The Blessing of My Mom

I’d like to introduce you to someone special…my Mom, Shirley. She was the 6th of 13 kids born to my grandparents and named after Shirley Temple. She became my Mom just days after she and my Dad celebrated their first wedding anniversary in 1965.

For 3 ½ years, I was their only child. I have amazing memories of those days. Mom spent countless hours every day reading stories, playing games with me and sewing clothes for my dolls. Once, someone gave me a dollhouse, and she created all the furnishings from cardboard, construction paper and scraps of fabric! I was so blessed to have those precious years with her.

Life at my house began to get quite busy as my siblings came along, one by one. Although we didn’t have hours and hours like we once had, Mom was always doing something to make me (and all of my siblings) feel special. Most mornings, we woke to a hot breakfast and always, an amazing, home-cooked meal for dinner. I would sit at the kitchen table and she would help me with homework while she cooked. Sometimes, she would surprise me with something special she had made for me, like a new pair of pajamas or a new little purse. Upon occasion, we’d bake a cake or watch something on TV together after the other kids had gone to bed.

When my siblings and I got a little older, Mom began trying out some new hobbies. She took classes on cake decorating and oil painting, both of which she did very well. She was also really good at things like crochet and cross-stitch. She’s always been quite crafty and loves to create with her hands.

Her greatest talent (which she learned from her Mom) is undoubtedly quilt-making. In fact, I would say quilts are her love language. She has made scores of them, each one a beautiful and one-of-a-kind treasure. When my Grandma (her Mom) passed away, she took her dresses and created beautiful quilted wall-hangings for many family members. Last year, when my son, Brennan graduated from high school, she presented him with this photo quilt, capturing his most cherished high school memories. She had worked on it for months...Priceless!

I’m so blessed God chose her to be my Mom. She is precious beyond words. (And you can only imagine what an awesome Grandma she is, too!) I love her and honor her today!