Happy Mother's Day....

It is Mother's Day Weekend.

Happy Mother's Day to my MOM....I love you.

I'm the proud mom of two sons.
Joe turned 40 this year..so amazing ...I remember when I was 40...seems like yesterday.

Yes...
I love my boys.
But one thing I always wanted was a girl, due to medical reasons I would never have my own girl.
A special event happened that changed all that, I became the aunt of a girl and then two years later another girl. Desiree and Heather were the first girls in our family for many years, we had been producing only boys.

An aunt is a special person. I've read that it's about the next closest relationship to being a mom. The cool thing about it is that your not the mom. Over the years it was not my job to nurture, or teach, or discipline,though there were times I couldn't restrain myself in these areas, but instead I could be their friend, encourage them to fulfill their gifts and potentials, not be judgmental, just love them and enjoy them.
Now they are adults with their own GIRLS.....Now I'm a great aunt. Do you know how fun it is to buy a tea set or a frilly dress, or a necklace for a little girly girl when you don't get to do that every day? I'm still being blessed by these relationships.

Not long ago, I had someone say to me, " You seem so close to your nieces, you visit, you give to them of yourself, they are not your grandchildren, What is up with that?"

I was stunned at her question.
I thought for a minute.
"Well, they just love me," I said, "and I love them."
It was her turn to be stunned. I don't think she expected it to be that simple.

I'm there for them, I care about their lives.
I've watched them grow up, I've walked alongside them through difficult circumstances, and
I've shared some of their greatest joys.

I love the story in the New Testament of Mary and Elizabeth. I think this is a perfect example of an auntie and niece relationship that was a blessing to both of them.
Mary had just learned she was to be the mother of the Messiah, the Promised One.

"Mary you have found favor with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest."

Mary was in a very difficult position, she was betrothed to Joseph, and she faced the stigma of being an unwed mother....she could be accused of adultery punishable by stoning.
I would imagine that things at home with her parents were a little tense at that point, interesting that we see her traveling to Elizabeth's house.

"Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth."

Elizabeth was a relative, probably on her mothers side, some commentaries say she was her aunt. I like to think that this was true. I would imagine she went to her aunts home for the comfort of her presence, the peace of her home, the wisdom of her words.

"then she (Elizabeth) spoke out with a loud voice and she said, Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."

Wow, I can only imagine what comfort and joy her aunt's words of confirmation and wisdom must have brought to Mary, and what a joy it must have been to Elizabeth to have her beloved niece come all that way to share her good news and then get to spend time with her while she was in the later stages of her own pregnancy.

A Perfect Auntie and Niece encounter I think....

So why bring this up on Mother's Day?

Well I am getting to see both my beloved nieces, Heather is here now with her sweet Samantha, and Des is coming in three weeks with her 3 beautiful girls.
I AM SO EXCITED.....


This is a picture of me and my girls from many many years ago.