1.28.2011

Happy Happy Birthday Grammie!

I have learned a few things during my 25 years of life...  It doesn't seem like a substantial length of time to some, but I have had certain years that have caused significant learning curves...   Some of the lessons have been long and painful... others have been slower and less noticeable, until one day, it all "clicks" and I can feel myself stretching and growing.  

Here are a few things I have learned...
1) Having no money stinks... but you sure do learn a lot about yourself.  Things like, do I base importance of myself and others on material things?  How creative can I be with the limited amount of money I do have.  :)  
2) Loneliness can be self-inflicted.  I am quiet and shy.  I do not make friends easily.  I am sort of awkward and people usually don't like me the first time they meet me.  I used to just give up the first time, but I have realized that this is the real problem...  People are more inclined to be a friend to someone who means it, you know? 
3) I have learned that Faith is not blind.  No one is ever asked to have faith, just to have it....  Seek... Ask... Find.... (Period.)

Some of these lessons I have learned on my own.  Some came from Family Home Evenings past. 

But most of them came from somewhere else... from someone else.  Lessons on the ABC's to manners to unconditional love.  These lessons have been taught by a strong and constant force...  My Mom!  :)  

It is her birthday today and I just wanted to tell her I love her.  :)  My Mom was the one to teach me how to find a good deal...  She has always cautioned me to save, instead of spend... (I'm working on it!)   Mom raised me in a home that encouraged individuality and self-esteem.  She taught me to love my family by teaching me to get along with my sisters...  Because she knew, in the future, I would need the relationship I now have with Kathy, Cheryl, and Whitney.  She has taught me to be kind and friendly...  Mom has taught me what it means to have faith... even when that means having the faith to drag your family an hour and a half to and from church every Sunday.  

These are all lessons she taught me in the past, but there are lots she continues to teach me now too.  Here is one of my favorite pictures of two of my favorite people.  
This is my favorite because it is so candid...  It looks like I could be standing in that kitchen with them.  But there is an important lesson I learn through this picture of my mom...  We were staying at their house for the weekend...  We had all stayed up way too late the night before, playing games or watching movies and I remember being soooo tired.  So, I tip-toed downstairs and had myself a nice, long nap.  While I was napping, someone snapped this picture of Lily and Grammie making pies together.  What a wonderful picture to remind me of what it means to serve others.  It doesn't have to be extravagant...  It doesn't have to be for a good friend or a stranger or someone who you think "needs" it.  I'm sure my Mom was tired, but she chose to spend her time doing one of Lily's favorite things... baking.  And Lily loves Grammie all the more for these special moments spent together.   And so do I.  So, thank-you for sharing your experience and knowledge.  Thanks for teaching with love.... and allowing me to always say "my mom said no" if there was anything I needed to "get out of".  I know I have many, many, many lessons to learn, but, because of you, I think I have a pretty good start.

6 comments:

  1. Natalie, you are such a beautiful person!! This post made me cry and I dont even know your mom!! Thanks for sharing. You are one of my best examples. Hopefully, I will get on my blog again...oh...and thanks to you and your last blog (the circle skirt one) I was able to get a poodle skirt done for Riley last week. Thanks! I knew she wanted one for flashback day but I really didn't want to buy a pattern for a circle skirt then viola! I read your post. You saved me and helped me be #1 mom for the week. I LOVE YOU!!!!

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  2. Nice blog Nan. You are fortunate to have a great mom. We all need them. I know you are that kind of a great mom to Lily and Alexis. I love you! Thanks for being who you are.

    Brian

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  3. Thanks for the support! Words can't say how much I love you both.

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  4. Nan what a nice birthday surprise...I wasnt even intenting to look at my facebook today but some impression said to do it...and what do I find but something so nice that brought a tear to my eyes...Thanks for being such a loving and kind person and my words to everyone out there it to get beyond that first impression and you can have a friend for life....Thank you for your kind and wonderful thoughts,,, I LOVE YOU NAN.....

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  5. Love you too mom! Can't wait to see you guys tomorrow.

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  6. What a wonderful blog. Ruby is "good people" but so are you AND so are Lily and Alexis. Those apples didn't fall far from the tree! What a well rooted tree! Taylor is a pretty fortunate guy!

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