happy birthday gram!

my mom just turned 60. in celebration of her sixtieth birthday, i thought i'd try to describe my mom in sixty words. (she would be much better than me at doing this kind of thing, but here goes!)

-a servant's heart
-maker of quilts
-a quiet observer
-gram to my kids
-everyday listener
-supportive
-my proof reader
-does not say everything she is thinking (novel idea!)
-an expert dishwasher, laundry folder, and kid bather
-a reader, a singer, and a banker
-helps at a moment's notice
-endlessly encouraging
-smart, practical, frugal
-patient
-crafty and creative
-seeker of God's wisdom

ok, i think that's 60 words. (mom, did i get the count right!?) :) there are so many incredible things that i could say about my mom. she is so much help and is such an encouragement in every way...that sounds so trite, but i honestly do not know what i would do without her.

we were so happy to have the birthday lady over for a special dinner a couple of weeks ago on her actual birthday. she requested her favorite meal at my house: parmesan crusted tilapia, herb roasted potatoes, and brown sugar green beans. after a nice family dinner, we surprised gram with a grasshopper ice cream cake. just like her daughter and grandson, my mom loves mint chocolate chip ice cream... so we knew she would appreciate this cake that the kids helped me make! ethan knew he was not supposed to tell gram anything about the cake, and right before i pulled it out of the freezer, he was giggling and covering up his mouth... when i asked him what he was doing, he said, "i don't want to tell gram about her cake!"


well, ethan did a great job of keeping our secret (though we'll need to work a little on his poker face!), and my mom was thrilled with her cake. and as you can see, caroline could not take her eyes off of it!


and my "please don't buy me a present...ever" mom was just a little surprised when she opened photoshop elements 7! she has had so much fun with version 4, and we thought it was time that she had a little upgrade. :) isn't this the best surprised face ever?!


so my mom just turned 60. and i will be 30 in a couple of weeks. it just dawned on me that my mom has now spent half of her life loving me. thank you, Lord, for my mom and the blessing that she is to us! happy birthday, gram!