Thursday, October 14, 2010

Blessing




Yesterday I had such a nice gift. It would have been my mom's 55th birthday, so I thought it would be a nice time to go see her memorial brick at Wayfarer's Chapel here. I was planning on bringing the kids, but my good friend Shauna kept them for me.

The whole drive out to the chapel was overcast and gloomy, but I was still excited to have some thinking time without the kids. As I rounded the bend to the chapel, I saw the clouds had all broken around the chapel and it was sunny and beautiful there. It was lovely. I sat without anyone around on a bench for 30 UNINTERRUPTED (when does that ever happen in our lives?) minutes- watching the waves roll in and break near the cliffs, packs of humming birds flying through and playing, and smelling the fresh air while running my fingers over a leaf on a vine that was beginning to change red for fall (a treasure around here where you don't see many signs of the change of seasons). In the background, the church bells would occasionally chime- reminding me of my childhood trips to my grandparents house with their old grandfather's clock.

It was perfect- even heavenly time. I was able to think about mom's cinnamon gum, diet cokes, FHP days, decorating for holidays, and yearly denial of being able to get the gift you really wanted for Christmas (this was the sure sign we were actually going to get what we wanted!). Just lovely. Just right.

Happy 55th Birthday Mom- thanks for sharing your gifts with me. Love you!

6 comments:

Shauna said...

Beautiful description of peace. :) Glad your mom had such a wonderful daughter!

Glennard said...

What a beautiful time. I'm so glad that you had the opportunity to go to see your Mom's brick but the chance to go alone - EVEN BETTER! Its so nice to have that time to yourself, to really contemplate and focus without worrying if one of the kids is playing in the fountain or rolling down the hill. Nice post Sweetie.

Heidi said...

It all sounds just perfect, Kristen! I am so glad that you had such a great time. I, too, am so glad that your mother had such a great daughter and blessed her with great gifts like laughter, making people feel special, and celebrating big! Good memories!

TysonandMarthaGerber said...

Seems to me like a perfect tender mercy. I can't believe so many years have passed. Time flies. Thanks for sharing the great experience.

Kori said...

Yay! I am glad you have wonderful place to go to honor her memory and think of her. I remember when it all happened and I believe that is when we officially became friends:) Sweet blessings for us!

Unknown said...

I love your mom because she was always to kind to me. I love her, too, because she gave me you!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.