Thank God For Moms! May 31, 2010

Happy Memorial Day!

We have come to the close of our series on honoring the moms in our lives – but, like Sheree mentioned in this month’s Mom’s Meeting, the encouragement can (and should!) continue every day! Our family and friends should hear from us often on evidences of grace in their lives and ways in which they have affected us by their examples. Far from being a chore, this is a privilege – a delight!

Over the past few weeks we have been able to hear from several ladies. Now WE at the Metro Moms Blog wanted to thank each of these mothers for their example, for the diligence with which they have trained and taught and cared for their children and families.

Angie

Lisa

Jeannette

Cissy

Barbara

Virginia

Karlene, Allura, and Patte

Ladies, we trust it has been encouraging to you to hear from your daughter! As a small “thank you” to you, we would like to send you to Starbucks on us…maybe for your next Mother/Daughter date? =)  

Stay tuned for our brand new series, which Sheree Phillips will begin on Wednesday – see you then!

Thank God For Moms! May 28, 2010

Our friend Ashley sent us this cute story of her daughter, Bristol. Thanks, Ashley!!

When I was pregnant with Willow, Bristol was so excited about her being born and she always wanted to talk to Willow through my belly and give her kisses. We went to my sister’s house for dinner and Bristol ran in and pulled on my sister’s shirt. When my sister asked what she was doing she replied, “Where’s your Willow at?”

Have a great weekend and we’ll see you Monday!

Thank God For Moms! May 27, 2010

I know, I know, it’s Thursday (we don’t normally post on Thursdays) but we wanted to squeeze in one more entry! Today’s is from Heather Mellichamp about her mother, Karlene, and two ladies, Patte and Allura, who were very instrumental in her recent journey to becoming a Christian! Heather is, herself, a young mom of three adorable kiddos. Thank you, Heather, for sharing this with us!!

“My Mom…God has blessed me three-fold with this statement and all three have played an enormous role in my spiritual and personal growth in this journey we call life.

My mom has always dedicated her life to doing what she felt was in our best interest even in the tough times, like being newly single with me as a newborn and my 4 year old brother. Whatever it took to keep her kids, clothed, a roof over our heads, a good education, etc. She was at every sporting event, every dance, every religious ceremony, never missing a beat. She raised me to value family, hard work, and commitments to friends and work. My mom loved us without hesitation and put stepping-stones in place that got me where I am today. Thank you, Jesus, for giving me my mom!

My spiritual mom was there countless nights – all hours – as I birthed from going through the motions to having Christ fill my soul. She never gave up, never let me wallow in self pity. She just kept pushing God’s word in front of me – directing me to where my eyes should be looking and Who was calling me, pulling me closer and closer to Himself, so that I could be a Child of Christ. She was always truthful and honest, yet caring and loving. She was the friend to laugh with, the friend to cry with, and the friend to just sit with and lay my head on her shoulder. Soon she will be taking a new journey and there will be many miles between us. I am comforted in knowing that Jesus will never leave either of us. He will continue to work within us both for His glory. I will be forever blessed and thankful to You, Jesus, for my spiritual mom!

My big sister mom chose me as her “adopted” daughter and little sister. She has taken me under her wing and loved and guided my children and me on this journey we are taking. She also spent countless nights directing me to look to and trust in the only one that could save me, Jesus Christ. She never lets me forget Who it is that I need to turn to in times of trouble. And when all is said and done, we can sit and praise our Father that has taken us from the depths of our suffering and made us anew. Her sense of humor lights up the room, her words and actions are filled with love, but most of all the example she sets of what a true disciple of Christ looks like is amazing. I am sooo blessed God has connected us as mother and daughter, as big and little sisters, and as Children of Christ. I look forward to the many more times we can share, both on the side-walks and off. Jesus, you have made a wonderful bond between us, thank you, thank you, thank you!

To my moms: you will always be in my thoughts, on my heart, and in my prayers!

Heather”

Thank God For Moms! May 26, 2010

Today’s entry is from 17 year old Joanna Knowles about her mom, Virginia (who just happens to be the mother of ten children!). What a wonderful example – Joanna, thank you for sharing with us!

“I don’t even know where to start in writing about my mom. Every time I fill a line of this blank document with an attempt of describing her and what she means to me, I delete it because it just doesn’t do justice. I’ll try again.

• My mom is faithfully investing into our family, year by year, decade by decade.
• She is known by her ear-to-ear smile and enthusiasm for life.
• She is a nurturer, an encourager.
• She is fascinated by words, an author and poet.
• She gives bear hugs and Advil.
• She folds laundry, folds laundry, folds laundry.
• She sang “Great is Thy Faithfulness” when I was small and she still sings it now. If you ask me, that says a lot about the faithfulness of God and how that trait has rubbed off on her.
• She signs “I love you” when I’m having a bad day.
• She loves different cultures. She loves God. One of her passions is to see different cultures love God. Missions-minded? Definitely.
• She’s feisty, intelligent, and speaks and writes her mind. She knows femininity does not mean being a wallflower or doormat. GO MOM!!!
• She puts on two pairs of reading glasses when one pair doesn’t do for her 46-year-old eyes.
• She kisses my dad and ignores the several cross-eyed, gagging kids behind her who pretend as if they’ve never seen thaaaat before.
• She thanks my brother-in-law for his care and love for my sister and consistently invests into their lives as a couple.
• Speaking of which, her first grandchild (a.k.a. my NEPHEW!!) will be born next month. She’s pretty psyched.
• She wipes fingerprints off the glass door, peanut butter and tears off of faces, grudges about wrongs done to her off of her mind.
• She sits in her recliner and reads her well-worn, large-print Bible, shutting out the lies and discouragement of the enemy and basking in her freedom found in Christ.
• She prayerfully intercedes before the throne of God for family, friends, situations, and future generations.
• She keeps going when the going gets tough.
• She plants seeds, plants seeds, plants seeds.
• She is my role-model. And I love her dearly.”

Thank God For Moms! May 24, 2010

We are continuing to receive submissions from our readers and have really enjoyed hearing from you! There are still a few more posts to come, so if you just haven’t had a chance to put in writing how you would like to honor your mom (or even your grandmother!) please send them in as soon as possible. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

Today’s entry is from a good friend of mine, Katherine Peschau, about her mother. Thank you, Kathy, for giving us this glimpse of your mother!!

“My mom, Barbara Ann Riley, is an amazing lady. She has endured a lot in her life. Things that I would never want to walk through. She has unselfishly laid down her life for her family and others, expecting nothing in return.  She came home daily from teaching to deal with her three sometimes disrespectful children, prepared dinner, help with homework and get us off to various activities. 

Let me give you just a few more examples of my mother’s sacrificial serving.  She took many days off to care for me through many sicknesses and surgeries and serves my grandmother and my mentally disabled aunt.  In December a friend’s husband died and Mom helped her with taking care of many practical and relational details while dealing with some difficult situations with my youngest brother. These are only a few of the many kind, unselfish things my mother has done.

Due to sin on my part, life’s circumstances, and other reasons my mom and I don’t have the best relationship. My unkind words and hurtful motives have probably hurt her deeply, but she still chooses to serve me!  I am grateful for her example of joyfully laying down her life for others. 

Mom, I am so thankful for you and for how you have given your life away. I know you have not had an easy life, but I pray that these few words encourage you and give you strength as you persevere through yet another difficult season. Thank you for your unconditional love, joyful serving and the grace you pour out on those you touch.

Happy Mothers Day!

Love,

Katherine”

Thank God for Moms! May 21, 2010

I am sure the Lord gives us these hilarious moments with our children to balance out some of the more rather challenging times. =) The following are about our friend Dena Walley’s middle child, Ella.

“We were leaving the house and trying to get the kids in the car. They had already tried the typical ‘can I bring this toy or that?’ routine and we had told them no toys in the car this time since it was a quick trip. As we’re walking out the door, Ella pats the side of her dress which we then notice is protruding and says, ‘this is just a bump, it’s always been there.’ Of course, when we examined the ‘bump’ we found that, what do you know, it’s a toy. So we find that she’s not so shrewd but very funny!

Another classic Ella: ‘God goes under the house then comes in through your tummy. That’s how he gets into your heart.’”

Thanks for sharing, Dena!

(Ladies, don’t forget – we’d still love to hear from you! If you would like to honor your mother or you have a funny story to tell from conversations with your own kiddos, please send them to us!!!)

Thank God For Moms! May 19, 2010

What fun it has been to hear from all these daughters!! We hope you’ve been enjoying it, too, and that you’ve been encouraged! Today’s entry is from Julie VanLue (soon to be Brown!) about her mommy, Cissy.

“We Call Her Mommy
It was almost 8 years ago that God brought my sister Angeli into our home. After years of trying to get pregnant, my parents had decided to pursue fostering and adoption. It had been on my mom’s heart for most of her adult life, particularly to adopt little girls, however my dad was more apprehensive about the whole process and if this was God’s will for our family. Once we held Angeli in our arms, it all became clear – she was meant to be a VanLue. Though adopting her was a tough and challenging road, she officially and legally became a part of our family a few months later. Shortly after, her half sister, Kristin was born, and we were able to adopt her as well. A few years later, my mom’s dream of adopting internationally came true when God brought Katherine Mei from Jianxi, China into our family.

Mom, I would like to publicly thank you for truly giving your life away. When others were telling you to sit back, relax, and enjoy having older children that could basically take care of themselves, you instead “started over”. Thank you for loving the unloved, welcoming ones that others discarded, and being mommy to those with no family. Thank you for your selfless sacrifices that you make every day, and most of the time goes unnoticed by the ones around you. Thank you for making our home a place of refuge for those who have no one to turn to and nowhere else to go. Thank you for loving your Savior enough to take His word seriously when He says to care for the orphan. Watching you and dad walk this out has given me even more of a heart for adoption and I hope that God blesses my family with an adopted treasure. Thank you for embracing these girls, who otherwise would have had no hope or future. Now they have someone to call “mommy”, and I am so grateful that I can call you “mommy” as well. You really are changing the world, one heartbeat at a time. I love you, and happy Mother’s day, Mommy!!”

Thank God For Moms! May 17, 2010

Today’s entry is from 17 year old Hannah Walti about her mother, Jeannette. Thank you, Hannah, for sending us this precious picture of your mom!

“When I think of my mom I think of many different things. An example, a helper, a friend, a protector, an encouragement, a person to confide in, and many other things. Living in Italy as Christian missionaries may seem like heaven on earth but out of 36,000 towns and villages, only 34,000 have been reached with the Gospel so it can get pretty tough here. When stuff does start to get rough I know I can turn to the Lord but also to my sweet mom. She listens to my crazy stories, wild thoughts, and insane ideas. She doesn’t reject me but cares about me in ways that only a mother knows how to. She also is the most gracious and hospitable person I know, you could meet her in the supermarket and she would invite you over to dinner. =) She is not only my mommy but one of my best friends. She is so fun and loving that once you meet her you instantly want to get to know her better. I also love my mom because she is a great example of a woman following after God’s heart. She endlessly serves her family without complaint and is always seeking the will of the Lord for not only her own life but the lives of her children and husband. If I could have a small percent of her submission and patience, I would be one lucky girl. I love my mom so much and wish her not only the happiest birthday (May 6th) but the most fabulous mother’s day!

Love,
Hannah Walti”

Thank God For Moms! May 14, 2010

We thought we’d leave you this week with a peek into some of the hilarious dialogue between Jaime and her 5 year old son’s logic. Annie is her 3 year old…and some of you are anticipating already how this will turn out.

Wyatt: “How did Jesus not sin?”
Jaime: “Because He was God’s son.”
Wyatt: “But what about when He was mad?”
Jaime: “He had self-control, Buddy.”
Wyatt: “What about when He screamed?”
Jaime: “I guess He never screamed with a bad attitude.”
Wyatt: “What if someone took His toys?”
Jaime: “Well, honey, He must have just shared His toys with a good attitude.”
Wyatt: “Probably He did not have any motorcycles. And probably He did not have any Annie’s.”
Jaime: “What do you mean He had no Annie’s?”
Wyatt: “If He had a Annie, He would have screamed at her with a bad attitude.”

Have a great weekend! We’ll see you Monday with another encouraging testimony about a mother of one of our readers!

(Don’t forget – we’d love to hear from you, too! If you would like to honor your mother or you have a funny story to tell from conversations with your own kiddos, please send them to us!!!)

Thank God For Moms! May 12, 2010

The following is from Clareese Chin for her mother Lisa Chin. Lisa, we hope you are blessed by this and continue to enjoy a wonderful relationship with your daughter – the fruit of many prayers, we’re sure.

“My mama – she dances, she sings, she makes the most delicious sauce, she is the best toll-money-thrower, and she invented a song about Thanksgiving that she still makes my siblings and I sing every year. And I love her a lot.

When my family moved to Florida from New Jersey, it was tough on everyone, but especially so for my mother. She had experienced the biggest upheaval and shock of her life, I think. But all the while, through all of our breakdowns, bad attitudes, and breakthroughs – she was always there. When things would get bad, she would remind my siblings and me that we had a heavenly Father who would never leave us or forsake us, and then she’d look us in the eyes and tell us that she would never, ever leave. The comfort drawn from those words of encouragement and love helped our family to heal. My brother and sister and I have had a crazy ride up to this point in life; one full of twists, turns, ups, downs, and a lot of tears – and through it all, my mama has been there to hold our hands tight and turn our eyes towards God.

My mom and I are closer than most. She’s my best friend who is always willing and ready to listen to my stories, my rants, my theories about Lost, to pray for me, to encourage me, seek me out, laugh with (or at) me, and watch Lifetime movies with me. I value her opinion and advice more than she knows and I am so grateful to have her in my life.

I love you so much Mama!”