Bird Mom

Good Old-Fashioned Character

2005-07-20T09:51:00.000-07:00

If anyone is still reading my blog, I'm sorry for the long absence! My husband and I have become grandparents. The new parents needed a little help for a couple of weeks. Our little Ethan Andrew (7 lbs., 15 oz. and 2 in.) is sure a little blessing to us. I'll write more about him later in another blog.

I was looking at my wedding pictures the other day. My daughter had found them in a box that had been misplaced for about 5 years. One of my favorite pictures is the one of my father kissing me on the cheek before he walked me down the aisle. When looking at him I realized that at my age I have caught up with my parents. My dad was the same age then that I am now. This had me reflecting on my past. My father and mother both have passed down to me a stong sense of character. They were some of the hardest workers I have ever seen (they still are!). Almost to a fault. We went on a five-day trip yearly to see friends. This was our vacation. We didn't even leave the state! Just drove up to the opposite corner. The rest of our time growing up was spent working together in the garden, hay and corn fields, barn. On Sundays after church we would either take hikes in the woods, play baseball/football, or go visit relatives. In the winter, we would watch old movies, especially Westerns. We were close and we had a happy life.

I look at my dad and see a man who would get on his tractor and pull people's vehicles out of snow drifts, or the neighbor kids' cars out of his garden when they misjuged where their driveway ended and the road began. Many times he had to get up in the middle of the night to help someone knocking at the door. He never said "No" to anyone who came and asked for help. He worked a 9-5 job in a steel mill to pay the bills then came home and worked on the property to keep it looking nice and to provide our meat and vegetables. He went to church every Sunday and took his family. My parents were church janitors for 20 years.

All these things they passed down to their children. The strong sense of hard work, helping others and duty to family and friends. I am so grateful for this. Our world today has many selfish people. Lazy people. People who want everything given to them without exerting any effort. It is a blessing to know that there are still people like my father who work hard at their job as well as helping others.

I pray that I have passed that trait of "old-fashioned character" on to my children.

We need to thank those who are hard workers and are willing to help others at any cost.

The Firstborn

2005-05-17T22:48:00.000-07:00

The other day I was witnessing someone asking my husband what our children were like. HIs answer got me to thinking. So many times we answer with what they are doing or accomplishing at the time. But that is not who they really are as a person.
Our oldest son, Richard graduated from UC Berkeley on May 14 as a philosophy major. You cannot believe how much pride swells the heart unless you have been in the same situation. He plans to go on to graduate school for a PhD. He loves academia and will do well with college students. But I want to digress to a time when his character was forming and tell you what he was and is like. Richard has been a responsible person from a very young age. He would make his bed and do his chores without much if any complaint. He was five years old and helping me at the grocery store. When we were at the checkout he looked at me with worried eyes and asked if we had enough money for all the groceries. I almost cried at his concern. He is one of the kindest persons that I have ever met. He is the type that helps people cross the street, holds doors open for women and men, and never puts people down when he may just know more than they do. He makes you feel like you are important to him. He loves talking but will also listen as if you are telling him the most important thing. Those of you who do know him will know that I am not exaggerating. (There probably will always be a bias slant since I am his mother.) He is not perfect, of course, and had a rough spot during puberty. He was a little withdrawn and liked to be by himself. That phase didn't last very long. He sees the good in people and opens himself up to hurt because of it. I thank God each day for him. Richard has been a wonderful witness in college. He is not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. The Lord has truly blessed him. Our family is enriched by his presence. He has turned into a man who has listened to God' call on his life.

Dear child, if you become wise,
I'll be one happy parent,
My heart will dance and sing
to the tuneful truth you'll speak.
Prov. 23: 13 (The Message)

A Good Sense of Humor

2005-05-02T20:36:00.000-07:00

It is a must for parents to have a good sense of humor from the cradle to the grave. If we take ourselves too seriously, we will miss the joys of life and die young from heart failure!

Children are forever exploring their limits. Our second son is one such example. He overstepped the boundaries on a daily basis. During one of our punishment sessions, I didn't have the strength to spank in an effective manner. He looked up at me and I looked at him and we both laughed until we were almost rolling on the floor. I love that boy. He is now a US Airman serving our country in S. Korea.

When our children were toddlers (five at once!) there were days I thought I would totally lose my mind. Any of you ever feel like that? I started collecting refrigerator magnets. I wanted to share a few with you. These are some of my favorites: "Cleaning the house while kids are still growing is like shoveling snow while it is still snowing!" ; "Raising kids is like being pecked to death by a chicken"; "You can't scare me, I have children! "; "The best things in life aren't things."

The best things in our lives are knowing God on a personal level and having a family. Clothes become old or boring. Electronics become obsolete. Tools rust. Food rots. A home can burn down. Friends can fail and hurt you. Family is what lasts. They are the people who care.

My brother told me a funny story last night that I will pass on to you. He attends an Evangelical Free church. They were having a special Easter service on Saturday night before Easter Sunday. My other brother (a charismatic) with his wife and my parents (old-fashioned Baptist) went to hear my brother sing. The music was very, very upbeat. My charismatic brother and his wife were swaying to the music and enjoying themselves. My brother that was singing looked up toward the family and saw our brother talking to my mother. Back at home, he asked what was said. My brother had turned to my mother and said, "Mom, why don't you just dance unto the Lord!"

She said, "No!"

He replied, "But David danced unto the Lord."

She looked at him and said, "I'm not David!"

Sense of humor. It is a must through all of life.

Rewards of Motherhood

2005-04-19T23:54:00.000-07:00

As I get older and my children also get older, I become more nostalgic. I think back to when they were born, the times they played in our back yard with all the neighbor children, the few trips to the emergency room, etc. It brings back many good memories and not as many bad ones. People ask me how I did it having five children in six years. I really don't know! Those years are a little blurry. I can just remember working very hard day after day. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I know there were days when I was ready to "throw in the towel." They can't compare to the great joy and hapiness these five blessings have brought me. Don't let anyone tell you rearing children is an easy task. A mother's heart is still easily broken in this day and age. But even adult children can still slip their hand into yours and say, "Thank you, Mom, for being you. I love you." It brings tears to my eyes.

My prayer is that mothers in today's society don't get caught up in the "trying to have my kids in as many sports, dance, extracurricular activites as I possible can, all at once" rat race. It causes a mom to burn out and not have time for the enjoyment of knowing her child for who he/she really is as a person. My favorite times were when my children would be outside playing in our dirt pile. I would sit in a lawn chair and watch them get as dirty as they could. They would just laugh and laugh. They were busy at work. Just being a kid. It is a priceless experience.

I am so blessed to have had that joy!

Hello!

2005-04-16T19:05:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my first blog. My husband has been "encouraging" me to start my own site. After reading some of the ugly comments he receives on his blog, I was hesitant to even try. So here I am. More later.