How Much a Heart Can Hold

We celebrated my mom's 80th birthday over the weekend.

Quite frankly, I'm at a little bit of a loss today.

I sit here, and I think, "How can I write about this? How can I put together the right words? Our mother has been so important -- so instrumental -- in our lives. I don't know where to begin. Yet, something needs to be said."

First of all, this:

This picture comprises a large portion -- but not quite all -- of my ten siblings, their spouses, children, children's spouses, and grandchildren. We are standing in front of the house my great-grandfather built, which we all grew up in, in which my sister and her family now live.

I hope one of my sister's cameras got a better shot of this than mine did, because this one is not all that great. But, setting that aside... Look at all of us! Good gravy! All because two people fell in love... And stayed together, through good times and bad.

It's a testimony.

When I look at these pictures, I think of a quote I have in our house, "No one has ever measured how much a heart can hold." (Zelda Fitzgerald)

Our mom loves her family... She loves us all, each and every one. She will be the first one to say something positive about one of her children or grandchildren. (In fact, she'll be the first one to find good in just about anyone.) She finds joy in learning about our lives and offering encouragement. She lives out her faith of loving, forgiving, and serving.

I can't think of a day when she didn't put the needs of others before her own.

More tomorrow...

Comments

[Tauna]

Such a beautiful woman.
It would be difficult to put into words your feelings for her.
You did a great job.

Amazing to be able to get all those people on the same porch at the same time.
I think there was another miracle about that great.........Moses parting the Red Sea.

My hubs comes from a family of 10 children.
I had 1 older brother.
It's been interesting marrying into such a large family.
I love all of his siblings.