The Encouraging Crafter

As most of my friends know, my mom passed away a few weeks ago.  This has been such a difficult time for our family.  My mom was the Queen of our family in every sense of the word.  She loved her family deeply and that love was returned by all of us.  She was surrounded by her family when she left this world to be with Jesus.  As much as I miss her daily, I wouldn’t want her to have to come back to this world.  She is surround by her family that has gone on before her and she is experiencing the unspeakable joy of being in God’s presence right now!  How amazing is that!!

If my mom knew you for any length of time, she never forgot you.  If she found out when your birthday was, she never forgot it.  She loved to give.  If she saw someone in need and she could help, she would.  She has given money to people in a restaurant who looked hungry.  She gave to various local and country wide charities.  Her favorite was the Red Cross.  She didn’t take any mess from anyone, but she would turn around and give you anything you needed.  She knew Jesus.  In her last days, she said that God loved her, God loved everyone and that love was the most precious thing.  Even though she wasn’t very active in church, she lived her life according to the Bible.  Love and respect your husband (even though she was the boss lol), train your children in the way of the Lord, give to others and treat others the way you want to be treated.  All of these things came naturally to my mom.

I was the youngest of 5 children and I was spoiled by everyone.  My parents and my siblings.  I enjoyed every minute of my childhood and felt very special.  My mom bought me a shirt when I was around 4 or so and it said “spoiled rotten” on it.  When she told me what it said, she told me I cried and wouldn’t wear it anymore.  She then told me she was teasing and said it said “nice girl”.  After that, it apparently became one of my favorite shirts.  My family isn’t perfect, but it was the “perfect for me” family.  God knew what he was doing when he put us all together.  We can fuss and argue, but we ALWAYS come back together.  I know without a doubt that my family has my back as much as I have theirs and that comes from being raised by 2 great people that loved each other very much and gave that love to us.  I loved having all of the benefits of being the youngest by so many years, but now being 43, my children not being married and not having grandkids, it really kind of bites.  I would have loved my mom to be able to see me become a grandmother, especially because I always said I never wanted children lol.

Part of trying to start this blog up again is to remind me to put things down so that my grandkids will know who my mom was.  Not just a name on the family tree, but to really KNOW her.  I want to pass on her love of God and family to my grandkids.  She loved to learn about her family history.  When my sister and I found out anything knew on our family history search, she was always so excited.  She loved to knit and sew.  All of those things are such treasures now and will be passed down to other generations.  I hope to have daughter in laws or granddaughters one day that would like to learn to knit, so that I can pass down that part of my mom to them.  I want future generations to look back upon their family history and know what a great woman she was…what a great wife she was…and what a great mom she was!!!

To Be Continued…..

A wife of noble character who can find?

    She is worth far more than rubies.

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

10 [a]A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.