My mother's birthday.
This incredible year that has shaped us in ways we never imagined. A year where I sat countless hours with my mom doing things I had dreamed about for years, everyday simple things, sharing life as one does without realizing the gift that it is: We cooked, fed the chickens, wrote letters, hung clothes on the line, baked pies, picked berries, laughed, watch TV, played cards, cheated, ate way too many popsicles, and cookies, cracked countless bags of walnuts, visited my dad's grave, made bouquets of flowers and said the rosary every night silently by each other's side.
I fell more in love with my mom. I saw her with adult eyes, I saw her for the powerful loving woman that she has always been. I saw her faith and how she lives her life in that faith. I have so much to learn by her example. Her steadfast truth in doing what is the right thing to do and to do it without counting the cost or expecting anything in return.
She loves to be in her garden and sits outside every chance she gets.
I spent five and a half wonderful months with my mom mostly alone during the beginning of Covid I watched it change our lives and witnessed how it was going to continue to change our lives as time goes on.
Spending those five and a half months with my mom was one of the most unexpected cherished gifts. Everything I had missed or felt I had missed came gently and reassuringly that love no matter the distance nor time passed is present, tangible, and real. I do not know why I am so fortunate to have been given such a richness but I am grateful for the source it has given my soul.
My mom the firecracker, whippersnapper, baker, cook, bottlewasher, decorator, giver, sensitive, heartful mom celebrates her birthday differently today but with an attitude that I admire and long to obtain.
(My mother doesn't like her picture taken, nor does she like attention brought to herself, so I am in big trouble. I mean BIG. But I live far away so I figure there isn't too much she can do except say, "Corey for crying out loud what were you thinking posting about me?"
In which I will answer, "Umm let's say Love You Mom."
Kate my youngest niece with her Va. Kate goes almost every day to see my mom and plays cards. Probably is learning to cheat, or at least catching my mom at her own game.
Usually, my family and I go "home" this time of year as it is the best time, my mother's birthday, not too hot, harvest, pomegranates are ripe, Halloween, Thanksgiving…
Last year my mom met her first and only great-grandchild Gabriel.
We had planned to be there this time of the year… instead, I send my mother a slew of videos of Gabriel.
My nieces send me photos of my mom (most of these photos are from them)
My mother has a fun-loving spirit, she is fast with wit and humor, and catches on to things at lightning speed. A tease, a jokester, and an easy laugh.
My mom loves to bake and does so every day. How I did not gain weight while at home I have no idea. My mom has taught my nieces and Sacha (who lived with her for a year after he finished school) to bake/cook. The photo above is when we made sweet bread (think butter) over and over again I can still taste it in my mind.
My mother has an enormous sweet tooth. Loves to snitch and lick her fingers. She knows a good thing and isn't afraid to dive into it with enthusiasm especially when it comes to family, baking, home… Life is worth living every calorie.
My mom and brothers Mark and Mat.
Zane and Marty weren't there that day so I will just say we are the favorites (which she would say, "I have no favorites!" And I honestly believe she doesn't.).
(My mom, my sister in law Diane, Maci, Molly, Kate, Patti (the oldest grandchild) and my sister in law Suzy.)
My mother created "Monday Night Dinners" every Monday since her first grandchild was born she made dinner for the family all by herself: Planned the menu, shopped, set the table, cooked, baked, cleaned up, and slept soundly like she does every night.
Note four pies and table decor, that is my mom full-throttle extraordinaire giving without asking for anything in return.
Boys in the kitchen,
My mom, Mat leaning on the stove, Marty, Warren, Andy, and Mark.
My mom picking pomegranates from her ever loaded trees.
The two funny ones my mom and her grandson Joe, there are others, but these two do have a funny bone.
Another thing my mom does is on the birthdays of those she has loved who have died and on holidays my mom goes to the cemetery cleans their gravestones and adds flowers or and decor. I kid you not with a big family like ours you can say she is at the cemetery nearly 365 days a year. She carries a little broom, dustpan, bucket, and clippers in her pickup just for that reason.
and her love grows.
My mom with one of her sisters Louie, I think this was days before my mom started to stay at home due to covid. What fun we had. We baked sweetbread rolls A TON OF THEM, that they made for a church fundraiser auction. They let me eat 1 roll, 1.
My Aunt Louie would pinch a blob of dough for my mom and me to make the rolls. She knew exactly how many rolls she would have by eye, not by measure.
My mother decorates for each season or holiday and has bouquets of fresh flowers from her garden ALWAYS on the counter, and table.
My niece Molly sent me this photo. She took it looking through the window into my mother's home. Next to the window is the kitchen table, on Monday everyone has their "seat" this is where Molly usually sits. But since COVID nobody has been in my mother's home. It is her safe zone. When the grandchildren come to visit or my brothers/sisters-in-laws they visit outside. Can you imagine that? A home that was full of activity, cooking, and card playing and being loud and full?
Today is her birthday. My mom said she was going to bake a pie or two for whoever comes to visit.
She will have plenty of visitors. She is loved and grateful and trusts that even Covid cannot spoil her day nor her outlook.
"What will be will be so we only have our attitude to mind and faith to follow…" is what she would say.
Happy Birthday, Dear Mom!
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