Down Memory Lane VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

This morning, I was blessed to have my mother and sister, Aimee join me for breakfast and devotions.  As we sat and shared fond memories—a few tears fell.  We felt the presence of the LORD in our midst.

Mother shared what she had been experiencing and thoughts from her heart and the Word—and Aimee did likewise.

I shared some of the “God events” of the week.  I told them how He had held my hand—and held me close as I walked through an area of rough terrain.  Spiritually speaking.  It was so rough as a matter of fact, that Nurse Aimee diagnosed my severe rash as “nerves”.  Hmmm.  Does that mean that I wasn’t “giving” all the problem to Christ?  —

We talked about how the hand of God has been filtering every detail—some things He kept us from—others He allowed us to walk through –and while we held HIS hand, He was glorified and we grew in our faith.

I am blessed with two daughters of my own.

They grew faster than I ever imagined…and now have their own children.

Where did the years go?

I come from a heritage of godly mothers.  They didn’t come to accept Jesus as their personal Savior early in life, but when they DID—HE impacted and changed their life as they never dreamed. 

The stories they could tell…

I wonder what they would say if they could meet our girls and their children now….

Would they know that we’ve tried our best to lead by example? 

Would they know we have carried the torch that they lit when they began their walk with the LORD?

I imagine if we talked about sleepless nights filled with worry and tears—prayers on our knees, they would share some similar.

Those two grandmothers of mine—finished their course well.  They’ve passed through the portal of this life and time into eternity—they dwell in paradise with the LORD.  And we will soon….

I am blessed with a mother who represented Christ in our home growing up—and we knew we could count on her to pray.  Always.  I hope that I’ve been that same kind of mother to my girls.  I hope that they both will be that kind of mother to their children.  Always.

Thank you for joining me on this little trek down memory lane.  It’s fun sometimes to reminisce.  When doing so I am always conscious of the hand of God in our lives…and am so very thankful.

To all the mothers out there reading today—I pray that you have an incredibly blessed “Mothers Day”.  This slide show is a “re-run” from one from a few years ago.  I hope you enjoy!

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©   The Knightly News—Giving Him All.  All rights reserved.

This post will remain the TOP post for the remainder of the week.  THE perfect Mother’s Day Gift!  My friend Elaine–the first one I ran into at She Speaks in 2008 and sat beside in the first class—and knew and loved from the beginning!  What an honor to share with you her gift—of writing—and sharing —JESUS. 

I encourage you—GET this book.  I am going to for myself!  Get it for your mom!  Get it for your sister!

Peace—for YOUR journey.  Visit Elaine at “peaceforthejourney.com“.  She is having a giveaway of the new book!

What an adventure!

And as a note to all the mother’s out there….Happy Mothers Day!  After that little one was placed in your arms–whether from the prayers–sweat and tears of labor and childbirth–or through the prayers– sweat and tears of adoption–you have never been the same since that day! 

As mother’s we have been given the most glorious assignments on earth–MOTHERING.  As we keep our hearts and minds in tune with HIS–we can do the sweetest, hardest, most rewarding–most loved–sometimes most daunting task of our lives—raising godly children.  I pray your days is filled with His goodness!

I will chat with you next week! 🙂

 
© The Knightly News 2007-2010

Sorry this took so long! But “somebody’s gotta work for a livin’ “…. (sorry girls…that is what Jeff says all the time…as if he alone works 🙂 )

After reading his post…go on down and sign in with Mister Linky and link up —be sure and share your mother’s day with us!

I want to wish you all a very Happy Mother’s Day. A few mothers I really want to honor on this day, my wife Angie, my mother, my mother-in-law, and my two daughters, Tiffany and April. These are the closest, dearest and most precious mothers to me. I could write a blog about each one individually, but I feel lead in another direction today. I would like to share about a very special mother in our church.

Matthew 7:16 says you can identify them by their fruit, — by the way they act.

Matthew is talking about false prophets, but we can identify Christians in this story (mothers) by their actions, by the way they live.

This particular mother has a special needs child. Although I’ve never had a conversation with her, she is part of my daily prayer life. On a Tuesday in December of 2008 during our morning men’s prayer meeting, I asked God for something different, something new, something I had never done before for 2009. A couple of weeks later, God answered my request.

The Lord gave me two people in our church to pray for every day for the next year. The first, a man with some health challenges, and the second—-this special mother.

“Wow–what a challenge” was what I thought. “What have I gotten myself into? To call their names every single day for an entire year? Could I do this? Commit to this? God, are you sure?”

Does this sound familiar? How many times have you done the same thing? Okay—off track just a minute…now let’s get back to the mom.

I don’t know the mother’s heart on a daily basis. I have no idea what she goes through every day….but I can tell you what I see. It takes a special mother to care for a special needs child. Do you realize that by 8:00 a.m. she has probably done more than many of you all day long? How about when you come home and retire to your special chair, her day is far from being over.

I see love in motion as she carries her child, for he cannot walk. Her face reflects love as she looks at him when she sits and holds him. I know that this kind of love—only comes from the Father’s love.

Do you see the resemblance? Just like our Father —who carries us through the times when we feel that we can’t go on…He wraps His arms around us when we are afraid or lonely. Only God loves this special child more than this special mother. And only God loves this special mother more.

As you go about your day—enjoying your family—or thinking back to the day you became a mother—thank the LORD above for the gift of that life.

Have a blessed mother’s day!

We are all about “mothers”.

I am one. I have one and so does Jeff. Both mom’s are spectacular! I told mine so just tonight. And she replies—“oh shush–I am not.”

But she is. And Luna, Jeff’s mom is too. I am so thankful for the childhood that I was blessed with. I realize that many children are not as blessed. I realized this even more as I grew up. Have I finished growing up yet?

On a young birthday, maybe 6 or 7, when we lived in Clermont, Florida, mother made me a special birthday cake. It had blue icing—I ate some icing on the sly—AND on the cake…needless to say—it was a LONG time before I wanted any cake icing…

I remember, as we grew up, mother up late very often —since she was the sole provider for 4 kids, she had her full time job, a part time job at the church, as well as keeping house, cooking, cleaning, and teaching and training 4 youngsters! What a job that must have been!

On special occasions when it called for a new dress or outfit, you’d find her sewing away on her machine in her room completing 3 dresses for 3 little girls, and many times a little boy pair of shorts to match our dresses! I remember more than once she made little Jeff (our baby brother) a whole suit! One Easter it was light blue jacket and matching shorts! HE was so cute!

I remember many sacrifices she made for us–and she never complained to us about not having this or that, she TRUSTED God to meet the needs of her little family. He always did. He still does.

I learned from her example, as well as the godly examples of both my grandmothers. Mamo and Granny. Lois and Vera Mae. They had an unshakeable faith in Jesus Christ and they passed this faith and trust in the Almighty God onto their family members. Some chose to follow, some not. Still the path was set. They did not waiver.

I remember cooking with both Mamo and Granny. I will share many “grand-mother memories” on a later post! But both were AWESOME women! One a mighty prayer warrior—the other a mighty fishing-woman! But dedicated to Jesus Christ all the way to the end of their days. And what a journey it was!

I hope you can join us this weekend and share some special memories of your childhood, whether the memory is about your own mother, or someone that had a great influence on your life. If you’ve got some pictures —past or present–put them on! Let us visit together—we’re pulling out the scrapbooks…bad hair days and all! Be sure and link back to here so that we can visit around and spread the mother’s day cheer! You can grab the special mother’s day button on the side bar and display it for your “Mother’s Day” memories!

I have combined pictures of the past few years of special moms in my life. Some friends…some family. If you aren’t pictured —either I don’t have your picture…or…OR…it’s not on this computer the day I made this! (I apologize for being in more than one picture…I am in the company of some awesome women and I just left the photo as it was for memories sake!)

Enjoy!

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My linky has not been working right…so if it’s not here…be sure and leave a comment letting others know you are participating—and we can visit!

and

Jeff’s post will be added this weekend! He will be writing about his mom!

Her eyes stinging with hot tears, she stares at the paper in front of her. Her long brown hair thankfully covers her face as she bends closer to the desk in her Sunday School class pretending to be working intently on her Father’s Day assignment. Her thoughts come tumbling free from the pain inside her little heart. “He wasn’t ever home anymore – why should I color him this Father’s Day card? It would probably be months before he would see it. What’s the point? I’ll just color it and throw it away as usual.”

Riding silently home from church, she tucked the card behind her other papers. As the little girl entered the house with her older sisters and younger brother, she smelled the aroma of the Sunday dinner cooking in the oven. Home. A place where she felt loved. Everything inside seemed to speak her mother’s name. It seemed to shine with her spirit and love.

Slipping out of the little dress her mother had finished hemming the night before and into play clothes, she went to see what her older sisters were doing. The same thing. Changing clothes. They were very careful with their Sunday clothes. Even though it wasn’t discussed, they knew that new clothes didn’t come easily. They were hand made, and only as needed or for special occasions.

There was no radio on, but music still filled the house with her mother’s singing and the clank of the biscuit pan as the hot delicate bread was slid from the oven. Minutes later, one, two, three, four children sat around the table with mother at the head, as they each bowed to offer thanks.

Everything was delicious, it always was. How did she do it? With hard times, even the meager snack was sometimes slim, and yet, she somehow fed them until they were full of tasty meals! The older girls cleaned the kitchen as mother began getting the younger two ready to settle in for a Sunday afternoon nap. Quietly, the youngest girl went back to her room and looked again at her papers from Sunday School – “I know,” she thought, “Someone else needs this Father’s Day card. I’ll give it to mother because she’s everything to me, even a father. She takes such good care of all of us, working everyday and still finding time for play.” She paused a moment as she reminisced about all the special things mother had done lately – the surprise beach picnic last Saturday, and then coming to the school program the Friday before. “How tired mother looked as she rolled my hair in the sponge rollers last night so I would look pretty for church. Mother always looked beautiful,” she thought. She had often heard comments on what a beautiful mother she had. She even heard people say that her beauty was more than “skin deep”, her heart was beautiful! “

“She deserves this card,” she thought with sudden firmness. Gripping the card tightly behind her, she slipped into her mother’s bedroom. Climbing up onto the bed where she was reading her Bible, already preparing for next weeks lesson. The young girl’s small hands whipped the card from behind her back, placed it on top of mother’s Bible, and smiled, as she sincerely looked into her mother’s eyes, and with tears choking her voice just a bit, said, “I made this for you today, because you have been a mother and a father to us.”

Mother swallowed hard and replied, “Oh, thank you darling, you did so well!”

Then mother leaned over, gave the small child a loving squeeze, and got up to go to the restroom. Finally, returning, her eyes red and cheeks rosy, she climbed back into bed for her nap. She cuddled up to the small child and they both slept that sweet Sunday afternoon. . . .”

Down through the years our mother was faithful, providing time, unconditional love, teaching life values, giving strength, planting seeds of hope, and living Jesus.

Now that I’m grown, I know I didn’t have the Proverbs 31 woman for a mother, I’ve had much more! – A mother and a father rolled into one: a model matriarch of faith, a cup of His life that has continually poured into mine. Her life is a reflection of Him. We all love her and are incredibly grateful for all the sacrifices made. “Giving” —so that we could receive.

Looking back on our lives, I know there were times it had to be hard to raise four children on a mere bookkeeper’s wages, but she always kept us fed, clothed, loved, and taught us about Jesus; and how He could fill every void. I realize with much clarity, I made her cry when I gave her that card on Father’s Day, but she was so strong I never saw her grief. Since becoming a mother, I understand more of the sacrifices she made. If only I can be half of what she has been to me.

Mother, I cherish every moment I spend with you, and I pray you’ll be rewarded, one day for all you’ve been: teacher, comforter, and my friend. As your Savior crowns you, I know He will say, “Well done my good and faithful child – enter in!”

Pictured standing: Wanda, Angie, Aimee (from Sister’s Retreat 2006)
Sitting: Mother
Not pictured: our brother, Jeff.

Essay written by Aimee with much love for Mother on Mother’s Day.

Copyright 2009 Sisters of Faith, Aimee Douglas. All rights reserved.

To all the mothers……Happy Mother’s Day.

You may have to cook your own meal…clean up your own kitchen…or you may be treated to a day out! Whatever, and wherever you are…may your day be filled with the presence of the Holy God in heaven.

On Saturday, we celebrated our “mother” with lunch at her house. After lunch we began something that may very well become a tradition in our homes. Mark had purchased balloons for each family member (and we had one special guest, April’s mother-in-law! Welcome Cindy!) to write a note to my sister Wanda and let it loose to the blue sky above. We each wrote notes on the brightly colored balloons and then went outside, and on the count of 1…2…3, we let them soar! (Pictures are below–a few are missing and I am “behind the camera lense”)

She would have celebrated her 5th blessed year as a mom. She is celebrating today with the King who gave her that precious life 5 years ago. Thank you Mark, for the gift of Saturday. It meant more to us than you will ever know.

Just a few hung around in the tall oak tree nearest us, but they soon decided the open sky was the place to be as the wind shifted their course upward. Our course is shifting as well. We are headed in a firm direction. Heavenward.

I missed each of you this past week….but can I tell you I enjoyed the break? I will blog some events of my trip…(spa day girls…need I say more?) I will share pictures and things I talked over with the Lord. Some of the things anyway. I will also catch up on some e-mails at night in between other house chores which you all know too well about!

Have a blessed day ladies. I missed you!