Mom's Memories... Joy in my heart!

No Hallmark card or store bought floral arrangement

can replace the memories I have of my sons

when they were growing up.

I just shake my head sometimes.

Broken Noses

 Boo Boos

More sutures on both of them than a baseball.

So many trips to the ER,

my dad was going to give us a

gift certificate!

Sleepovers....

I'm told now that it's better

I don't know what went on.

Hmmm

A Mother's Day when

a cheese omelet

was attempted to be

made in my waffle iron.

We won't go into detail about the

time one of them pooped

in a display toilet in a department store.

Or who sold all the

Christmas cookies I had baked

to his classmates two weeks before

Christmas, leaving me with empty tins!

Their great-grandmother said

"get those boys baptised!"

and I said "I did!"...

which she replied -

"well do it Again!"

 Every year they would

attend a church fair and rummage

sale with their grandparents.

One year they bought me a little

jewelry box and a bunch of vintage brooches.

I wish you could have witnessed

the pride on their faces when I

wore every one of those pins to church

the next day...of course you couldn't see the joy in my heart but it was there too.

Thank you for listening to

my sweet satirical memories!

Hats Off To Moms

In this world moms wear many different hats...

we work, we play, we love, we weep, we worry, we rejoice, we watch, we wait, we wonder

When I was a child my Mother was often very ill. She suffered from Depression and was hospitalized many times throughout my life. She died when I was 24 and she was 49. My son Todd was 2 and I was pregnant with my son Matt. What I remember most is her joyful laugh when she was happy, how she would say "I love you Jennifer Ann" with such a fierceness in her voice - an all-loving statement. The times we would drive home from my Grandmother's and I would lay my head on her lap (no seat belts at that time) and she would sing to me and stroke my hair. She would send me baby roses in pinks or soft coral "just because" - I mimic her kind heart to this day.

Then there was my Father's Mom - the Mother of my heart. Jennie Mondelli lived to be 95 and I will always miss her. The independent woman before her time. Raised her two sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Served in the Army during WWII the same times her two sons were in the Army and Marines.

And as for me? I knew I wanted to be a Mom. I dreamed of my sons or daughters and how I'd cherish them. From the moment they were born, my heart surged with joy. These little (well 10lbs 22" and 9 lbs. 22") perfect boys that were in my arms and mine.

Years have flown by and we have survived diapers, finger painting with poop, showering with baby powder including our black lab, countless trips to the ER for sutures, 2 broken collar bones, high school, knowing more than I do, attitude, vehicles, my knowing less than they do, several broken noses, Army boot camp, deployment, marriage, travel, being shorter than they are, houses purchased....

and I love their lives, my life, our lives together ...I listen to the words of this song my son Todd had played for us on his wedding day and picture us dancing....

Thank You dear Lord for the gift, the sweetest blessing of being a Mom.

Tickle Me Pink! A Day In The Life Of Little Boys With Chores...

when my sons Todd and Matt were little
I taught them how to do daily tasks
it was always a fuss
but now they say it helped them be prepared for Life

15 minutes a day
fold their wash
empty trash from their bathroom
feed the dog
pick up their toys

when Todd was little I would say
"If you don't behave Mommy won't let you vacuum"
he actually thought it was a treat, lol
I'm sure they thought I was a ....

so now, at 32 and 29
they cook, iron, clean
they're men
have less clutter than their Mom
more organizational skills
and I love them so

Tickle me pink!  Jennifer

Monday Morning All! My Mother's Day Moments....

restful

happy

joyful

caring

loving

mother's day

the best




I don't need jewels

or fruit basktes

breakfast in bed

now this is a funny story... momma is sleeping

soundly one Mother's Day morning when I hear

 my two lovely boys yelling at one another...

 "I told you it wouldn't work!!!!" "You jerk!" crying... yelling.."I didn't know!" I trudge down the

stairs to see my older son glaring at his brother

 who is in tears, totally frustrated.

 Todd yells "He's such a jerk!

I told him you couldn't make an omemlet

 in the waffle iron!".

My sons give me gifts with their love all the time,

but GOD gave them as a gift to me.

• 
  
  Matt & Connie called from South Korea 
• 
  
  We had Korean food and Sushi with Todd & Ravy
• 
  
  We celebrated Ravy's birthday
• 
  
  No dishes or cooking was done the entire weekend
• 
  
  Autumn didn't chew any electric cords
• 
  
  My friend Bobbie served me a delicious French Martini
• 
  
  I worked for my friend Colleen in her adorable shop

The Pink Poet Route 108 Laytonsville, MD

Happy Monday - Happy Week - Happy You - Happy Me!

jennifer  how was your's marveee I hope!

Thoughtful Thursday #2 Mom's with son's

first of all... these photos are not my son Matt.

Today is Matt's 29th birthday and he is in Korea. But he was a little blonde haired guy like this, bursting around this planet... getting into anything he could. Joy in my heart - oh yeah! From the moment he was laid accross my chest, I fell in love. He has an older brother, Todd - but this is Matt's day. The stitches, the bumps, the bruises, the birthday parties, sand between his toes and in his mouth too, reading stories, high school issues, just issues, Army life and deployment, girlfriends and friends, buying a home, traveling. Now my buddy is in Korea with his bestest girl Connie. 1 year away from us. He's happy. They're happy. Below are photos of Matt's mini visit to Japan and Korea with one photo of him...my 29 year old guy.

Japan

Korea

to all the mom's of big and little boys - lucky us!

Happy Birthday Matt! Love, Momma

Where did 31 years go - my little boy!

Todd - his name is Todd Robert and he arrived 3 weeks late 31 years ago. He weighed almost 10 lbs. and was 22". Like any new mom - he was my little miracle. When he turned 25 I sent him a birthday card with a photo of the two of us when he was minutes old describing what it felt like to be in that moment. I hope it meant something special. I'll never forget it. Now he's getting married. December the 5th in Annapolis, Maryland. His brother Matt (28) will be his best man. My dad - at 87, will fly up from Florida. My dad does not fly - but he will be there with my mom - he promised Todd. So my heart sings but it tugs at the same time. I blinked my eyes and they are men. I'm proud but where did it go?

Mother's Day - but more...

I hope all of you had a lovely
Mother's Day!
I spent it with my two sons
Todd (31) & Matt (28) - I blinked my eyes and they are men. I remember feeling them move inside me. I remember nursing, one so impatient ( Big surprise 10 lbs. 22" - due date 4/8 - born 4/25!), the other so peaceful and sleepy ( 9 lbs., 22"). So many injuries my parents wanted to give us a gift certificate to the ER! Finally, I worked for a Plastic Surgeon and I could bring them right in when they required sutures.The pain in might heart and the fear, the trust I had to have in my faith, when Matt was deployed and we said "good-bye". The "I hate you Mom" teenage years where suddenly I knew ZIP! Sports, games, practices, home-made cards, laundry, girls, discipline, chores, homework, hugs.
Yesterday, they came over with their girlfriends - who I adore - and cooked dinner for my husband and I - cleaned up - we relaxed and watched tv - the tears ran down my cheeks. My cup runneth over. How can my life be filled by such blessings? Jenn

Friday Praise

My Friday praise: new friends, old friends, trusted friends, treasured friends, remembering my sons first moments on Earth, thinking of clusters of roses in bloom and the glorious fragrance they emit, the look my dogs give me when I walk in the door, picking up a dozen fresh eggs from a neighbor and knowing how good they'll be in the am, the rain nourishing my gardens, a hug from a friend at the end of the day. Shaking my head to realize - the day was good to me - God's Grace.