My mom turned 65!

My wonderful little mother turned 65, December 27 and Ellie had an amazing idea which she often does! She had us all come home for Christmas and surprise her with a siblings only party. This party started off with my dad giving her roses (SWEET!) and then we went to the Texas Roadhouse (I had nothing to do with the choice). My dad scared us to death by getting a piece of his steak stuck. He has to have his esophagus stretched periodically and it is time again. I must say it scared me plenty. After that was resolved we went back to moms house and had a FHE where we sang our favorite song growing up "Love at Home" and I tell you we sounded really good... not quite Sound of Music standards but maybe Brady Bunch! We then had gotten my mom several gifts that were wrapped and then each had a little tag attached that would lead to the memory of our childhood. I have them all recorded but some were

A tractor bell ( a dream come true) My mom always wanted to marry a farmer. "Mom's always prepared" purse with twenty candy bars for when she flew to Texas and when she got off the plane she had a purse full of candy bars. 3 hr flight! The smell of home Bread pan mom always baked bread and other homemade gifts. ETC. She received about 23 gifts and it was so wonderful to relive the memories. It was also so fun to hang out with my siblings. We laughed until our sides hurt, played rook, and just enjoyed each other. We were supposed to write a poem or a memory and my brother Dean did a wonderful job, Rachel wrote my mom a letter full of her thanks and appreciation and Nichole did a cute Name poem. I wrote the following

Mom

Starting each day with our family prayer

Mom stumbles in with half–open eyes

With nightdress askew and disheveled hair

Arms her brood ‘gainst the world – very wise

Kids off to school, house is now quiet

Back to her book, it’s become an obsession

Romance, intrigue, a steady diet

Stashed in the oven, to avoid a confession

She tidies the house, pushing her broom

Baking and cleaning -her homemaking chores

The smell of fresh bread fills every room

Leaving little swept piles on all of the floors

Up to the yodel she sidles to toast

Its dark outside, a cold night in Maine

We’ve seen it before, we tell her ‘too close!’

But, another nightdress goes down the drain

When I think of my mom- makes me wonder

She is one that mere words can’t describe

It’s the feelings I get thinking of her

That make me awfully glad she’s alive

HAPPY 65^TH MOTHER DEAREST!!

Love, Elena

It was such a wonderful way to honor a woman who has given me so much throughout my life and is such a great "example of the believers" in word and deed. She truly loves the Lord and makes him the center of her world. Thanks Ellie for thinking of this and making it come out so beautifully.