A Mother's Legacy

This is a lovely picture of my Grandmother holding my mother as a baby. Every Mother's Day I think of the wonderful legacy that the women in my life have left.

 My Grandmother passed away when I was 11 on Mother's Day. I will never forget that day. Even though I was young...I understood the pain of losing someone so beloved. More so, losing someone painfully- to cancer. It brings tears to my eyes to this day to think of what a loss this world had that day. 

My grandmother was beautiful, inside and out. She was strong, incredibly kind and always had a sense of humor. She was the type of woman that I believed could do anything! She was very intelligent,  crafty, a great baker, gardener, teacher and wonderful.... wonderful Grandmother.

 I know that she was the best kind of mother to my mom and her sister and brothers too. I know they miss her sweet smiles and warm hugs. I know they miss her laugh and words of wisdom. I know they miss her stories (she was the best story teller I've known). I know, they miss her.

The best thing about remembering my Grandmother is knowing that being a good mom and Grandmother was  an important part of her legacy and she accomplished that in her life. She left an impression on so many lives and has inspired so many. 

If she were alive today I know that she would say that she is incredibly proud of her children. They have all accomplished great things and all of them have BEAUTIFUL families.

Let's look at my family...My mom Sherry...

The whole family including husbands, wives, grandkids and cousins minus my family

Family reunion with all of the extended family including Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, and Cousins,  minus my family.


There are SO MANY of us that it is hard to all be together in one place at one time! And it just keeps on growing! My mom had 10 children.

1)Joshua

Joshua, Ella, Bennett, Livi and his wife Leah

2)Kristin
Kristin, Julie, Kayla, Mariah, her husband Anthony, lil' Anthony, Emily and Olivia

3)Jonathan:

{Photo credit: Rachel Grace Photography} Jonathan and his lovely wife Esther


4)My self, Sarah:
My husband Tony, Michael, Sophia and me

5)Rebekah:

{Photo Credit: Rachel Grace Photography} Rebekah's husband Donald, Jack, Riley and Rebekah

6)Rachel:

7) Benjamin

8)Alyssa

{photo credit: Rachel Grace Photography}

and 9 & 10) Noah and Josiah:

Josiah and Noah

All of us have been touched by my Grandmother's legacy. 

If I could speak to her today I would tell her that my life is not the same without her presence. I would tell her just how beautiful and lovely she is and how much I love, respect and admire her. 

I'd also thank her for giving my own mom and me the wonderful example of mothering that she gave. Every aspect of my desire to be a good mom stems from her. She made me feel like the most special child in the world when I felt lost in the crowd of 10 kids. She made me feel like I could accomplish anything I set my mind to. 

I would also tell her that she gave my mom so many of her wonderful attributes. My mom is loving, incredibly compassionate and kind. She sees injustice in the world and takes action. She's witty, talented, smart and very tender. She loves her kids and her grandkids with the same sort of warmth and devotion. She sees the good in people and the world around her. 

As I grow older and look at my mom through "mom" eyes I see that she has given 10 kids an incredible gift. She's shown us that life is "not about me". It's about more than just the you and I. For that and many many other gifts that my mom has given....

Thank you. 

Thank you for the wonderful mom that you are and continue to be. Thank you for your love and example. Thank you for being an amazing Grandmother to my kids. For them, you are leaving the best legacy. To think, they have you by the grace of God as their Grandmother. What a wonder that is!

To all of the Mothers and Grandmothers out there that love without abandon and touch lives, Happy Mother's Day! 

{In loving memory of Minnie, the best Grandmother a girl could ever dream of having. I miss you.}

Christen's First Mother's Day- A Guest Blogger Post

My First Mother's Day May 2011

I cannot find the words to describe what it is like to be a mother on this mother's day. I am mommy to a beautiful, precious, vivacious girl who is the most wonderful thing to behold. What makes this holiday so amazing is my daughter's history.

My daughter called someone else mom last year during this holiday.

Last year during this holiday, my heart was ripped to pieces. I wanted so badly to be this adorable girl's mom, and to celebrate this day with her, but my daughter was – at best – confused by what was happening in her life. She didn't really understand why – at four years old, she began meeting these new people, and people were saying I was her “mom” too..... I literally remember sobbing (that horrible ugly cry when you can't breathe) telling a friend how hard that Mother's Day was during that season of short visits with her, and waiting, unknown, and limbo.

She gave me a gift she made at school last year, and then decided she wanted to give it to her foster mother instead. My husband would have stopped her to save me from hurt, but I didn't say a word - I couldn't do that to my sweet confused little girl. On a visit together she asked me if I could buy her mom some flowers for mothers day; and we did. It was a struggle with all these people who controlled her life then, (agencies, foster family, etc.) to even get to see her on Mother's Day last year, and although it was wonderful to see her and play at the park, it really didn't mean anything to her. It was a hard, bittersweet day.

This year is – well, amazing. They have made a big deal at her preschool of explaining what Mothers Day means, and made gifts for mom. She has made me heartfelt papers she colored on and had her teacher write “I love you mommy” on it. She said she is making me something every day this week for mothers day at school – I can't wait to see it all!

She keeps covering her mouth because she wants so badly to tell me all the secrets she and Daddy have cooked up for me. And somehow, she accidentally told me she has made me a Crown to wear on Mother's Day. She asked me three times if I liked her Mother's Day drawing. Three times, with an embarrassed smile! Then she buried her head on me and said quietly “Happy Mother's Day Mommy”.

The real truth is that sometimes during the past year I have wondered if she thinks of someone else when people ask who her mom is. Sometimes I have wondered who she really associates with that special title.

But not anymore. Not after this. Her eyes hold nothing back when she tells me she loves me. Her face shines with excitement when she tells me Mother's Day will be so much fun.

Her school is doing a Mother's Day picnic on Friday. And when I sit with her on a blanket eating heart shaped sandwiches I will never forget what it is like to be – not just a mom, - but my sweet daughter's mom.

Mom to a girl who has had her own heart ripped to pieces by abandonment and trauma. Mom to a girl who somehow has opened her heart to me, loves me, and calls me “Mommy”. How is it possible that God has blessed me this big?

What indescribable joy. I will never forget this Mother's Day. -Christen

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Thank you so much Christen for sharing your story and your heart! Your daughter is a beautiful  and wonderful gift! You are a wonderful mom and you inspire me with your tenderness, love and the nurture that you show to your daughter and those around you! I just love how God knits together families through adoption! There isn't anything more marvelous than a family pieced together by God.

-Sarah