Mother's day, 2012!

I always seem to want to write on Mother's day!  Mostly, because my Mom will read this...and somewhat because being a Mom is my current career choice.

Today was uneventful--church, and then CrackerBarrel.  It's kind of a crapshoot in Utah finding someplace to eat on a Sunday--but we've mostly figured it out.  Church was great--I need to go back to re-listen, as Joelle was sitting in front of me, texting, and I couldn't help spying on her.  I finally told her to put her phone away, if only so I could pay attention!

The girls are 15 and almost 17.  If we don't add more kids (and yes, we are still planning to do so, but it is taking SO LONG I really wonder if it will EVER happen) my choice of careers will be over.  As I am sure God himself designed it, there are actually some days where I feel excited to be 'done' and move on to something else.  But then the neighbor's 3 year old comes by and calls me MrsKore (or sometimes Mr., depending on her mood) and rambles on and on about the sliver in her finger, and it goes though my head "I am NOT done being a Mom".  However, because I choose to follow God's will for my life, I will let him choose my path.  Not easy for a control freak like me!

But here's the rub.  I actually know how to do this mothering thing, now!  I know what is important at age 3...and what is NOT.  I also know what my own Mom knew at this age...and the past couple of years have really brought insight into how challenging these last parenting years can be.  When I was a young Mom, I was so determined to do things my own way, and I did.  I probably still feel that way.  But NOW, I understand why my Mom parented how she did, and I can appreciate the hard choices she had to make.  Somedays, I even feel like I AM my Mom, and I have to laugh!

Parenting is certainly NOT for cowards.

Anyhow.  Here's to Moms.  Short ones, tall ones, skinny ones, fat ones, young ones, old ones.  Girls, we have a job to do, let's do it well!  We make the world go 'round, one human being at a time.

p.s.  Happy Mother's day Mom.  I love you!

Mother's day and Lilacs.

Yesterday was a considerably different Mother's day for me. Typically, I see my MOM...and I get to spend lots of time with my girls...and I always, always tell them how glad I am to be their Mom.

Digression: I don't buy into the whole 'it's my special day, so treat me like a queen', crap. Being a Mom is a gift, I am honored and blessed to do it. Just don't make me cook. :)

Anyhow. Eric and Sabrina are in Colorado. It was originally a family trip, but poor Joelle is too sick for words...literally. The girl hasn't spoke since last Wednesday. Kind of praying about what to do on that one. It was good for Eric to see my Mom though--since his own mom is gone. And Grandma is loving the spoiling she gets to give Sabrina.

So Joelle and I hit the only Provo coffee shop I know of--Juice and Java. You Utah outsiders have to understand that to visit a coffee shop on a Sunday morning is...a really enjoyable act of rebellion for me, here. The only thing missing was my dog. I hope my dear neighbor is not reading this. ;)

Then I let Joelle drive through peacefully empty streets. Great time for her to practice. She drove to her new school. She drove me to an animal farm(not THE animal farm...). She drove into traffic cones and once didn't look over her shoulder and almost drove into a silver lexus. I made it a good 2 hours before a headache set in. She talks when she drives...and I love that.

Then we picked some purple lilacs--for some reason, the smell of lilacs and my mother are deeply bound together. The entire house smells like Mother's day.

All in all, a great day. I am blessed.

Ode to my Momma.

Truth be known, I'm a daddy's girl. Ask my Mom--she knows.

Mom grew up on the farm, one of the middle kids of 12. I'm not sure if the Lord made her a strong, practical woman on purpose...but I can't imagine she had much choice. I wish I had a picture of her as a girl--she's the cutest of those Yosten girls, as I'm sure my Dad would agree. Sweet and blond; a smile that still is that combination of clever and sweet and mischievous.

Though I am absolutely positive that my Mom was thrilled beyond belief the day I was born...I also know that in her heart, and even more so after 3 subsequent boys, that she believed I would be best served by a strong, practical Mother.

I remember as a girl,

I was expected to help Mom in the house. I don't think that she ever felt sorry for me--those times that I perceived my brothers running free, brown and naked as Indians...and her and I, butting heads, me not realizing that she was teaching me skills that I'd need later in life.

Though Mom? I have NEVER needed to kill and pluck my own chicken.

Mom never let me skip school when I 'didn't feel well'. She'd turn right around and pick me back up later in the day--but I was always expected to get up, get dressed and move on.

Mom made me get jobs. She expected me to ride my bike to those jobs. She also made me pay for half the bike.

Mom's method for dealing with most every pain and heartache was to 'move on with life'. To 'get to work'. Heck. Seemed to me like this always meant cleaning something!

My Mom's practicality--her determination that I would NOT be spoiled, that I would KNOW how to work, that I would be bright and love to learn didn't always feel like love to me.

I am sure my Mom never imagined the very hard experiences I'd face later in life. Though I'm sure she would have loved to 'fix' those experiences...they were my hardships to face.

Instead, she has always been the one by my side--the one whispering YOU CAN DO THIS. You can get through this. Try harder, Kore. Be brave Kore. Depend on God, Kore. If she cried or was afraid for me, she never showed it.

See--here's the real story. MY God, my good, good God gave me just the kind of Momma I would need.

A strong, practical Mom.

I love you Mom. Thanks for helping me become the woman I'm proud to be.