Mother's Day 2025

Mother's Day hurts. I miss mom. I miss Josiah. But I have so MUCH for which to be thankful. I try to focus on the thankful and pull out the grief when I have space for it. That may make no sense to you, but it works for me. 

CoRielle hit upon the perfect Mother's Day gift last year. They helped me prep my garden for the season. They let us know they'd like to come over about 3 p.m. today and gift me a prepped garden again. YES. It's hard for us to attend our church in Eagle River and get back to the valley in time for Sunday events. We opted to attend Wasilla Community Church for Mother's Day. We came home and I got two racks of ribs in the oven...pulled together the fixings and we had a leisurely lunch here at home.  The girls brought out their gifts.  I love pottery mugs. I have some ceramic mugs the kids made 20 years ago. I've been told they are adorably primitive. Allie gifted me this perfect mug - it's POTTERY with wildflowers...and it almost looks like she could have painted it in 5th grade. LOL 

She also filled an index card with activities and items she wants to do for me...with instructions this coupon is to be used and not put in my drawer. I recently found a bunch of coupons the kids gave in past years. ::grin:: They were too precious to surrender and use. 

Stacia gifted me a block of Velveeta - or so says Michael. 

I collected Starbucks travel cups when we lived in Asia. She found me a water bottle from Starbucks...insulated, pre-stickered with darling scenes from Japan, just 16 oz and shaped so I can hang onto it.  It's great. 

Shortly after lunch Jared and Noah dropped by. They brought a lovely card, a jewelry keeper with Noah's thumbprints and a pack of forget me nots. 

Jamin brought some lovely roses. 

CoRielle arrived with a bouquet of flowers and a tin watering can with handprints of the grands. Arielle has a few more prints to collect.  

We had a dilemma. CoRielle had scheduled this time to work, and we value their work....but the others were coming to visit. Ah well, one learns to go with the flow of family life if nothing else in a large family. ::snort:: Semper Gumby. These men put the trampoline together for the season. They were cheered on by all the grands. 

I took the weed eater around the garden line so we can set up the electric fence when the time comes. This is a constant part of my garden routine. 

When Shannon and Lindsey gave us the playhouse, I envisioned the grands spending hours in it playing "house," cooking etc. Danny has turned it into a drive through window, and he is intent on giving his customers great service. Noah and Charles are happy to oblige.  I love doing life with these kids. 

Danny & Noah 

Another happy customer

Jamin and Jared

GG supervises from the deck

Benny

Elleira (Ellie or Lyra) and Arielle

I had told Michael the beds were in pretty good shape, but I would like Cory to help him get the hoop house put back together for the season. They got right to it. 

Cory and Michael 

Jamin and Jared gave them a hand when it was time to attach the plastic. 

Arielle and Stacia weeded the rows in between the woodchips. Alex later rototilled it. 

Still weed eating...

Allie weeded the greenhouse beds so I could get tomatoes in the ground. 

Allie (back) Stacia

Nolan helping in the green house

We had to turn over and fluff all the beds...Charles wanted to help. The pitchfork broke and; the ice scraper was pressed into service. 

It's never too early to start fostering a love of gardening in little ones. Right? 

Bachan - let's plant these tomatoes. OK. 

This is the wild side of the garden - the space I've not managed to reclaim as of yet. We get a bit more of it tamed every year. 

Beds all weeded, topped off and ready to plant...now do I HAVE to wait for June 1st, or can I go ahead and plant???? Some say after the full moon in May (now), some say when the birch leaves are the size of squirrel's ears (now), and others swear the almanac's prediction of the last frost (May 30th).  I'll probably put some out and if they die, I have plenty more starts....and the carrots, radishes, lettuce and spinach should be fine. Right? 

Michael and the guys put up a temporary fence. We then moved the chickens to the space. We hope they'll eat well and turn it over for us...let me tell you herding chickens is something else. Made for a fun family activity. 

Were they happy? NO! Some renegades got into the garden and dug holes in the artichoke bed and elsewhere. 

Bre and the kids came by with another lovely card and beautiful paper bouquet. They joined in the fun. We planted some tomatoes in the green house and the hoop house. 

These two were tasked with planting cucumbers...which they sorta did when they weren't digging up ones I'd already planted. ::snort:: Seriously, none of us gardened while moving with the military. 

Bre and Arielle

Annie

Bella

Michael thought it was a great time to clean the chicken coop. This wasn't on any of our lists. ::Snort:: Alex was great and helped him. I know working was probably a drag for the kids but the amount of work we got done helps us immeasurably. When we bought this place, we still had four young adults at home. Now the two at home are working and in college...and we find we need to find a few young adults to rent in order to keep up around here. And then, I tend to work when trying not to let grief get out of hand....

Alex got the smelliest job

I am a blessed Mom. I was able to touch base with all the kids except Krista and family and Carrie and the girls...but one can't be selfish. ::snort:: 

The day didn't feel complete without a bit of time alone with my thoughts, emotions and memories at Josiah's place. 

I thought Mother's Day was a mixed bag when we had many miscarriages. It was plain hard when Mom died. Having Josiah gone makes the day a whole new hard. It's o.k. to acknowledge the pain with the JOY. 

I am blessed with both. 

God is with me always. 

Perfectly Timed Conference

Sometimes you just need someone to hug you tight and tell you everything is going to be alright. Shannon and Lindsey were those people for us tonight.

I didn't realize how my heart longed to be with these two until they walked in the door. 

We had assured the girls a year ago there are some friends you say goodbye too and the reunions feel like you've never parted. Stacia hadn't experienced that in in her nomadic upbringing. She totally understands now. We had the joy and honor of partnering with Shannon and Lindsey in serving our local church for six years. They moved a year ago. 

Court weeks are always hard. It forces the realization this ache will last a lifetime.  Hearing lawyers talk about autopsy photos in connection with one's baby boy is tough. 

Thank you, friends, for taking the time out of your busy, chaotic, QUICK, conference trip to come by. The AK Ministry Network Conference couldn't have been timed better for us. ::grin:: 

While we are at peace with your move to MO, we have missed your hugs and conversation. I have never loved the concept of a red eye flight more than I did tonight as we snatched the hours to connect. 

In court news, discovery is complete today! The next court appearance is set for June 12th where we will set the date for trial. 

GRACE NOTES: 
1. Friends...who know your heart without you having to speak a word. 

2. Discovery is complete! 

3. Dear friends at court. 

4. Post-court dinner with Krista, Jamin and Jared. 

5. Michael was upright tonight. 

Sunday Afternoon at Jamin's

 Sundays have been fairly busy since Shannon and Lindsey's last Sunday. Today was no exception. Stacia and Noah ran the coffee corner, Allie and I greeted, Michael ran around doing a bunch of things and preached. 

As has become somewhat standard, we grabbed the other last person in the building, Jenni, and headed for lunch. We opted for a quick lunch as we had a family dinner this afternoon/evening. 

Family dinner? What? It wasn't the 3rd Saturday of the month. Jamin invited us all to his home. He's been working hard on his home and yard.  It was fun to gather at his place again. He's painted, paved the driveway, leveled the yard - and planted grass, added decor and steps to the hot tub and he bought a trampoline so the kids would have something to play on.  Krista is in Guam and Luke tends to like smaller gatherings than ours when he's alone (we get it!). Nolan and Alex and Izaak didn't attend. We still enjoyed a FULL HOUSE. 

We set around and visited and played in the yard while Lasagna baked. Annie loves time with "the uncles." She spends quite a bit of time playing yard Jenga.  She needs an assist to reach the top and finish her turn...

...but she's a pro at determining which one should be removed without tumbling the whole tower. 

She's sweet enough to give advice to struggling Uncles when needed. 

Annie has an engaging personality that invites interactions with others. She's determined and gutsy and sweet. I know God is going to bless those around her with her unique personality and gift mix all her life. 

Danny 

Cory, GG, Carrie, Cy 

"Can I come into the out?" 📷by Larissa

Aunt Carrie and Noah 📷by Larissa

Noah, Jared and Michael 📷by Larissa

Such a sweet moment! 📷by Larissa

GG & Noah📷by Larissa

I hung out in the kitchen at some point...making sure pans were in the oven, bread ready to pop in and salad ready to go...Danny cracked me up. He was NOT having the oranges in a bag. He KNEW Uncle needed the oranges in the basket. Danny knows how things should be and he's not afraid to work to make sure they stay that way. He also knows the rules and is diligent to enforce the rules. A judge? Lawyer? I look forward to watching how God uses his developing personality.

Aunt Arielle, Trudy, Aunt Allie

Uncle Josiah bouncing kids 

I believe it was after we ate that Cory and Jamin headed for the hot tub. In less than a minute they had quite a crowd joining them. Most stayed with their feet in the water. Of course, a few fell or jumped in and were promptly corrected. 

Cousins - Bre, Arielle and Cy's kids

Charles wants to join the fun! 

Cy, Danny, Gideon, Benny, Cory, Annie, Bella, Bre, Trudy, Liv

About this time Jamin brought out the WATER BALLOONS, and hoses and buckets. I do believe Jamin and Josiah were the main targets of the battle. I have balloons in wait at our house, but it's never been a nice enough day when the kids are all over. Maybe in August. 

I absolutely LOVE this photo of Charles. He had the courage to join the fray, and when it got to be too much, look at him running for all he's worth to the safety the rest of us provide. Good traits to have. 

Run Charles, run! 

This day was such a blessing to all - but I think to Michael and I most of all. It is pure joy to watch our adult Gherkins desire to be together, go out of their way to entertain each other, and watch out for each other's children. Having adult children so near each other who desire to be a part of each other's lives, cousins growing up together, Grandparents and great grandparent nearby....it is all a dream we are so blessed to be living. No, life isn't perfect - but it's pretty darn close. Our family vision all these years has been to "Love Courageously" - which boils down to "Love God wholeheartedly and Love others Deeply. I feel like we are on track...we are learning to love well in new seasons.