10 Things My Mom Taught Me

She rivals a few of my girlfriends for title of best friend. I don't know exactly when it happened but somewhere between high school and college I realized I had more than a mom in my mom. I had a friend. I think it happens that way most of the time. Once we grow and mature and realize that all the things that we endured as children were really mostly for our own good...we find a friend in this caring individual we call mom.

Here are 10 Lessons My Mom Taught Me..

1. She was raised in extreme poverty..and because of that she taught me how to make the most of what I had. Whether it was food, or my house or even my wardrobe. She taught me to mix and match, look for bargains and use leftovers.

2. She taught me the value of using my time wisely. She was a housewife who modeled the work ethic of a career woman. She cleaned and gardened and cooked and homeschooled and served in our church.

3. She taught me to make time for friends. Before the days of Facebook and texting and even cell phones, I remember mom using the corded phone in the garage. Us kids knew that if the phone cord was wrapped around the kitchen door to the garage that she was on an important call....even if that meant she was just catching up with Ms. Nell or Ms. Shirley (her best friends). Those ladies permed each other's hair, went antiquing and could talk over coffee for hours. (Excuse me while I try to get the smell of the home perm out of my nostrils.)

4. She taught me to make fun memories with my kids. The Grist Mill at Stone Mountain Park was a small little swimming hole that we used to meet up with friends for an early morning hike and breakfast and swim. She also took a painting class and cake decorating class with me....not to mention she engaged in basketball season for all 6 years that I played!

5. She taught me the value of God's Word. She woke up early every morning, made a pot of coffee and sat in her "spot" in the living room. For years we knew that if she wasn't finished with her quiet time, we were to stay in our rooms. In school she and my dad required us to memorize scripture and long before it was cool to journal...we were journaling our thoughts about and towards God.

6. She's taught me how to trust God in the hard times. She became a widow at age 40, but long before that she knew grief. Having been raised in dysfunction, alcoholism and abuse she knew what it was like to grieve and mourn without anyone dying. Her testimony of God's faithfulness has gotten me through more than one hard time. Now it's become my testimony too.

7. She taught me to be hospitable. We had missionaries and evangelists and friends in our home ALL the time. We made pallets and slept on the floor more times that I care to remind my back. We adopted college students on the weekends and housed orphans and cousins and widows when the need arose. We were not wealthy. We struggled. But God always seemed to provide for those extra people..and mom hardly ever turned away the opportunity to serve someone a meal.

8. She taught me the value of a good education. First by sacrificing to put three kids in private school, then by homeschooling us and then by helping me find a good college to go to. But it really didn't stop there. She is a lifelong learner..she reads constantly, goes to conferences and talks with professionals in her line of work (counseling). She motivates me to read up on bestsellers and good articles. She challenges me to grow my mind.

9. She taught me how to love my husband by modeling a Christ-centered marriage to my dad. Perfect? Oh no....my mom was a strong woman..and when they fought...they FOUGHT but it was rare and even though there was an occasional disagreement, I never feared my parents would divorce or abandon the family. She walked my dad to the door every morning as he left for work. She smooched him "goodbye" and "hello". She fixed his favorite foods and even rubbed his stinky feet. She encouraged him, pushed him, believed in him and openly prayed for him.

10. Certainly not the last lesson...but the last one for this post....She taught me to invest in people. She's a Christian counselor who pours her life into others 40 hours a week. She charges fees on a sliding scale and even does some work pro-bono. She listens as others tell their horrible tales of despair and she helps them process their lives. She's helped me on more than one occasion. She truly gives herself away.

So this Mother's Day...and every day...Thanks mom...for modeling Godly womanhood to me. Perfect...hardly. Flawless....nope...in fact...it's this imperfect motherhood that gives me hope that one day, maybe, just maybe I will have come close to being the kind of mom you are today.

Days of Thanks #10

Day 10- I am thankful for my mom, who taught me the value of a Sunday afternoon nap, a good bargain, leftovers, Murphey's Oil and God's Word.

Truth for Moms

What Happened on Wednesday

Church dismissed at 7:30pm. Or so I thought. What I didn't bank on happening was that Bruce would want to stay and throw a game of spades with some of the guys (is a pastor supposed to throw spades after church, at church ...that's another blog post). So as I meandered to the parking lot I ran into a couple of moms....and for the next hour and 15 minutes...we had...dare I say it, an extended church service.

Oh, the conversation actually started with talk of my new ride. Humbly I got to share again how good God was to give us such a blessing...(thanksgiving). Then one of the moms started talking about mom stuff...you know, kids, school, discipline, parenting, struggles, failures, concerns. In my heart and with my voice I too admitted some of my "stuff" and how God was teaching me some of those very uncomfortable lessons. Each of us casually shared verses and encouragement and wise counsel (edification). We talked of God's faithfulness, God's wisdom, God's patience with us as we learn our way, His Spirit guiding us (worship). And after an hour of sharing and listening and admonishing each other to stay faithful to this eternal job of parenting and mothering and womanhood, I left feeling blessed, encouraged and motivated. And hopefully they did too.

Sometimes you just need the after church church service. The one that takes place in the parking lot or the church foyer or at Dairy Queen eating an ice cream cone. Sometimes you need those iron sharpens iron conversations...the ones that aren't meant to condemn, but to create an atmosphere of motivation to do better...do your best...get focused. Sometimes you need a good swift kick from a friend to get your act together, to get back on track, to high tale yourself out of a sticky situation.

God isn't limited to meeting with us within the walls of our auditoriums in our church buildings. I love gathering corporately with my church family. I enjoy the time we spend together in worship and fellowshipping and teaching and preaching. But, forbid it Lord, if I miss YOU in the parking lot, where three moms happen to meet after church. Help me to see Your timing as a means to minister and be ministered to, instead of an interruption. God's busy all the time...He does not slumber or sleep....

I'm keeping my heart more open to where and when He wants to meet with me in unexpected places.

Summer Vacation 2012

Photo album generated with Smilebox

Do the Best with what you have

This tribute is in honor of my mom, who taught me to do the best with what you have. I've used this motto in many areas of my life..and today I used it in my living room. I've really been wanting to make a trip to Homegoods or Hobby Lobby or even Canton to get a few things to spruce up the house, but between time and money this month it just wasn't going to happen. So after looking at the cluttered mess in our living room I decided today was the day to do the best with what I have. Here are some before shots:

I know it's difficult to see but there are 1,000,000 Legos scattered behind these chairs

...it's a death trap I tell you!

I can't begin to tell you how bad my carpet needs to be cleaned

...but that didn't happen today!

By the looks of this you'd think we were hitting the road as a family band!

And here's the afters....no $$$ spent, just rearranged what I had 

in the room to make it more appealing and clutter free...

I divided the room by using the sofa as the room divider. 

On the other side of the room is the piano

I love this table...a gift from my mom when I was home the last time. Nice and distressed!

And...I left an area for Tucker's Legos....with his political promise 

that I will never step on another Lego again....until next time!

I'm thrilled with the way things turned out...I don't feel nearly as desperate to run to the store to buy something. Mom was right....you can make something beautiful by just using what you have. 

Her little motto can be applied to many areas of life....wardrobe, housing, decorating, dieting, recipes, relationships... So, how do you make the most of what you have? Any tips?

I'm linking to Miss Mustard Seed's FFF Linky party.

The Time I Wore My Mom's Dress

I was in the sixth grade. I'm not sure how much I weighed but I'm pretty sure since I only weighed 110 when I graduated high school that we can safely assume I was a light-weight. My dad was holding the fort down while my mom went to Florida to see one of our relatives. I imagine it was for some sort of short term emergency because I can't even imagine my mom leaving my dad to make sure three kids 11, 9, and six years old were washed, tucked in, fed, dressed and off to school with completed homework and an apple for the teacher.......all the while him working his own job with various shifts thrown in. But I'm quite sure he was capable.

I guess I was hankering for something different to wear. Like most six graders I was at a very awkward stage....braces had yet to be put on, I wore glasses, for some reason I was sporting a Dorothy Hamil haircut and I was so skinny. I thought my mom dressed like a million bucks. Her clothes were so pretty. Her closet was full of things ...shoes and purses and belts and coats....OK...really it wasn't full and it was a small closet...but when you're 11 things look different. And on the day that I tiptoed into her closet while she was in Florida and dad was at work I knew I wanted to wear one of her dresses to school the next day. I spotted the grey dress with small pink flowers, puffed sleeves and the light weight matching vest that was sewn to the front, the tie in the back and the soft pleated skirt. It was one of my favorite dresses my mom wore. I snatched the dress from the rack and took off to my room.

The next morning, outfitted in the beautiful (then) dress, I loaded into the car. I don't remember my dad giving me a second glance....how could he not notice that the dress was too big? How could he not remember seeing my mom in it? How could he have not even raised an eyebrow? I have no idea. But I went to my 6th grade class proudly wearing my mom's dress that day...thinking I was as beautiful as she was when she wore it. Looking back I realize how ridiculous I must have looked. I wonder what my teacher's must have thought! It was a decade later at least when I told my mom this story and we have laughed a hundred times about it since.

Silly huh? But as I was thinking of this story today, I realized that as a Christian woman living in the modern world it is easy to think that I can go into the world's closet and try on their garments and walk around for a day in their shoes and that no one would notice. It's just a day, it's just one dress, it's just a trip to school and back. No one will notice. But the world is watching much more closely than my dad was that day in 1983. The ultimate fashionista enemy wants us to put on pride, arrogance, anger, bitterness, lying, covetousness and anything else that feels good.  But the truth is we look ridiculously clothed in the garments that weren't made for us. We become the hypocrites, the laughing stock. We become Christianity's poster child for WHAT NOT TO WEAR.

It's a silly analogy I know. But I want to look different than the world. I want to rise above my circumstances, bad luck, unfortunate events, bills, laundry and back to school blues. I want to be a light in a dark world and that can't happen if I am dressed just like the world. So....this girl's gonna make an effort to wear the clothes that were made to fit me perfectly....a garment of praise, the armor of God and righteousness....and no matter how cute, perfect or just my size that pride...anxiousness....or a bad attitude look at the moment...that's on my WHAT NOT TO WEAR LIST.

Things I'll Miss

As I was cleaning the house a little today I almost got frustrated with some of the clutter that seems to appear on a daily basis. Then I remembered how quickly the years are flying by and that actually these things that might frustrate me now, will be some of the very things that I miss the most. My list looks a little something like this:

I'll miss...

1. Matchbox cars lined up on the edge of the bathtub where Tuck has lined them up to dry off after a splash in the bath with him.

2. Savannah's many markers and other writing utensils that I find in every nook and cranny in the house. What a creative little chick she is becoming.

3. Fighting over the computer with my kids. They both love investigating and surfing....almost as much as me!

4. Laundry....every last piece. As I was doing the mountain of laundry this week I was thinking about how much my kids have grown this year alone. Jeans I bought Tucker at the beginning of the school year barely fit him now....and I wonder have I done what I could to help him grow in the love and admonition of His heavenly Father too.

5. Happy Meal toys....or the like. My feet are like magnets to these little things! On the floor at midnight seems to be the most likely place my feet me them!

These are just a few of the things I was thinking about today as I worked around the house. Those moments that sometimes frustrate me the most turned into a little time of reflection and nostalgia when I remembered how far God's brought this little foursome of mine. He's been so faithful and good. These things I'll miss will grow and grow as the kids do, but hopefully we will be embracing each of those seconds with love and care...being careful not to miss them and the opportunities each one brings.

How 'bout you? Anything you'll miss?

The Value of Things

I am not attached to too many personal items. I found out when living in hurricane infested southeast Texas that pretty much everything that is of any earthly value can fit into one rubbermaid tub. Because of three hurricane evacuations during a three year period of time, I was able to hone in on my packing and prioritizing skills. Evaluating the value of my earthly goods really did help me realize that these things really are worth so little in the scheme of life.

However, there are some pieces of furniture that have been passed down on both sides of the family that I do enjoy and other knick-knack sort of items that are pleasant to look at. The value isn't necessarily monetary, it's more sentiment and emotional. It probably doesn't surprise anyone that this past week when I went to GA I came back home with one such treasure. This time in the form of a doll....an adoption doll. Ever heard of one? No, I didn't think so.

A little history...in the early eighties the Cabbage Patch Kid Dolls were becoming popular. Being 8 or 9 years old and a girl....life pretty much demanded that you own one of these preciously perfect patch kids.   That coupled with the fact that just a few miles north of Atlanta was the very "hospital" where you could go pick out your very own adoptee. Well, there as also the little fact of $$$$. And....the fact that we didn't have much. So, my mom made me this:

This was my adoption doll....aka Cabbage Patch Kid knock-off. Only thing was....I didn't realize until just recently that the Adoption Doll never made it as big as the Cabbage Patch Kid. I thought everyone knew what am Adoption Doll was.....little did I know.

Yet, silly as it may seem, I have an attachment to my doll. Mainly because my mom made it. In fact she made me two...the other one was a larger version. Nonetheless, I value it because of the time she took to craft it. I value it because she was making something so that I would have something similar to other girls and she didn't want me to feel left out. I value it because of the craftsmanship. I value it because it represents a mother's love through the giving of her time and talents...and isn't that so much about what motherhood is?

I've had some hysterical laughs with a few friends over my naivety over this doll. Here I was thinking she was something special from my childhood when really back then she was more of a substitute for the real thing. But through the years...I think I'm the lucky one...the one with something that represents much more than a doll.

The Woman I Want to Be.

If you've read this blog for very long, you know that my mom is an extraordinary person. Besides the normal great mom stuff...cooking, cleaning, shopping and decorating, she tops the chart in teaching, looking remarkably younger than her years and making the best homemade spaghetti sauce this sauce of Italy.

Her 60th birthday is Friday....the 13th. In just a few hours the celebrating will begin. I talked with her the other night on Skype and asked her how she was feeling about it and her response was "I'm trying not to think about it!" I'm pretty sure she will have no choice!

In honor of my mom's birthday on August 13th, I am listing 13 of my favorite things about my mom.

1. She has the most gorgeous thick hair.
2. She makes the most of what she has.
3. She is an incredible gardener.
4. She's a hard worker.
5. She can take a room of mix match elements and make it look like a magazine picture.
6. She was faithful to God during the worst part of her life.
7. She can hop on the counter and belt out the Murphy's Oil song better than anyone I know (and yes, mom, this IS true)
8. She wasn't afraid to homeschool her 3 kids when homeschooling was totally uncool in the 80's.
9. She puts everything but the kitchen sink in her potato salad and it always turns out good!
10. She is a great mother in law
11. She's an even better grandmother
12. She is wise
13. She thinks of others more than she thinks of herself.

I could go on and on....bottom line: she is the woman I want to be. Sure she has her short comings, but at the end of the day, I hope this apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Proverbs 31

Her children respect and bless her;


her husband joins in with words of praise:


"Many women have done wonderful things,


but you've outclassed them all!"


Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.


The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.


Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises!
 
From Proverbs 31- The Message
 
Happy Mother's Day Mom. You're beautiful inside and out!

The Old Pink Robe Ain’t What She Used to Be

Disclaimer: I discussed with my mom while I was in ATL that this would be an excellent subject for a blog post. I think she thinks I have forgotten about it...so it will be interesting to see what she has to say once she reads this (If you don't hear from me in 48-72 hours you should probably send out a search warrant)!

Years ago my mom bought a pink chenille robe. She paid $100 for it. It was a special robe – floor length, pockets and an attached belt – all things she had been searching for in a robe. For the last 10 years she’s been faithful to wear the robe. Cuddled up on the couch, down the sidewalk to grab the paper, standing out on the deck to take the dog out, in a suitcase from Georgia to Texas and back several times – that robe has seen a few miles. However, like everything else in life, over time the robe is beginning to look a little worn. Years of washing and wearing have taken a toll on the precious pink garment. The chenille is worn out in place, leaving thin patches of worn fabric polka dotting the robe. The color has faded to a pale shade of baby pink. There’s no stiffness to the shawl collar and the coffee and ice cream stains that dribble the front of the robe don’t add anything to its already humble state.


On a recent trip back home to see my mom, we discussed the terrible turn of events that are leading up to the demise of the pink robe. My mom reminisced about the beauty, softness, warmth and specialness of the robe. I reminded her how hideous it looked. She talked of better days with the robe. I reminded her of how ridiculous it is to hold on to something so worn out. Near tears, she explained that she would never find a robe half as good as this one. I looked for matches to set the thing on fire.

Of course we laughed at the sheer humor of it all and we put on our agenda to start looking for another perfect robe. But, the irony of it all is that as Christians, each day we have the opportunity to put on our new garments of holiness, righteousness, kindness, faith and love and many times instead, we choose the garments of filth, sin, pride and deceit. Oh how Christ must feel when He has already made a way for such glorious garments to be worn and yet we continue to wear our old pink robe. What an example this world needs of Christians who are adorned in godliness! Let’s get dressed up in the things that will lead others to wonder where we got our clothes….and while we’re at it, let’s burn the old pink robe!

Verse: To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Isaiah 61:3

I'm wishing...and wondering....

I'm really wishing I was in GA right now. Not because I don't totally adore my RV and my family and my new church...but because I would like to be smack dab in the middle of planning my mom's wedding and my sil baby shower. Instead, I'm here, in Texas.

I wish I was helping mom pick out food, flowers, wedding attire, honeymoon attire (if you know what I mean), giving her the good ole' wedding night talk and just enjoying her company for these last few days that she is just mine.

I wish I was getting to know my soon to be step-dad...Pops as my kids are getting used to calling him. I'd love to get to know his kids, their family and see how we all mesh together into what will resemble somewhat of a Brady-Bunch looking family by the time this is all done.

I wish I was there to help Jan get the house in order for the baby, and help her get the room ready for Sidney Clare...of course I know my brother can do that...but there's something about another mom helping you get things ready for the arrival of your firstborn.

I wish I was there to help Amy, my sister, get all settled into her new apartment. Mostly I want to see how she's fixed the place up with her new furniture and stuff.

I'm just missing home....and all the things that accompany it. Late night talks and hilarity, exaggerating childhood stories so Mom freaks out some, and just enjoying being together.

If's funny. Today mom and I were talking about the timing of all this...how crazy life is for everyone right now. Made me thankful that in all the craziness we will be coming together to be still and celebrate love. A love that popped up surprisingly and has rested on her life. I feel calmer just thinking about that.

I'm wondering if God in all his infinite wisdom, knew our family would need to come together for this celebration. With babies, and moves, and weddings and RV living, and skunks and everything else that we are dealing with...we get to come together to celebrate LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.

Wildlife Safari...and I am not talking about my family!

4 Wheelin', Friends and Family

The kids had the opportunity to do a little 4 wheelin' with a friend of the family while we were in GA. They had a blast. Tucker said he crashed into some trees while he was making a new road. That pretty much sums it up for him. If you are a child safety advocate...I apologize for the lack of helmets.

Who Can Find a Virtuous Woman?

I Can!!! (Picture me with my hand up, flapping it in the wind...begging for the teacher to call on me!)

It's no secret that I have the best mom in the world (I know some of you want to argue....but...this is my blog and what I say is gospel!)

There are many beautiful words that describe her but I thought I would list some of my favorite things about her here:

1. She loves Jesus. It pours from her. She may not come right out and tell you she loves Him...she doesn't have to...she lives it. You don't have to be around her five minutes to know.

2. She loves her family. She has three pretty strong-willed kids and we have put her through a fair amount of ups and downs, but at the end of the day, none of us doubt where we stand in the love department with her.

3. She knows how to make a home look good on a budget. Growing up I remember her jaunts to flea markets and clearance sales. She furnished our home so beautifully on a budget. Her example of decorating, care and details has been passed down...I love making my home look nice. (If only my kids valued this...they will one day!)

4. She kissed my dad at the front door everyday when he left for work...and I am not talking about a little peck on the cheek. I'm talking about the "embarrass the kids" kind of kiss. This meant very little to me as a child (at least I thought)...but the older I get I realize that I never doubted whether or not my parents loved each other...and it was largely due to "that" kiss.

5. She is generous. There are very few people who have had the kind of life my mom has had. I wish I had permission to share all the things that she has endured so you could maybe better understand what an amazing virtuous woman she is. But even after all that...she is one of the most generous people I know. She has housed troubled teens, recovering drug addicts, single women. She has bought food for the hungry, paid bills that were not hers and given away things that others might think are priceless. She has given when she herself was in need.

So on this Mother's Day, having just returned from a week long stay with my mom, I find myself reflecting on the extreme rarity of virtuous women in the world today. I find myself not only thankful, but blessed that God chose Nancy Anderson as my mother.

My Mom- The Motorcycle Hottie

My mom is in Florida visiting her sister and brother in law. This is how she is spending her time. Interesting that I don't really remember her ever being overly fond of motorcycles when I was a kid. She's one hot momma!