mom, you can't lose your sweet tooth, can you?"

Upon looking at his toddler bed that Johnny was using, "This bed brings back so many good memories!"

When asked why he doesn't eat the crusts on his sandwiches, "Everytime I start to eat the crusts, I start to not feel better."

"It's fun to be a dog, but it's funner to be a boy."

"Is there a measurer in Heaven to see if you're tall enough to ride the rides?' he asked this when he was around 4 and he was very concerned.

When he was four he would see Phoebe do homework, "I am sure glad boys don't have to do homework."

"Jesus can run faster than a cheetah!"

While eating french toast he pointed to the powdered sugar on top and asked, "Mom, is this the french?"

"The devil likes alligators because they're mean."

"It is my dream to live at IHOP (the restaurant) and it is my dream to live at Disney World, so I really don't know which one to choose."

One morning I could not find any pants that fit Rob. He is growing and all his pants are too tight. Finally I just told him that he is going to have to wear the ones he had on...they were the biggest we had, but they had a hole in each knee of the jeans!
Rob said, "I cannot wear these jeans to school! These will bother me all day long and when we sit down criss cross apple sauce my knees will poke out of these jeans and bother me and I will disturb other people around me and then I will break the code of conduct that says you cannot disturb other people!"

While in the GAP dressing room:
He takes off his pants to try on jeans...
"are you allowed to do this in here?" while he squinches his face to
one side
"Yes Rob" I replied.
"Are you allowed to do ANYTHING YOU WANT in here?" He asks with
excitement and wonder
Like what, I said
"Are you allowed to take off your underwear in here?!!!!"

"Houses have to be messy so kids can play and eat and have fun!" when asked why they make such big messes.

"Phoebe's not in charge of everything or the whole wide world! Jesus is!"

"Mom come play with me,
me- Rob, I have to clean and cook supper!
Rob- "that's boring. I don't think I'm gonna do that when I get older."

"I'm starting to not believe in dreams anymore!!!" believe it or not, he said this around age 5 when the Maya and Miguel DVD wouldn't work!!! LOL

"Daddy, when you get old if you don't have any energy, I'll be there to make you a sandwich." <3

After wanting and waiting months for a remote controlled dalmation from the Disney store only to get it home and find out it didn't work, he shuffled down the hall and mumbled to himself, "I waited all this time for nothin!"

After waking up one morning and noticing his markers were left out all night without the lids on: "Johnny is never ever again allowed to use my markers again. Not even when God comes to pick us up!!! He can never never again use them here on earth. But...... he can use them in Heaven cause I know nobody leaves marker tops off in Heaven....right Mommy?"

and yes, he did ask me if Holy Ghosts were good or bad when he was younger! Precious!

I love that boy so much. Daniel has always called him golden and All-American since he was born and he truly is. When he was a baby just minutes old he scooted all the way up my chest and nestled his face into my neck. I was amazed and wondered if he could repeat the motion so I pulled him down and he did it again and again and again!

Plus, he came almost 4 weeks early and was fully developed. He was ready to see us! He is precious. So obedient and loyal and looks out for others. I thank God for my Robert! He even got his namesakes broad shoulders. My dad would be proud!

Have you ever screamed at the top of your lungs at church?

Lately I've found myself at meetings and services where it's gotten pretty wild. Pure crazy and loud for Jesus! I'm talking, the kind of noise you only are used to hearing at college football stadiums. I have been in many many great church services and evangelistic meetings over the years but something has changed lately. Do you feel it?

I can remember when John Bevere came to our church last year and told us to shout for freedom at the top of our lungs. The roar shook the building and went on for at least 3 minutes maybe longer. It was the loudest sound I'd ever heard and yet it was music to my ears. What did that do you ask? Is there any need for that in the church you might think? Well you tell me? Have you ever shouted in praise to God like that? Well if you haven't then you have no idea.

I've been in a charismatic church now for around 18 years. There's always been excitement and a small group of people that were "free." But it wasn't me. I remember raising my arms half way in praise to God. That felt good to me. I was able to express my surrender and love for God in a new way that was safe but didn't draw too much attention to me. Because I'm sure everyone was looking at me....right? Lol. Why does everything have to be about us?

Then I remember the day that I flung my arms as high as I could get them in the air...and it felt good. I couldn't keep my arms down. I was unaware of the moment. Caught up with Him! Because I got to know my God a little better. I realized how much He loves me and gave me....and just like someone in the natural who'd had given me such a great gift, I found myself needing to express my love and gratitude a bit differently.

When sports fanatics watch a game they get into it. They yell and holler and laugh and run around like drunk idiots! (No offense sports fanatics. But you know you do!) Why do they do that? Because they are DEVOTED to their team. Because they love to celebrate with other fans and proudly let it be known that that's their team!!! Speaking of drunk...have you ever realized how drunk people don't care who's watching....they are in another world aren't they. They are caught up in drunk fantasy world! Makes me think of the scripture in Acts when the people accuse the believers speaking in tongues of being drunk. I wonder what they were doing and how they were acting to be accused of being drunk? Well I know....because I've seen it. How much PASSION did Jesus have for you gong to that cross? How much have you got for Him?

You know what the world does. It perverts. And it steals from the Bible. Hollywood's great stories of good vs. evil. All of Buddah's encouraging words. The Bible is the beginning. Everything came from it. And yet in this move of new age and karma people act like some person was a genius for discovering some new law of attraction and whatnot. But you see the world takes things and claims them for itself.

Why will we go to a football game and scream and holler for our team and jump up and down and shout praises when they are victorious? Why do people take their school colors and wear them upon every inch of their bodies in pride? But when we go to church we gotta act cilivized, right? Put on your church face and your church clothes and try not to fall asleep when the preacher is preaching.

Well my days of that are over. Because He's been too good to me to stay silent. I have discovered Him in a way I never dreamed. He's real to me. He's more real than you are to me. And there is nothing I enjoy more that getting in a room full of believers who just wanna express themselves to God. I find that I can't keep my arms down! I can't stay in the seat being entertained by the offering song! He's been too good to me. He's changed me forever and I can't help myself. I'm undone and I like it.

One morning I woke up with the words IT WAS FOR FREEDOM THAT CHRIST SET YOU FREE in my mind. They were so loud and clear and intimate and direct that I felt like I'd never heard them before. Like it was said to me for the first time.....so I remember asking Daniel if it was a Scripture because I was so confused. Of course it was (so thankful that my husband knows the Word forwards and backwards...he should be on a Bible trivia game show!). Yes, there it was in Galatians 5:1, "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." Look at it in a few different translations:

New Living Translation (©2007)
So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law.

The Message
Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.

And that morning in the bed I realized that this verse is for me in every area of my life. If I am bound by a habit, Christ set me free on the cross! If I am bound by what others think of me, Christ set me free on the cross! And He didn't do it just for kicks! He did it so I WOULD TRULY BE FREE. When we take up those same things He died for it's like saying His sacrifice wasn't enough. But it was. And you know, fear of man can be so crippling. And it's really sad that we let the devil control us so much with it. I was ready to live life differently. Put all my eggs in one basket. Lay it all on the line. Sell out! No matter what.

You see, God is a jealous God. The same God from Deuteronomy is the same God we serve. And guess what? He's still jealous. He wants ALL of us. Not a half-hearted puny part reserved for proper worship on Sunday mornings. He wants every fiber of our being to worship Him and only Him. And He deserves it.

God isn't going to let the passion of a bunch of sold-out sports fanatics or young Muslim suicide bombers burn harder and brighter than His people. He's calling a remnant to be sold out for Jesus! John the Baptist radicals to proclaim the coming of the Lord! To usher in His presence with worldy abandonment! He's coming back for us. Not the lukewarm church who can't remember it's first love. To the bride burning with passion and zeal! Who's been preparing for this moment it's whole life just as a young bride dreams of her wedding. Who's kept herself for the only One that really matters and forsaken the lusts and draws of the world.

I'm not saying you have to throw your arms in the air to worship God. Why would I say that? People are all different, with differences and different expressions. Freedom may look and feel different to different people. But I wonder what it's gonna be like in Heaven?? How happy will we be? Oh how fun to run and rejoice with the angels! To shout Hosanna! To fall on our faces in gratitude and awe of the beauty, justice and mercy of the God of the universe who saved our souls!

I'm ready! But until then, I want to get in alot of practice!!!

Seventeen

taken from a note I wrote on February 2, 2010...

Seventeen years ago today I watched my dad take his last breath in his body and watched it die. I can still remember that moment like yesterday. Seventeen years is a long time. And I only knew him for 19 years, so that's even more amazing that I can remember him.

I remember watching his tired body struggle so hard to breathe. Every breath I'd think, "was that his last?" When he did take that last breath I can remember feeling many things but the most powerful feeling was a peace that passed understanding.

We had believed with all our hearts that my dad would be healed by God of this cancer. He had struggled for almost 2 years with it, and 11 years earlier as well. But this time, we had discovered that God still does miracles today! We had discovered the power of the Holy Spirit, thanks to a random stranger visiting my dad in the hospital one day. Or maybe it wasn't random...

So those almost two years we read, we studied, we prayed, we made him drink papaya juice, we traveled to evangelistic healing crusades. We were positioning ourselves for Dad's miraculous healing! Even though many around us were counting his days and concerned we were setting ourselves up for disappointment. We were in denial, so they said.

But we weren't in denial. We knew cancer kills. We were hopeful! We were expectant! We were humbly surrendered to His will. We were clay in His hands, and he was forming us into useful vessels and we didn't even know it. We were looking for a healing but we found Jesus!

Even my dad was open and willing and expectant. He knew he needed a miracle and he knew only one Man that could help! Those two years with Dad were precious. He changed. He became so humble. He had always been so confident. Not in a condescending, brash way. He loved people and treated everyone equal. But now he was really different. We had many special times where no words were uttered but we five all knew what was going on. God was changing us all together.

So that morning when Dad quit breathing I looked at his body. Lifeless. Cold. Pale. And at that moment a weird, overwhelming, tremendous thought rushed over me like a powerful wind.....he was in the presence of the Lord! I couldn't bring myself to cry. I'd cried all night long in the bed with Chantel thinking how bad he looked and must've felt. He was suffering so bad. But now as I looked at his body I realized the suffering had ended...forever! Forever!!!

But how could this be? This isn't what we prayed for. This isn't what we believed would happen. I mean, we believed! Surely we had more than a mustard seed.

So life went on...as it mysteriously and painfully does after tragedy. Within months I realized I needed to go somewhere that could teach me more about this Holy Spirit that had changed me so powerfully. I went to ORU that summer and found Victory and the restoration and healing began.

Meanwhile, little did I know that a boy down the street was watching me and my family and was amazed at our faith and passion for God. Often times people would come over to "express their condolences" and we'd end up having to cheer them up and give them a shot of faith, so to speak!

Now, look at my life. That boy asked me to marry him, he came to ORU too, we married and have been at our church for almost 17 years now. Chantel and Tim moved here and then my sweet mom, and here is where she found Joe after being widowed for 11 years. And she is so happy. Maybe one day we'll get Christina and family up here, but even apart God continues to knit our hearts and spirits and we are all four close to this day.

God sure is good at causing all things to work out good for people who love Him isn't He? Seeing all that has come out of my dad's passing-- Daniel, ORU, my church where I met Pastors Billy Joe and Sharon, mom finding another to love as she did first, and so on-- am I glad? No, of course not. Dad's life was taken from him at 45! That is way too young. Dad was so wonderful! We all got along so well! I still remember his fun humor-- "Amy, have you got gas?" he'd ask as I left for school. "Yes, Dad, plenty." To which he'd reply, "Are ya takin somethin for it?" just to see me laugh at him! He was such a big strong man who loved his three daughters! He'd always say how glad he was he didn't have any boys! Maybe to make us feel confident we weren't the girl he had wished was a boy, which we weren't. I miss him! Every. Single. Day. Yes, it gets easier but that only makes me sad. I don't want to forget him. I don't want to forget his voice, his laugh, his hands. I don't ever want to forget him hollering in his loud, deep voice during my basketball games, "Amy, don't pass the ball! Shoot the ball!"

But you know, life goes on. We can't sit around spending our whole lives crying about things we can't control. Or don't understand! You know the book of Job is so confusing. But after Job whined and asked God WHY, God didn't give him a good reason. And God loved Job. Lots. He responded to Job by WHO! Who are you Job? Do you have it all figured out? Were you there when the planets were put into motion? Were you Job?!

Well, I know I wasn't there! And oddly, through the tragic passing of my earthly father, I never once asked God why. Not because I'm smart or spiritual, but because the Holy Spirit has given me much grace and much mercy to see life differently.

You see, I am thankful God gave me such a wonderful father, even if only for 19 years. Thankful. Because I got more in those 19 years with Robert Bass as my daddy than most people get in a lifetime!

I choose to be thankful. And to trust God no matter what. Now I know why Jesus talks about leaving your family for Him--not loving or needing anyone more than God. I get it.

So for years...17 to be exact, I've longed for Heaven. I guess I was so close to it that day that I got a taste and knew it was better than imagined! It was worth it! Worth denying myself. Worth surrendering. Worth forsaking all. Worth continual obedience. No matter what.

But lately things have changed for me. Last year my pastor, Billy Joe Daugherty, the one whose ministry guided me into my stable, strong walk with God, departed this earth early too. For the two months before I didn't sleep much. Our home was turned upside down, our schedules were blown, our priorities shifted, and all we did was pray and seek God. This man whom I had come to love as my father, who taught me more about God than anyone, who walked out Christianity more beautifully than I'd ever seen, was in need of a miracle.

Are you kidding me? Again? No! But do you know what I did? I believed! A lot! And I feel quite confident I had more than a mustard seed this time. In fact, I often wonder if any man on earth in history has ever been prayed for more than he was when his need was made known.

Even till the end I believed. Even after the end I believed. In fact, I was shocked when I heard he departed this earth and entered Heaven. I still am shocked. I miss him. I miss his laugh. His prayers. His messages. His presence. You just kinda knew it was all gonna be ok with him around. And it always was. But he too is not here. He is in the presence of the Almighty God! I can't begin to imagine the homecoming he had as he entered those pearly gates! A man who had no greater love than his love for Jesus and the harvest of souls!

So it has changed for me. I no longer am ready to go to Heaven. In fact, I want to stay here on Earth as long as I can now! Because there is so much work to be done! My pastor's life has inspired me so much to see the way he lived. To see the way he loved. To live by the standard of the Word of God, not by the world. There are so many people that are broken and hurting and they need someone to show them the love of Christ. And the Body of Christ...we have so much work! We are supposed to be spotless without wrinkle. So I hope I can stay a long time till I get it right. Till I get myself together. Till I truly begin to walk in that pure, selfless, humility and let God use me in whatever way He wants, without anymore of my questions. Without any more whining from me! Without any self pity or laziness or pride or complacency.

So today, I am grateful. Grateful my dad lived such an honorable life. Grateful for my time with him. Grateful he not only knew the Lord, but he sought after Him with humility and purity. And even though he's not here, because he is not many great things have happened in my life. And they've all led me to my Heavenly Father, and I'm more in love with Him now today than I was yesterday! I am.

I would've never found ORU and all the precious friends I met there. I would've never come to Victory and been pastored by Pastor Billy Joe and most importantly, I may not have married Daniel..one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Thank you Dad. For so much! I can't believe you've been up There for so long! I am jealous. Big time. Thank you God. For everything. I live for you alone! I'll see you both soon...but not too soon! P.S. Give Pastor a hug for me!

pregnant for 2 years

Today marks the 2 year anniversary of when we got our LID (log in date) to China. Just think, on the other side of the world on someone's desk lies our folder with our hearts in it! Pictures of a waiting family.....a hopeful momma who is ready to do it all over again no matter how OLD she gets, a fun dad who will provide her with more Disney trips than most people will ever take, a big sister who insists on the crib going in her room, and two brothers who will protect her from mean and nice boys!

When we started this process the wait was 18 months. Kinda long, but hey, we have three kids to keep us busy. I remember thinking after reports surfaced about the wait lengthening, that I would just have to almost forget about it so it wouldn't torture me. I mean, think about it....it's like being pregnant for all this time!

But I trust completely. God is in control. He knew this wait would come and He still called us to China. We see other friends getting precious little ones from Ethiopia and other countries and wonder why didn't we choose that country. We'd already have our baby by now! But we didn't choose Hope, or China. God chose them for us. So we will wait.

One day, little Hope, we will come for you!!! Oh happy day!

Just a few reasons why I love my mom!

My Young Mom
On her 61st birthday
My mom turns 61 tomorrow. When I was little I was afraid to think about her or my dad getting older. Grey hair scared me because I thought they were getting closer to death! Now I am 35 myself and am not scared anymore about my parents dying. My father went to Heaven when he was just 45 years old. I had 19 great years with him, and thankfully my mom is still here for me to love on! She has remarried a wonderful, God-fearing man and has joy in her life again! We have learned that death is not the end and that God can turn all things around for those that love and have faith in Him.

So on my mom's 61st birthday I wanted to share what makes her so special. She was an only child, but you'd never know it because she isn't spoiled or selfish in the least bit. In fact, I've never heard Mom judge anyone or say hateful things about someone else in my 35 years of knowing her! Wow. Who can say that about someone. She is incredible at holding her tongue, but not even thinking mean things either!

She looked so young when we were all kids. She used to go to cheerleader campy with us and people would think she was one of the cheerleaders. When we'd go to the mall, people would always think she was our sister instead of our mom! We used to used the same color hair dye (red penny) and people would think I got my red hair from her (even though she is not redheaded!). People also thought she was IRISH because of her beautiful green eyes!

When dad went to Heaven Mom was sad and lonely for 11 years. But we did lots of things fun together. In fact, she moved 300 miles to come live with me and my husband when I got pregnant and had my first child. She was so wonderful to have around. And now she still lives here with us in town with her great husband.

So here is why I love my mom....or at least a few of the reasons why I love her!

I love my mom because she doesn't judge me or anyone else.
I love my mom because she looks and acts young.
I love my mom because she has a facebook page, squidoo page, twitter page, and has a flip video camera and knows more about new technology than me.
I love my mom because she loves God and studies His Word.
I love my mom because she cooked me great meals when I was little like chicken and rice and chicken and dumplings.
I love my mom because she never has acted like she was better than anyone else.
I love my mom because she lost her dad when she was little and her mom years ago. : (
I love my mom because she has never asked for pity or acted weak.
I love my mom because she ate cookie dough and bad things for years but then changed her life dramatically and got healthy and now looks younger than ever!
I love my mom because she is a role model for me and someone I can look up to.
I love my mom because she drinks carrot juice every morning.
I love my mom because she does gallbladder cleanses with me just for fun because she is healthy and doesn't even need to.
I love my mom because she can drink or eat gross things and like them!
I love my mom because she is not a drama queen and does not think the world revolves around her.
I love my mom because she never tried to make her dreams our dreams but let each one of us be our own person!
I love my mom because she never told us about the mistakes we made parenting but loved us thorough all of them.
I love my mom because she gives me money when I want to go to Target and buy something not necessary.
I love my mom because she was good and faithful to my dad when he was dying and took such good care of him.
I love my mom because she is self-motivated and not lazy.
I love my mom because she thinks about and does what is important in life.
I love my mom because she doesn't try to dress or act like she is a teenager like some moms do.
I love my mom because she can sew.
I love my mom because she loves me unconditionally.
I love my mom because she has a pantry full of sunbutter and green tea.
I love my mom because she makes her own website about health just to help others!
I love my mom because she loves my husband and children.
I love my mom because she isn't vain.
I love my mom because she has a pretty face and little tiny hands.
I love my mom because she entertained my slumber party guests when I was little and slept the next day!
I love my mom because she believed in me as a child and still does!
I love my mom because she reads books fast!
I love my mom because she doesn't get grossed out by medical things. She is not a sissy!
I love my mom because she volunteers her time to counsel women about not having an abortion and fighting for the life of unborn children!
I love my mom because she doesn't ask for anything from anyone.
I love my mom because she is content where she is.
I love my mom because she is nice to her husband and makes him food.
I love my mom because she is deep and not shallow.
I love my mom because she simply exists!

I want to be more like my mom. I want to be the kind of mom that she was to me. I am so thankful to have a mom that I never fought with or was mean to. We have always gotten along and been close. I have always respected her and appreciated her. She is precious and lovely in all her ways. Inside and out.

Happy Birthday Mom! You are the best! Really!

from your little berd