Five years ago I was six months pregnant with my first child, a daughter. It was my first official Mother's Day. While I was excited for the "new mom" cards, flowers and brunch that initiated me into a new club, I was honestly mostly relieved.
I was relieved because I believed that I finally had a reason to be happy on Mother's Day. My backstory is long, but the point for this post is simple: I didn't have a mother.
Each Mother's Day I would take time to honor and cherish my grandmother. And trust me when I say she was worth all the praise I could give her and then some. But for days leading up to and all during Mother's Day, I felt a void, I felt left out.
For years I let it get to me, even after I had my own children. The "Mom" gifts everywhere, the cards I would never buy, the silly Facebook posts that I would never share. It was just constant reminders that my birth mother chose time and time again to not do the work, put in the time or build a relationship with me. It was a constant reminder that I was not enough for her. I began to quietly hate and resent Mother's Day.
Then in 2014 infinite wisdom came from my 3 1/2 year old daughter, "Mommy, we need LOTS of cards for all our mommies... like Gigi, and Gramma, and Nana, and Auntie, and Auntie Sarah, and Auntie Chelsea, and Mrs. Larimore, and Miss Mary, and ..." The list literally went on for about 5 minutes. And the best part about this list, is several of the women she listed, don't have children, they aren't "mothers." But with all her enthusiasm, her big heart and her ignorance to what society defined as a "mother" she taught me so much.
Mother's Day is about honoring women. It's about honoring the women who make sacrifices, who nurture, who tirelessly provide care, and support. Women who listen to all our dreams, fears, pointless ramblings and often the mundane actions of our day, all without judgment or impatience. Women who challenge us to push past our limits, who cheer us on, who celebrate when we succeed and who hold us when we fail. Women who help us to piece back together broken hearts, and who warn of clouded judgment. Women who simply showed up.
Those are the women that need to be honored on Mother's Day. And for me, I am so grateful that I have a whole team of women who stand beside me. I am also blessed that I have the opportunity to be a "mother" to my children, my nieces and nephews, my students at church, my friends and anyone that I can walk beside and show grace, support and love.
This Mother's Day, I will choose joy. Because truly, being a mother, being a woman, and being a daughter of God is worth honoring and celebrating. So to all women, traditional Mother's and "Mothers," sisters, aunties, cousins, friends and daughters of the one true king, I wish you a Happy Mother's Day. You are worth celebrating.
Friday, May 8, 2015
Thursday, March 19, 2015
30 for 30
I wasn't sure how to feel when absolutely none of my family seemed surprised when I told them that for my 30th birthday I want 30 pairs of shoes. My husband rolled his eyes, my parents and in-laws laughed, and my grandmother started telling me what sales I could go to score some great deals. None of them knew exactly what I meant, but I have a feeling they all knew I was serious. To explain more, let me back up a minute.
Shoes and I have always had a love affair. I love buying them, wearing them but mostly looking at them. See, I have always had the luxury of being able to not only have the shoes I need, but most of the ones I want. This often made for an empty wallet and a full closet. But if I am being completely honest, this post has nothing to do with my want for shoes and ultimately everything to do with their need for shoes.
Their? Who?
The hundreds of children in Uganda who will no longer suffer from the pain of jiggers in their feet, but will instead be able to run and play in their new closed toe, protective shoes. I won't get into detail about how jiggers work, the problems they can cause, or the pain that a child goes through to have them removed. But I will say, that having looked at their pictures and read their stories, I have to do something to help.
That brings us to my big birthday wish. All of you are invited to help me share my birthday with Sole Hope. Sole Hope is an organization that is built with people who are making a real difference in Uganda. One of their main services is to care for the children's feet. They wash them, remove the jiggers, treat any medical infections and then finally fit them with their own pair of protective shoes. I have spent the better part of the last 30 years looking at shoes, and without a doubt the shoes made by Sole Hope are the most beautiful I have ever seen. They are simple, made of denim, but they are literally changing the trajectory of the life of each child that receives a pair. The shoes protect their feet, but the care, love and support they receive with the shoes is what will help them to live a richer life.
One of the ways that I want to support Sole Hope is to host a "Shoe Cutting Party." It will be a time of fellowship, cutting old denim jeans to be transformed into shoes, and cupcakes. (It is a birthday party after all!) My hope is that we can cut enough denim to make 30 pairs of shoes. The details for the party are at the bottom of the page!
If you've read this far, thank you. This cause, this organization and the faces of these children have grabbed my heart. I encourage you to consider joining us for the party, checking out the stories, pictures and information provided by Sole Hope, or sharing this invite with someone else.
More info:
Sole Hope
www.solehope.org
Facebook event
Party Details.
Saturday, April 11th from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
First Baptist Church of Beaverton
5755 SW Erickson Ave
Beaverton, Oregon 97008
There are many ways for you to help! Ultimately we will need a total of 30 pairs of old denim, that will then be cut into patterns. Each pair of "shoes" that we complete will also need a $10 donation. This is used to cover the shipping to Uganda as well as pay a fair wage to the local shoe maker and tailor that are used there.
Ways to be involved:
*Make a whole pair yourself (donate denim, cut pattern and include $10)
*Simply donate denim
*Come and just cut out patterns with us
*Sponsor a pair of shoes for $10
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or for more information. I am really excited about this opportunity and look forward to a fun afternoon!
Shoes and I have always had a love affair. I love buying them, wearing them but mostly looking at them. See, I have always had the luxury of being able to not only have the shoes I need, but most of the ones I want. This often made for an empty wallet and a full closet. But if I am being completely honest, this post has nothing to do with my want for shoes and ultimately everything to do with their need for shoes.
Their? Who?
The hundreds of children in Uganda who will no longer suffer from the pain of jiggers in their feet, but will instead be able to run and play in their new closed toe, protective shoes. I won't get into detail about how jiggers work, the problems they can cause, or the pain that a child goes through to have them removed. But I will say, that having looked at their pictures and read their stories, I have to do something to help.
That brings us to my big birthday wish. All of you are invited to help me share my birthday with Sole Hope. Sole Hope is an organization that is built with people who are making a real difference in Uganda. One of their main services is to care for the children's feet. They wash them, remove the jiggers, treat any medical infections and then finally fit them with their own pair of protective shoes. I have spent the better part of the last 30 years looking at shoes, and without a doubt the shoes made by Sole Hope are the most beautiful I have ever seen. They are simple, made of denim, but they are literally changing the trajectory of the life of each child that receives a pair. The shoes protect their feet, but the care, love and support they receive with the shoes is what will help them to live a richer life.
One of the ways that I want to support Sole Hope is to host a "Shoe Cutting Party." It will be a time of fellowship, cutting old denim jeans to be transformed into shoes, and cupcakes. (It is a birthday party after all!) My hope is that we can cut enough denim to make 30 pairs of shoes. The details for the party are at the bottom of the page!
If you've read this far, thank you. This cause, this organization and the faces of these children have grabbed my heart. I encourage you to consider joining us for the party, checking out the stories, pictures and information provided by Sole Hope, or sharing this invite with someone else.
More info:
Sole Hope
www.solehope.org
Facebook event
Party Details.
Saturday, April 11th from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
First Baptist Church of Beaverton
5755 SW Erickson Ave
Beaverton, Oregon 97008
There are many ways for you to help! Ultimately we will need a total of 30 pairs of old denim, that will then be cut into patterns. Each pair of "shoes" that we complete will also need a $10 donation. This is used to cover the shipping to Uganda as well as pay a fair wage to the local shoe maker and tailor that are used there.
Ways to be involved:
*Make a whole pair yourself (donate denim, cut pattern and include $10)
*Simply donate denim
*Come and just cut out patterns with us
*Sponsor a pair of shoes for $10
Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or for more information. I am really excited about this opportunity and look forward to a fun afternoon!
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