What I Want For Mother's Day

Me and My Girls

 

 

I read this quote today. "For my girls to be proud to have me as their mother, because I feel proud [to have been] chosen as their mother......My children are my greatest accomplishment." -Heather Estep

 

It was her answer to the question, What do I want for Mother's Day? This made me think about what I wanted for Mother's Day. I know this is something my girls will be pondering. I decided, without hesitation, that I would like the same as the mama above. I would love for my daughters to be as proud to have me as their mother as I am proud to have them as my daughters.

 

I couldn't stop there, though. I came up with a few more things.....

 

1) One of the ways I show love for my family is to cook meals for them. So, if my girls were to prepare a meal for me, I would know how much I was loved.

2) Giving of one's time speaks volumes of love. And, I'll take it.....anytime!

3) I want to see Emily and Whitney pass along the values that Cliff and I taught them to their families.

4) I want to see them flourish in their own family unit. Spending time together....whether going to church, having dinner together or just playing a game together, makes my heart sing!

5) I always love it when they share their favorite childhood memories and I want them to make great memories with their families.

 

These gifts of time, of passing along things they learned as children and fond memories don't cost a thing and would mean the world to me. I am so very proud of Emily and Whitney. Both have secured two of the most important things in life, in my opinion.....a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and a good education. They both have good careers and have married wonderful men. Emily made me a LaLa and Whitney gave me *grandkitties. They are both caring, considerate and compassionate. They both hate to see injustices and have no problem speaking up for those who have been a victim of injustice. Emily and Whitney were raised to be strong, independent women and have no problem exerting their independence.

 

I mean, I just don't know what more a mama could want! EXCEPT.......to have her Colorado child move home.

 

These things.....no amount of money can buy and they are freely given.

 

This Mother's Day, I wish for all mamas....lots of time spent with your children and lot's of pride in knowing your children are living the life that you've always wished and prepared them for.

 

 

I'm a blessed mama,

Laurie

 

 

*In case you were wondering: Kitter has a new sister.....Phoebe. Kitter is not very fond of Phoebe, yet.

   She knocks the c-word out of her, sometimes. Ha!

Adventures of a Mother's Day in the Upstate

The Hydrangea that Lidia and Sawyer gave their mama for Mother's Day

 

I know, I know, this is a little late coming. Time can slip through your fingers like water sometimes. So, before it gets away with me....I want to chronicle Mother's Day weekend with my grandchildren.

 

Emily had to work the weekend shift at the hospital, so I went up to keep Lidia and Sawyer for her. I like to plan activities for us and I've found that the upstate has a treasure trove of things to do. Untapped adventures, for sure!

 

A little recap.......

Saturday: We had planned to ride bikes on the Swamp Rabbit Trail. A rails-to-trails system that runs from Greenville, SC to Travelers Rest, SC.

 

We didn't know it at the time, but Greenville was hosting an Artist Festival and streets were closed to traffic in the area where we needed to get on the trail. So, we just drove to the Traveler's Rest end and got on the trail there. This is the neatest trail, which runs in part along the Reedy river and is about 17 miles in length. It's a paved path wide enough for multiple bikes or runners and walkers to pass each other. And, very scenic. Although, with two little ones in tow, I didn't get to see the most scenic parts. Their little legs can only go so far. But we had a great ride anyway. And after, we had lunch at a restaurant right beside the trail in Traveler's Rest called The Whistle Stop. I'm pretty sure it's an old train station.

 

The Swamp Rabbit Trail

 

 

The Whistle Stop Café...right beside the Swamp Rabbit Trail

 

 

Lidia and Sawyer outside the Whistle Stop Café

 

Sunday: We drove over to a very small town called Cross Anchor to visit an old Revolutionary War Battle site. Musgrove Mill Plantation was where this battle took place. Of course, the signs of the battle are no longer visible, but the history behind it was very interesting. And the grounds of the plantation itself is beautiful. I was concerned that the children might be bored, but they actually enjoyed it. That is until Sawyer's energy bottomed out. In the pictures you can see how his face looks like doom. When his energy goes.....it goes!

 

Lidia and Sawyer.......

Exploring the Musgrove Mill Plantation.

The site of a Revolutionary War Battle.

Exploring the trails....

 

....and making new discoveries. Lidia was intrigued by these flowers

that had fallen from trees along the trails. Can anyone tell me what it is?

Here's the face...his energy is starting to falter.

 

Almost gone.....

 

......Gone!

Even though his energy is gone and he is completely miserable,

sometimes I can still get a picture that makes me go......WOW!!!!!

 

After wandering around the plantation grounds for a bit and Sawyer's energy going south, we stopped for some nutrition. Good thing I brought PowerBars and water with us. Came in handy, big time. Energy restored.....and we were off to see the waterfalls that was on the property. We had to drive to that area.....good news for Sawyer.

 

 

 

We arrived to the waterfalls and met a few folks on their way back that warned us of snakes. It was pretty warm that day and I'm guessing the snakes wanted to cool off in the Enoree river just about as much as we did. But, I'm deathly afraid of them so we let the snakes have it. I did manage to get a few pictures of Lidia and Sawyer before my fears paralyzed me. By the way, we didn't see any snakes and the waterfalls wasn't much of a waterfall. But it was very pretty and the kids loved the thought of coming back when the snakes hibernate and exploring the rocks and waterfalls.

 

The Enoree River. So incredibly beautiful!

Having fun....

.....and really anxious to get in the water, but you know that thing about the snakes....yeah!

I was a fuddy dud LaLa, not willing to face her fears as Sawyer told me to do years ago.

 

We had a great weekend and I wouldn't have wanted to spend Mother's Day any other way. Adventures and exploring with my little Grandloves......AWESOME!

 

**********

 

Now, in case you were wondering:

 

I took a little break from running after the Divas Half Marathon and the Hell Hole Swamp 10K.

I had planned to get back to the gym more and get back on the bike this summer, but Whitney sent me a link to a half marathon in her neck of the woods (Denver).

 

And I was like, OMG!!! I have to do this race!!!

 

It is a 13.1 mile run from Evergreen, CO to Morrison, CO. It is all downhill with some of the most beautiful sights in all of North America. How could I not run this race?

 

So, as of next week.....I'll be back in half marathon training mode.

But, I'm thinking that since I am still somewhat conditioned from my last half

that I can still get a day in the gym and a day on the bike

and still have time and energy left to train for this downhill-half marathon

 in the Colorado Rockies.

 

And...and....Whitney is running it with me! Holler!

 

So, sometime after August 17th....I'll post about this one. I hope I can capture the beauty of the Colorado Rockies along the way.

 

Laurie