A Day in my Life

Well, yesterday was Mother's Day as you know. We spent the weekend celebrating our mothers. On Saturday I went to London to be with my Mom and attend a Mother/Daughter banquet. It felt so good to be sharing that with her again as it's been about three or four years since attending it. My mom is a great lady who always sacrificed for her family. I remember growing up and money was always tight with 7 children in the house. Mom always wore old shoes and old coats, so that we wouldn't have to. She is a shining example of a mother's unconditional love for her children ... an example that I fall very short of. She taught us how to love the unloved, and how to stand up for your principles no matter what. When I'm sitting ont he couch watching TV I often try to remember seeing my own mom doing that, and I can't. She was always busy doing something for one of us and taking care of someone. She is a great mom!

While I was in London, John was in Guelph taking his Mom out for dinner. There's something very special about boys and their moms! (I know, I have three of them.) I am very blessed to have a wonderful mother-in-law who also sacrificed greatly for her children. She is a wonderful giving person who is always happy and enjoys her children greatly. She did a fine job in raising John to be a wonderful, giving husband who only wants the best for his family.

Yesterday was my turn. While I know that my boys are still fairly young and don't fully grasp the significance of the day, I know that they love me and the bond that we share is unlike any other bond that either of us will have with anyone else. When something happens in their life, I'm the one they run to - whether it's good or bad.

When Matthew was 10 he gave me the best present ever. He wrote me a letter:

"If it weren't for you mom, I wouldn't be in school.
If it weren't for you mom, I wouldn't clean my room.
If it weren't for you mom. I would watch TV 24/7.
If it weren't for you mom, I would not do my chores.
If it weren't for you mom, I would stay up all night.
If it weren't for you mom, I wouldn't get shouted at. (ouch!)
If it weren't for you mom, I would have more free time.
If it weren't for you mom, I would eat whatever I wanted.
But if it weren't for you mom, I don't know where I would be now.

After giving me this letter in a card, he played a Backstreet Boys song on his CD player called "The perfect fan."

The Perfect Fan
It takes a lot to know what is love
It's not the big things, but the little things
That can mean enough
A lot of prayers to get me through
And there is never a day that passes by
I don't think of you
You were always there for me
Pushing me and guiding me
Always to succeed

Chorus:
You showed me
When I was young just how to grow
You showed me
Everything that I should know
You showed me
Just how to walk without your hands
Cause mom you always were
The perfect fan

God has been so good
Blessing me with a family
Who did all they could
And I've had many years of grace
And it flatters me when I see a smile on your face
I wanna thank you for what you've done
In hopes I can give back to you
And be the perfect son

Chorus

You showed me how to love
You showed me how to care
And you showed me that you would
Always be there
I wanna thank you for that time
And I'm proud to say you're mine

Chorus

Cause mom you always were
Mom you always were
Mom you always were
You know you always were
Cause mom you always were
The perfect fan

I love you mom

There were a lot of tears flowing that morning. For a 10 year old he had so much sensitivity and insight. Now, everytime I hear that song, I choke up!

Happy Mother's Day to all women out there. I want to especially include the women I know who don't have their own children because I know how much effort they put into helping me out in mothering my children ... in advice, help, support, and love for my own children.