Where are all the Grandmothers?

Kevin and I were talking last night about the next generation in our family, some of their strengths and weaknesses and reviewing our own lives. We concluded that for both of us, it was our grandmothers who held the family together. Both were sweet, God fearing women who didn't rule with a heavy hand but instead a soft heart and lots of knee time, praying for us all. Our moms haven't had much of a chance to be grandmothers...for one reason or another. Quite frankly, they both deserve the down time. They were both Single Moms and raised 8 kids between them. So, what does that say for this generation? My generation must raise up and when our time comes and become the Grandmother's of past. We have to lead by example and remind our grandchildren and children that serving the Lord is the single most important thing you will ever do in your life. Then we must pray that that message will stick with them when their time comes. I never thought I would look forward to those "golden years" but I am ready!

Moon River Dash

Moon River never sounded so good. This past Saturday I had hoped to sleep in after a busy week of work. A trip to St. Louis had left me tired and sleep deprived. Unfortunately, I found I couldn't sleep in and was up early afterall. My son, Tanner, woke up early as well and proceeded to tell me that he had a jazz competition that night at 6:30 PM. I was relieved that I would have the day to finish some chores around the house. Ten minutes later my son was screaming at the top of his lungs that he had mis-read the schedule and he was now 3 hours late. Seems he was to have been at the Jr. High at 6:30 am not pm. I frantically grabbed the schedule and realized we had 1 hour to cover a trip to the Jr. High for his bass trombone and a 45 minute drive to Springfield and Drury University. It seems they have a jazz competition each year for various ages. Somehow I managed to get dressed and in the car in record time. We were on our way. In retrospect, I think I handled it poorly as a mom, informing him that he would probably be kicked out of band and that everyone would think that his mom was a big fat loser. I think moms have a lot of those moments that they would like to do-over. However, somehow in the moment, and in between frantic cell phone calls to my husband for directions, Tanner and I began to laugh. Laughter always diffuses the worst of situations. Before long, we had a string of one-liners that had us gasping for air. I suspect we made a memory that day. I told Tanner jokingly that "he owed me big time, and would have to keep his room clean until he was 18." Minutes later, on time and seated on the front row this proud mom believed that Moon River never sounded so good. Tanner cleared his spit valve and winked my way.