Mother's Day Blessings

Earlier this week, I had aspirations of writing something deep and meaningful about motherhood in honor of Mother's Day.  However, in reality, I have been too busy chasing after my kids this week to find the time .. I have been too immersed in the act of being a mother to find the ability to step back and see motherhood as anything philosophical.  At this point in my life, being a mother is made up of day-to-day moments, ordinary daily occurrences, the adrenaline rush of keeping up with my children and exhaustion when the day is complete.  So, rather than attempt to say something deep and meaningful, I will simply give you a glimpse into the events of my own Mother's Day weekend ...

I will begin with Saturday morning ... I had gotten up early and was doing my own thing while the kids were still in bed; however, once Karissa woke up, she officially banished me to my bedroom while she worked to make me breakfast in bed.  She graciously let me bring a Diet Pepsi and a book (I started out with the computer but she decided she needed it to check on her recipe instructions).  From my room, I could hear her banging pots and pans and slamming cupboard doors.  I heard her asking her brother for math advice as she measured and stirred.  She would pop in and out of my bedroom periodically with questions as to my preference on such things as peanut butter versus jelly and blueberry versus chocolate chip.  As she worked and I waited, I decided to give my mother a call to chat since I had all the time in the world.  We chatted a while and she eagerly waited for a return phone call with a report on the breakfast.  I couldn't help but chuckle when Karissa came in to ask me if pancakes would be okay if they are scrambled ... I assured her that the pancakes would taste fine ... even scrambled.

After somewhere around an hour later, she finally appeared at my bedroom door with a tray full of goodies ... I had my camera in hand to capture the moment.  The snowman tray that she carried wobbled under the weight of a variety of mismatched bowls.  One bowl contained scrambled eggs and she had filled another small bowl with my favorite, vanilla yogurt with added blueberries.  She lined the tray with a few small slices of peanut butter toast and a cookie.  The item that impressed me most was the fact that she had made chocolate chip blueberry pancakes from scratch using a recipe she had learned from You-Tube.  I was very impressed!  Yes, the pancakes were rather "scrambled" but they tasted perfect ... I didn't even need to use the syrup she had included on my tray ... the melted chocolate chips and oozing blueberries made the pancakes delicious!  I asked her to grab an extra fork and join me!


Mother's Day Sunday officially dawned the next morning.  I woke early to pick Christian up from a friend's house.  Meanwhile, my husband even took some time away from the field and made it home from the farm by 9 am.  Once our family was once again all intact, we headed to Luther College in Decorah.  We were honored to share and enjoy Mother's Day brunch with both my Mom as well as Shawn's mom.  Shawn's sister and her boyfriend joined us as well.  It was a nice morning of good food, family bonding, and conversation.  I savored, my favorite, cheesecake which melted in my mouth as I sipped my hot coffee.  Yum!  Once we all finished eating, we exchanged "Happy Mother's Day" wishes and parted ways (although only for a little while).  The kids and I dropped my husband off in the field where he continued planting.  I was grateful that he had taken a little time away to spend with family for the morning.  After dropping him off, the kids and I spent a little time sitting outside in the fresh air ... it was a perfect, calm, sunny day ...

By early afternoon, the kids and I followed my mom and her husband, Karl, to my Grandma and Grandpa Einck's house.  There we all spent some quality time talking with my Grandma, Grandpa, and other extended family.  We visited together in the screened-in porch where we could catch a glimpse of the afternoon breeze as we watched a variety of birds make their way around the yard.  My kids took a few turns at the bean bag game as we watched.

A few hours later, our time was cut short when I received a phone call from my husband.  He was getting low on fuel in the field and needed my assistance.  Since I am pretty low on the totem pole of experienced farmers in my husband's life, he rarely asks for my help with farming related tasks.  Therefore, I was happy to help and eagerly jumped at the chance.  Once we got to my mom's farm where he was planting, he gave me explicit instructions on how to go about filling the tank (I didn't think I needed quite that many instructions!)  Anyway, I won't bore you with the details of our duties, but once we had completed our tasks we made our way back to the farm.  Since it was getting later, we brought supper to the field.  I was rather excited to share a little family picnic on the grass as we waited for the tractor to fill with fuel.  (I was a bit afraid I would accidently sit on itching weed or poison ivy or at least a thistle ... but I didn't!)  As we headed back to the van through the tall grasses of the waterway, I couldn't help but do a little "Laura Ingall's Wilder run" with my arms outstretched.  My family chuckled at me ... okay, so I am a little crazy! :)

Once back at home, the kids decided to do their own things for a while.  Each of them headed into their rooms and I opted to sit on the porch to enjoy a little more of the afternoon.  I texted responses to my brother and his wife who had sent me messages earlier to wish me a Happy Mother's Day.  After a while, I suggested to the kids that we spend some time in the back yard playing ball ... of course they jumped at the chance.  We played catch a while and Christian assisted Karissa in perfecting her pitch for Little League this year.  She did a good job!  When we came back inside, I noticed I had a missed call from my Mom ... I quickly dialed her back and we dove into yet another conversation ... I know, I know, I had already talked to her a lot that weekend ... but that is nothing new ... I can always find more to talk about with my mom!!!

Happy Mother's Day!!               

Endings and New Beginnings ...

The end of the school year is fast approaching with concerts and recitals, field trips and tests galore.  Students and teachers are scurrying to finish up end of the year projects and preparing for exams, while parents are consumed with sack lunch requests, field trip forms and last minute calendar changes...    Students are cleaning out classrooms and de-cluttering desks and backpacks.  Each student has accumulated memorable experiences, friendships and knowledge that will not be forgotten ...  cherished moments caught on camera, in essay, poem and report card.  At the same time, each student is looking forward to summer and a time to step back and enjoy some leisure time in the sun.  Soon time will bring them back around to return again in the fall with brand new notebooks, freshly sharpened pencils, and uncluttered desks and minds … ready to start a new school year.    Wouldn’t it be nice if the rest of life could be like a school year … with time to finish up all projects and clean out cobwebs and clutter from our lives and our minds to start with a fresh slate with the next coming season …

I think today of graduating seniors … my children have not reached this part of life yet … and I hope the next few years go by in slow motion!  I know that many seniors are feeling bittersweet these last few weeks as they are finishing a wonderful chapter in their lives … while also getting ready to write a whole new novel as they embark on bright futures.  I recall my own high school graduation and I have many fond memories of that time of my life.  Those memories helped make me who I am today.  But wonderful as those memories are, I would not want to step back in time for I have had many new beginnings since then … I met my husband just weeks after graduation and we went on to be married and have two wonderful children!  And I continue to anticipate new endeavors  on the horizon.  

With thoughts of graduating seniors, special memories and new beginnings …

This week, a well deserving Decorah High School graduate will be receiving the Adam J. Bohr Memorial Scholarship and another deserving North Liberty student will be receiving one as well.  As my family and I attempt to clear some of the cobwebs of grief from our hearts, we cling to cherished memories and recall many ways that my brother, Adam, enriched our lives.  It is comforting to know that Adam’s spirit will continue to enrich the lives of others as his memory lives on in graduating seniors each year as they embark on their own new beginnings with endless possibilities …