What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Sunday, May 13, 2018

Flowers for Mama - Updated 5/13/2018

Updated on Mother's Day, May 13, 2018. This is a repeat of a post I wrote originally in 2010, and then updated in 2011, right after my father had also joined her in heaven.  In honor and loving memory of my Mother and all mothers past and present, Have a Blessed and Happy Mother's Day.  I repost this every year now on this day...missing my Mama still...guess I always will.  She was pretty wonderful.

"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." Exodus 20:12 KJV

(Updated 5/7/11)  Song of Solomon 2:11-13 “For lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grapes give a good smell…”

Many years ago we answered the call of God to go and prepare for the ministry.  My husband chose a seminary in north central Ohio, which was an exciting new adventure for our whole family!  First snow for our kids...first driving in snow and ice for us...lots of fun adjusting to our new surroundings after living most of our lives in Florida. But that's another whole story I'll save for another day.

We had survived our first winter in Ohio living in a very large, old house out in a small community in the heart of farmland. Finally spring arrived in all its grandeur and beauty. I was so thrilled to discover that our yard was blossoming out in every direction! Since we had moved into this house in the early fall we were not prepared for all of the lovely flowers that would appear in the spring. There were tulips and daffodils springing up in flowerbeds all around the house. Then there appeared the blossoms of flowers I had never seen before, gorgeous large white and pink and rosy red peonies! Oh, what a delightful surprise they were! Their fragrance was exquisite.  Then the fruit trees started to blossom…we had apples, pears, plums, and cherries! It was a veritable "Garden of Eden". 
Me with my sweet little boys circa 1980:
Matthew in the space helmet, Benton, and Scotty
in front of the lilac bush
Mother's Day, Nova, OH

Next the lilacs started blooming…talk about fragrance! I was especially excited to see these delicate flowers appear because lilacs were my mother’s favorite flower, and since moving to Florida after being born and raised in the north, she was sad to discover that she was unable to grow them in the south. Every spring she would talk about the lilacs and long to see and smell them again. In honor of her, I joyously placed vases full of the beautiful flowers everywhere in the house and filled our home with their sweet perfume.

Since my Mother and Dad’s anniversary was in the middle of May, I thought I would surprise them with a “fresh bouquet” from our garden. I gathered up bunches of lilacs, tulips, and apple blossoms, and carefully packed them and mailed them to Florida by priority mail. I wish I could have been there to see my mother’s face when she opened that box and saw those lilacs! She said although they were a bit wilted, she could still smell their heavenly fragrance emanating from the package. Even though they were falling off of the stems, she saved the blossoms and enjoyed them for days to come. I believe that was the best present I ever sent her.
Lilacs, tulips and apple blossoms from our yard, May 1980

Tears are rolling down my cheeks as I think of this today, as my dear mother has been gone to heaven for five years, exactly today. (written on 5/7/2011My sweet Daddy has just joined her in heaven, about two weeks ago. (April 19, 2011)  Since Mother passed away in the month of May, we requested that the florist find fresh lilacs to make a special bouquet for her funeral. They were able to do so, and I know it brought a smile to my mother’s face in heaven to know that we had done that for her. I can even imagine that the fragrance of those beloved flowers reached all the way to heaven’s gates.

I love you Mom...and we still miss you every day!  So happy for you that Daddy is there with you to help you celebrate this Mother's Day.  Love and kisses to you both...Your baby daughter, Pam

“Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praises her.” Proverbs 31:28

14 comments:

  1. What a beautiful poem for you Mom! I often speak of my "exile" to the north but I too, learned to love the emergence of spring! If you have never lived away from the south you can't even imagine how wonderful spring is! I remember thinking, "my neighbors must think I'm nuts" when I was spinning around the yard and the pasture taking it all in. Just the appearance of leaves is fabulous! How blessed we are to have blooms and fragrance year round! Thank you God!

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  2. Now you've made me cry!! I remember when Mom received your flowers! She was so happy to get such a thoughtful gift!! She did love her lilacs!!me too!

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  3. Doris, I am so glad that you were there when she got the flowers. It was always hard for me to be so far away on Mother's Day and other special days. Now Mom is the one who is away...but she is not far...I can see her smiling now and hear her saying how much she loved the lilacs..and how much she misses her little girls. We love you Mama!!

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  4. Yes, Rhonda...spring in the north is truly "spring"...we don't have a full appreciation of it here in the south. And it always seemed to take forever to arrive in the north...especially the farther north you go. In Maine and New Hampshire we called spring "mud season". First came the thaw of snow, then the mud, then the crocuses...then the black flies...THEN the real spring! Then the snow again, or so it seemed...and this was usually mid May before it ever fully thawed out. Sometimes I miss all that...and then again, sometimes I don't...(sometimes I feel like a nut, sometimes I don't...LOL)

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  5. Pam, thanks for reposting this today. I am missing Mom and Dad both today as I work around their home, cleaning and picking up! I sat out on the back porch this evening, just enjoying the fresh air, watching and listening to the birds,and remembering all the good times we ALL had out in that beautiful backyard!----Oh how I wish-------

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  6. Pam, thank you for sharing this again. What a beautiful tribute to your mom. There's nothing quite like spring-time in the Midwest. It's fun to watch the flowers and trees burst out in spring-time glory (even if it makes some of us feel very miserable!).

    Blessings!

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    1. Thank you Kim. I am glad that you enjoyed this special tribute. I do hope you are enjoying springtime where you are. We seem to have skipped over spring right into summer here...but each season has its joys and blessings. I pray you are not too miserable in the midst of it all!

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  7. Happy Mother's Day to you! I had to smile at the photo of your sons. They look a lot like mine. Apparently they are similar in age, too. One of our sons had a vest to go with this church clothes, like your Benton.

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    1. Must have been the "style" in the '80's. Can't get a child in a suit nowadays! All of our boys had little suits, but apparently they shed their Sunday clothes as soon as we got home. Matthew was always unique and wearing his own style... Happy Mother's Day to you and your family today as well. Praying you are enjoying your first spring in Florida!

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  8. Such a sweet and touching tribute to your mother, Pamela. And I'm sure she never forgot the fragrant gift of lilacs you sent to her way back when. Maybe in heaven, God has seen fit to surround her with their perfume. One can only imagine . . .
    And I do love the photo of you with your boys!
    Blessings!

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    1. We can only imagine what joys await us in heaven...heavenly lilac perfume? Perhaps! I know that would bring a huge smile to my mama's face...but to just see the behold the beauty of those flowers again would be heavenly. I know she is enjoying all the beauty of heaven that exists. Thank you for your thoughts. I hope you have had a wonderful Mother's Day.

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  9. Pam, thank you for sharing this beautiful tribute to your sweet mom. There's something special about the beauty of spring-time with plants bursting forth.

    Blessings!

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  10. Seeing this post on April 20, 2020. Beautiful. You described your Ohio yard so well, and yes, I do enjoy Lilacs when I'm in 'cold country.' Your contribution of them at your mother's funeral was a wonderful idea.

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    1. Thank you, Barbara, for enjoying this post somewhat after the fact, but I wanted to share it with you because it went along with what we were walking about on Facebook. I am so glad you took the time to read it. It is a favorite memory of mine when I sent those flowers to my mother. I wrapped their stems in wet paper towels and then put plastic bags over that to keep them moist. Then I put them in styrofoam egg cartons to help protect them for the journey via the mail from Ohio to Florida. Even though they weren't in great shape by the time they got there, it was definitely the thought that counted, and my mother was delighted, which still makes me smile just thinking about it. That was forty years ago now! Wow. Time sure flies. Thanks for joining in with me on this special memory.

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