I AM TRULY BLESSED

Mother’s Day isn’t that big a deal to me and I try to keep it all simple for the sake of my kids. I don’t want anyone spending more money than they can afford. Since this is the time of year when I tend to splurge on flowers for the garden, I usually tell John NOT to buy me anything. I would rather indulge myself at a nursery. In the last few years I have told the kids to each buy me one flat of white impatiens. This makes it easy and cheap for everyone and just about covers what I will need for the various beds. John couldn’t resist, and bought me an IPod. I have been talking about getting one for two years in order to access all of my music more easily. I was thrilled and relieved to finally have one.

Today my girls each spent the day with their in-laws, with my encouragement, since I see them all the time. John, David, Matt, Maggie and I attended church, went out for lunch, and the boys picked up the flats for themselves and my older girls. Maggie didn’t contribute this year because she had chosen a gift for me prior to returning from college. She is gaining a reputation within the family for being a very thoughtful gift-giver and today she surprised me with I think the most memorable gift I have ever received. One thing that characterizes most of the students at Hillsdale College is their respect and even love for their professors. Many of the textbooks used at Hillsdale are written by faculty members. For my Mother’s Day gift, Maggie presented me with a signed copy of American Cicero: the Life of Charles Carroll, authored by her history professor Bradley Birzer. Charles Carroll was the only Catholic signer of The Declaration of Independence and Birzer’s book “rescues Carroll from unjust neglect.” Even more special is the fact that Maggie asked Professor Birzer to sign my copy and he did so in a most special way – making this mother very proud of her daughter.

I have always been, and continue to be, thankful to Jesus for my family and the life we have all been so blessed to have together.