All Is Grace

i got the most amazing mother’s day gifts yesterday. and the ones that were my favorites didn’t cost a dime. not a cent, actually.

and i have never received more amazing gifts.

from anyone.

one will be hard-pressed to give me anything more priceless from this point forward.

oh, sure, they gave me a gluten-free savory baker book. i can’t wait to use it.

and a headband and socks for my workouts, and sugar-free candy, and beautiful seeds to plant in the garden.

and i’m grateful for those things.

but four things…they topped it all. scrawled on notebook paper and scrapbook paper. placed in a basket with the gifts. i’m sure they thought they were an afterthought to the gifts.

but not to me.

“Dear Madra,
Thank you for the best life I could possibly have. you have done so much for us. THANK YOU FOR NOT KILLING ME!…and putting up with my insanity.
Love you,
Brick”

“Momma,
Happy, happy mother’s day!! I love you so, so much, and despite what I may say in the influence of my crazy teenager hormones. I couldn’t ask for a better mom. Thank you for putting up with my crazy, ADD spaziness, and thanks for giving it to me in the first place.
I love you so much,
-Laine”

“Mahm,
It’s very much official: you have been my mother for 16 years, 2 months, and…well, it should be 1 day, but – if I’m doing my math correctly – it’s more like 1 minute. Yay, stubborn baby!…or not. These 16 years have been wonderful.
And chaotic.
And, at times, heartbreaking.
And beautiful.
I take for granted a lot of what you do for me. It’s starting to punch me in the throat that I only have less than two years with you left, and that I need to pay more attention to now; I need to listen to you more, and thank you more, and even hug you more.
I’ve screwed up a lot, and you have NEVER given up on me. You constantly pick me back up, come to my defense, and love me when you really just want to strangle me to death.
And I’m so very grateful for that. Thank you, Mahm, for being my person for 16 years. Thank you for loving me and showing me grace and mercy, and for giving me (and Lainie and Bry) your every waking moment. Thank you for holding me when I cry – be it about boys or a crappy grade (or fear of one, I should say) or an issue I’m having with a friend. Heck, thank you for crying with me.
Thank you for allowing me to do crazy things and supporting me while I do them.
I’m sorry I’ve been…absolutely, donwright ridiculous lately. It is 100% uncalled for, and I’m sorry for it. I promise you that I am working on it and trying to figure my mess of a teenager head out.
And I should probably mention one ‘lil detail: THANK YOU FOR TEACHING ME HOW TO DO THE DRIVING THING!
…heh.
Anyways… 🙂

Mahm, you are incredible. You are beyond talented; caking, singing, teaching, you name it. You’re beautiful and you need to stop judging yourself, because you are not what you keep fighting. You are strong, and independent, and crazy, and full of love and beauty.
You have been and continue to go through so much and you know? You’re still kicking butt. And you’re doing a pretty darn fantastic job at it.
I love you. Thank you. So. So. So. Much.
-Rea”

“A short list of why I believe you are a great mom!
Your Love – able to provide a loving environment for your kids and I.
Your Heart – caring for everyone’s needs above your own – you are amazing!
Your Faith – able to hold strong your relationship with Christ despite it all!
Your Strength – able to handle so very much while somedays receiving so very little.
Your Fortitude – when you are asked to shoulder burdens and stress beyond compare, you stay the course and stay true to yourself!
Your smile – it is infectious and one of the first physical qualities that snared my heart!
You are a daughter loved by all, a mother loved and respected by your children, and a wife ho is loved dearly because you are able to love me even when I’m unlovable. Thank you for being  you!
Wising you, my wife, a very special mother’s day! May your heart be filled with love, peace, and joy! Thank you for the sacrifices you make daily, may they never go unnoticed or unappreciated. You are a great mom. Treasured wife.

Your grateful husband,
Joe”

there have been disappointing Mother’s Days in the past. but this year, my kids decided to do something on their own, and…they blew my mind.