She is 60

Before I begin this post, I will state the obvious: I have been on a more than two year hiatus.

As I looked over my blog and it's dust covered state, I checked out some comments.  My brother Brian commented recently and stated another, possibly not so obvious truth: Facebook and Instagram have made us LAZY and BORING.  Ouch.  So much truth, and even deeper layers to that statement.  That is a blog for another time. Also, it's a topic that has already been discussed on many blogs across the Internet world.  

The truth is that I will often be driving down the street with an internal blogmonologue going on. What? It's a word. Anyway, there are many topics, questions, musings that I want to write about and I just never end up letting them past my thoughts.  My brother called me out a little bit.  Thanks, Bri.  It's not about being the best writer, or not being able to write about what people find interesting. A blog is about what's important to me; what I want to write about.

Today's topic: My mom.  

I took a survey from my kids and asked them to describe Gramellen in two words:

Jeffrey said: Hilarious and Delusional

Molly said: Funny and Caring

Ellie said: Pretty and Generous

I think this is a pretty honest look into the hearts of these kids for their grandma.  When I asked Jeffrey if he knew what delusional meant he responded, "like, crazy, right? Everyone knows Grandma is hilarious and crazy".  My mom has always been able to make my kids laugh. Whether it is wild irrational behavior, or rebellious humor; she always has them rolling.  I love that when I asked them to describe her in two words every single one of them got a huge smile on their face and giggled a little.  THAT'S their first response when she comes to their mind.  

My mom is 60 today.  When I used to think about someone being 60, I would think it sounded "older"... but when I think of my mom being 60, it doesn't sound older to me anymore.  I love seeing things from the adult perspective (yes, I am calling myself that for the moment).  As a child or teenager, or even young adult, I didn't really see my mom as an individual who had her own interests, hopes or dreams.  Focus on self can easily distract us from really knowing the ones we love;  and moms especially can become the recipients of under-appreciation and lack of acknowledgement.

In 60 years my mom has just about seen it all.  In the time I've known her she has experienced: marriage, motherhood of babies, toddlers, teens, young adults, and adults,  friendship, loss of her mother, divorce, world travel, fine art, rich music, death of friends, death of my dad, death of her dad, death of her mother-in-law, births of grandchildren, moving in and out of residences, wonderful highs, and very dark lows, and everything in-between.  The added stress that comes with motherhood is having to feel the pain that your children have to deal with in their lives as well.  We hate to see our children struggle and suffer.  My siblings and I and everything that our lives have totaled up until now have also been felt deeply by my mom; because, well, she's our mom. The good, the bad, the ugly, the really ugly; she has been here through all of it.

She may not see the beauty that is in today's milestone of turning 60, but I do.  I see the opportunity for her to take a deep breath, smile, and wave goodbye to the past.  I see the grace that covers her in the present, and I see the unlimited blessings paving her future. There are bright days ahead, mom.

I love you and I thank God for choosing you to be my mom.