Joy
My Annie came home last night unexpectedly. I was so happy to make up her bed and find an extra toothbrush for her. I miss my girls now that they are out on their own. Today before she left, she indulged me with a short photo session in the back woods. I love photographing my children.
My Annie is sunshine personified. She can light up a room by just slipping in with that big smile on her face. This is a quality my Mama always said I had, and my Dad often wrote Mary Sunshine on my birthday cards. (I miss that.) I am glad to have passed on a bit of this to my Annie. We also tend to laugh alike, and when we go to the movies together we laugh in stereo at all the same places.
There is something else about her that I love. I love who I am when I am with her. She has the amazing ability to make me want to try harder and do more. Annie has helped me to believe that I could do things I never thought I could, like travel alone to England, or run my first mile. She is happy to lend her belief to anyone who needs it. It is a beautiful quality. She is also quick to give recognition to my accomplishments. When she got up this morning she said, ” I like what you did with your bathroom”. I had put down new mats and changed up the bookshelf, but didn’t think anyone would notice. She did.
When she drove away today, my heart sank a little. This transitioning to an empty nest is not easy. All the flying back and forth keeps my heart open enough to stay tender and ache. That’s okay. Thats how you know you love someone–they leave an empty spot when they go.
When I was a young mother, I never dreamed that one day I would want to be like my children. We mothers assume we will do all the teaching, but it is not so. My children have all grown into adults that I would be happy to emulate in some way or another. I so deeply admire all of them. Perhaps this is a mother’s greatest blessing.
So grateful for the sunshine my Annie Bird brought today.
Ecclesiastes 11:7 ~
“Oh, how sweet the light of day,
And how wonderful to live in the sunshine!
Even if you live a long time, don’t take a single day for granted.
Take delight in each light-filled hour” (The Message)
She Shines
Contagious Smile
Just Annie
Magical Hat
10 Comments
ahhh ~ this was precious. Your Annie is beautiful! What a gift 🙂
My children are all so fabulous, that I am often amazed that they are a part of me. How can this be?!
(I just found you a week or so ago, but I am loving your photos, your words, and your heart – and always save your posts for last, so I can linger a bit)
Thank you Tracy! Gonna go check out your blog right now.:)
Hey Mary: I stumbled on your page and I love it. I feel I want to do some of what you do. Blog and share Words of Life with others, (women). Your daughter is beautiful, you are very blessed. Thank you for sharing. Look forward to many more blogs and great pictures.
Connie
Thank you Connie. So glad to have you stop by. Blessings to you!
You are so right. I do want to be like my children. They all have attributes that I aspire to have. I love the joy that you have, Mary. It makes me very happy and light when I am around you. Joy comes from being close to the Lord, I think. He alone can give it to us.
Love you Mama. I feel the same way around you.
So beautiful – the pictures, the girl, the words, the heart within it all. Love always brings beauty. My daughter also inspires me to be more like her, and it’s so lovely to hear another mother say the same thing.
Sarah,
I always love it when you stop by and comment. I pray things in your world are full of joy and peace.
I don’t even remember how I found your blog a couple of weeks ago – a link somewhere! I love it. a lot. And I love what you say about your now-grown children. I completely agree – I have learned more from my kids (and now, my grandkids, two of whom are college students) than I ever taught any of them. It is absolute gift when our children grow up to be people we admire as well as love. Thanks for sharing your lovely girl with us.
Thank you so much Diane! I am glad to have you come by! Blessings to you.