Thinking of Mom Today, and Really, Really Admiring her

This morning my mother came to mind as I began doing, unconsciously, what I must have viewed her doing almost everyday of my growing up years. Sipping coffee at the kitchen counter and writing a list. Undoubtedly, her lists were a very lot like my own, but I have a sneaking feeling mine go far beyond hers in quantity. ~Laughing~ I'm a serious list maker. I have a list for almost everything...

** A grocery list (obviously)

** A Menu (usually)

** A Weekly To Do List (for the extra errands and such that come up outside of the ordinary

routine)

** A list of Library books checked out and/or we are wanting to check out

** A list of educational materials needed/purchased

** A list of who to correspond with either by birthday card or e-mail ( I have 6 siblings and 13

nieces and nephews, friends, neighbors, and apostolate partners - many to keep up with!)

** A running list of household needs, for example, the living room needs a new rug, etc.

Well, you can get the picture. There can be other lists as well, depending on what might be going on. Writing things on a list seems to compartmentalize it all, and relieves my brain of the feeling of having to hold it all in memory constantly. It is freeing for me. I think it is for all we list makers.

Back to mom. She worked on her daily list at the counter much of the time. Standing. I wondered about this back then. Why does she not sit down at the kitchen table, I would wonder. Now I think I know. I have learned that if I stand at the counter with my materials and jot things on a list or make a quick phone call I am more quickly able to respond to a child with a need, I'm more alert as to what the children are up to. In addition, they seem to not respond so "needfully" if I'm at the counter rather than at my desk ~smiling~. I think she may have discovered this same truth.

She did more sitting down to plan or read her Bible in our older, teenage years, although, her counter habit never completely went away. All my brothers and sisters would agree with me on this, right guys(?) that a mental picture that we all have of mom is of her in the kitchen, either at her perch at the counter or cooking at the stove. She is a wonderful cook!

It just came to me suddenly, this image of my mother. With it came a flood of warmth, love, amusement, and mainly, awe. Awe at the faithfulness and goodness of her. She was always there caring for us and the home. She didn't do all the extra little things that we moms of today do with our children simply because she was of a different era, but her love, devotion, and plain hard work and steadiness of presence were a gift to us, her children. May God Bless her always.

She remains today our great friend, constant and ready, to lend an ear, watch a grandbaby or many ~smiling~, and make a delectable holiday meal. She is a treasure.