Grandma Martha

This is my mom, Martha.

I love this picture of her taken over a year ago at my paternal grandfather’s funeral.

I love it because of the expression on her face.  She’s happily listening to one of our older relatives talking and she’s soaking it in with delight.

Grandma Martha loves to hear a good story about as much as she loves to tell a good story.  My children would much rather have Grandma tell them a story than read them a book and if she does read them a book she always puts her own spin on it.  After she has read a book to my children I can never live up to her standards, I know this, my children tell me, “Read it like Grandma.  No.  No.  Not like that.  No.  She doesn’t read it that way….never mind, we’ll just go to sleep.  We wish Grandma were here.”

She loves little kids and has spent most of her adult life teaching Sunday school or youth choir or traveling with a puppet team to perform for other youth groups around the Midwest.  She exhausts herself when it comes to putting on a puppet show.  I’ve never seen anyone pour so much energy into black light stage props and felt story boards as my mother.

My mom is a hugger and a kisser.  She still hugs me with her whole body and kisses my whole face.  She calls me “Baby Girl” and “Little Girl” and “Darling Daughter” and I love all of it.  I purposefully hug my kids and kiss them a bazillion times a day and in public because my mom taught me never to be afraid to show affection to those you love.

Grandma Martha can see no flaws in her grandchildren.  None.  If I call her to complain about one of the kids doing something stupid she will rationalize their actions and then start pointing out all the wonderful qualities that child possesses.  It’s very irritating.  I plan on doing this for my children someday.  My grandchildren will love me far more than their parents because of it.

My Mom is the best mom in the whole world.  I LOVE YOU MOM!  Happy Mother’s Day!

When I asked Mom to judge Coal Creek Farm’s First Fabulous Give Away she was thrilled.  I had no idea that I would get over 300 entries.  I was thinking fifty, sixty max.  I talked to Mom several times during the week and she would tell me how difficult it was to read some of the entries.  They made her cry, they made her laugh, they made her proud.  She was amazed by the difficulties that some of the moms overcame to raise their children in a safe, healthy, and loving environment.  Needless to say, Mom really did enjoy this enormous task that I set in front of her.

Later today, I’ll reveal the winner.  I still don’t know who it is.  It’s been that hard to choose.  I’ll end this post the way my mom ends every phone call.

Now, go line up those babies and give them a big hug and kiss for me.