mama matters...

I know it has been a while… I have missed you! Will you come and sit with me for a bit and chat? Would you prefer coffee or tea?

For years Mother’s Day was such a hard day for me. My Hubby and I tried for so long to become parents… this one day a year was an extra reminder of “failure”… it was just too much! As the years have passed and Jesus helped heal my heart… it became a joyful time to remember what a great Mom God gave me!

This year (2026) will be the first Mother’s Day since Mama’s passing last June 19^th. I am trying to figure it out… it definitely looks different to me this year.

Soooooo… can I tell you about my Mom? Some of this is what I read at her memorial service.

Mom… the past few years have been hard, but especially the last 2 years have been very trying and at times very scary! What this taught us is that when you walk a path you have never walked before… the only thing you can do is trust that God has got you!

Today, however… I want to tell you of the Mama that raised me and my 2 sisters, and even some “bonus” kids.

Mom was talented, even though I don’t think she saw herself that way… when I was young she was a seamstress for hire and of course she made us girls handmade clothes (even though many times we wanted store bought). Ah, yes Stretch n Sew! She always made sure we had what we needed and many things we wanted too.

I knew Mom was always a safe place to go, where I always felt loved and cared for. Sure, there would be consequences when I messed up, but I always felt loved. Beings I was the baby for 6 years before Chele came along… Mom probably babied me a little. But I was the child that challenged my parents A LOT! I could push my mom to her limits at times. I like to think of myself as the kid that made her a great mom for having to deal with me! I never broke her, although there were times, she tried to break me! I am so thankful for Grandma Bessie, Mom’s mom, for saving my life when Mom came close to her breaking point!

Mom could always light up the room with her smile. Even in the last few weeks before her decline… I loved seeing her reassuring smile!

Mom and Dad both instilled in us what it meant to live by faith and follow Jesus. Mom used to sing special music often in church. She had a beautiful voice. She also taught Sunday School for years… she was my Sunday School teacher for most of my years from 7 years old into my teens. Mom was not one to put up with misbehaving kids, especially in church… for me… it would only take one look from Mom to know I’d better straighten up or I was in big trouble when we got home!!!

Mom also loved to craft… she always said my sisters and I got our craftiness from Dad, but I know some came from her too! She would make some of the most beautiful greeting cards. And of course, she loved to collect crafting supplies, as we all do! Shopping is part of crafting after all!

I always thought Mom was a good cook! She did make me at least try stuff I thought looked weird or smelled funny. I refused to eat baked beans for years cuz they were too bald! I was a very picky eater as a kid! I never wanted my food to touch on my plate (still don’t)… Mama indulged me in my “foolishness”! She let me eat out of a Tupperware relish dish until I was about 6 years old! Mom made cooking seem so effortless to me.

As I got older, she worked out of the home, so she would set ingredients out on the counter before she left for work for my sister, Renee, and me to prepare for dinner. That was the way I learned to cook.

You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. ~ Psalms 16:11

There are so many things I could share with you about Mom, but there is one thing that I know she would not want me to miss sharing with you… the love she had for her Savior!

I honor Mom’s life with these words. I wouldn’t be who I am if it wasn’t for the decision Mom made as a teenager when she accepted Christ into her heart. Mom’s life was filled with ups and downs… life is never perfect even with Christ in your life. But the good news is that Father God will always be here to guide us through those hard times. Mom and Dad always pointed us back to how good God is and His great faithfulness that gets us through all times.

Life is not easy! But I know… if God was faithful then… He will be faithful again! Life may not be fair, but God is always fair and most important… God is always faithful! All glory to God!

Thank you, Mom! I was blessed beyond measure to call you Mama! Happy Heavenly Mother’s Day! I love you so much!

In His Grace,

carin