Skip to main content

Homeward Bound




To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there.

~Barbara Bush


One more day to go and I will be flying to Chicago for a few weeks. It’s my Mom’s 96th birthday next week; she has no idea I’m coming! I look forward to spending lots of time with my family. I will be offline for a while and hope to get caught up with everybody when I return.

Comments

  1. Safe travels, Mary! ...
    What a wonderful surprise for your mother! Can't wait to hear all about it!
    xoxox
    Myra

    ReplyDelete
  2. Have a wonderful time Mary!! Praying traveling mercies and JOY-filled days ~ each and everyone of them :)

    Love you soooo!

    Happy Birthday to your Momma ♥

    ReplyDelete
  3. I can see why you're eager to see them all. Don't forget to pack your googly eyes and whoopie cushion. Looks like they'll be appreciated!

    Have a great time. And give your mom an extra kiss from me. Someone who raises such happy people is a gem in my book!

    Blessings, Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  4. CONGRATULATIONS on your upcoming family celebration!

    Looking forward to hearing from you and all your adentures when you return.
    Blessings to you - marsha

    ReplyDelete
  5. There's just nothing to equal family. Loved the photo!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Have a wonderful trip. Ther's nothing like being with family.Enjoy your time !

    ReplyDelete
  7. Have a safe trip and fun time sister Mary! Take care and will be praying for you. Happy Birthday to your mom! That's so awesome! 96 years young! God bless.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am sure you are having a great time with your mom.

    Will be looking forward to hear the stories!

    Love
    Lidj

    ReplyDelete
  9. Enjoy your family Mary! I pray that you will have safe travels.

    Love you,
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow! 96th? Happy Birthday to her! Have a great time!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Mary -

    Thank you for sharing your family love and joy.

    Please share about your mother's reaction to your surprise visit.

    I would love to read how she responded!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Memorial Day Reflection

  Memorial Day is always noteworthy for me and my girls.  Next Thursday marks the third year of missing their father, my husband. So many thoughts  run through my mind.  The journey of loss takes on various emotions.  The strongest feeling, at first, was emptiness.  In a split second, I would forget he departed forever.  I imagined things I needed to talk to him about when he got back home.  My mind is realistic now.  He's not coming back.  There will be no more times of sitting on the porch swing together on the front deck staring at the moon and the stars.  He would tell me all he knew about the majestic night sky. I have so much I wish I could tell him, like the excitement of seeing our oldest grandchild make a decision to follow Jesus and get baptized on Mother's Day!  And our little Amy, 11 years old, I wish he could have seen her on stage receiving her induction to the National Honor Society. Our daughters have their own ...

Mama's Lipstick

I always wished I could do things with my mom like shop in the mall, share makeup secrets or go to the movies and watch romantic comedies.  My wish never materialized.     My mama behaved like a tomboy.   She loved baseball and pitched with a strong right arm.   She could care less about the latest fashion or the latest movies featured on the big screen.   She never polished her fingernails.    One day after elementary school, I walked into the house to find my mom all dolled up in front of the bathroom mirror, foundation crème, powder, eyebrow pencil and rouge all over the counter sink.  “Who are you?” I asked, thrilled to see my mama putting on the Ritz.  Makeup in place and blotted, she immediately took it off.  “I don’t like the way it feels,” she exclaimed. She retired in Arizona and protected her dry lips with a light rose lipstick, the color of natural lips, a step above ChapStick.  She wore it a few tim...

Book Review of Biblical Minimalism and Give Away

What does minimizing look like?  To the empty nester it may mean downsizing real estate.  To the co-dependent, it may mean pitching some toxic friendships they tend to collect.  I thought I had a handle on Biblical minimalism, but I wasn’t even close.  Biblical minimalism is much more than cleaning out a drawer and discarding unwanted things into a box to take to the thrift store. In her book, Biblical Minimalism, Cheryl E. Smith defines Biblical minimalism as “a complete, whole person release of anything unlike Jesus, a letting go of everything that hinders us from following Him wholeheartedly and single- mindedly , and a relinquishing of all that brings us under bondage to this earthly, very temporary life.” The author gives us a visual of a whole pie that is divided into eight slices.  Each slice describes our lives with areas to analyze to see if pruning or adjustment is needed.  I won’t name them all, but one example is the “emotional ...