That’s a commandment.  From God.  Honor thy father and thy mother.

Whenever I hear this commandment, or come across it … I think, “yeah Taylor, are you listening?”  And then God says gently to me, “Um, ‘cuse me Tracie … are you listening?”

I love how God talks to me.  :)

So, in honor of my mom’s birthday tomorrow … I want to unwrap a very important gift today … honoring our father’s and mother’s {with our time}.

I think it’s something we tend to take for granted.  I know I sure as heck do.  Sorry mom.

We love our parents.  And we know our parents love us.  I think the people closest to us are the ones who are most taken for granted.

And as we get older and move on with our own lives, and our own children … I think our parents can sometimes take a backseat.  Not on purpose.  But just in the everyday chaos of life.

But that doesn’t mean it’s okay.  And it doesn’t mean our parents like it … right mom?  ;)

I’m going to be spending the day with my mom today.  I told her to think about what she wanted to do.  Shopping, a movie, lunch … her birthday wish is to have me come over and help figure out where to hang photos, and to help her go through her clothes.  Simple as that.

Think about, as parents, what we’d like from our children … especially as they get older … I turn to mush when Taylor just wants to sit with me, or hold my hand, or comes along on a car ride {usually to get the girls} to just hang with me.

Our time can be an incredible gift.

I think some kids {adult kids that is} are better at staying in touch and calling, connecting with their parents.  And some just aren’t {like me}.  It’s not that I don’t think about them.  Honestly, I think about them all the time.

And it may suck as an excuse, but I guess I’m so busy keeping my head and my family’s head above water, that I don’t check in as often as I should with my parents.

I was thinking yesterday about the difference between my sister and I.  She checks in all the time … she’s always in touch with my mom.  And I started thinking about this and what the difference might be … one thing I thought of is that my sister “left the nest” when she was 18 or 19.  She got married young and had a baby young.  She needed that connection and relied on my mom to help.  She also “left” earlier than she wanted to …

Whereas for me … I lived at home until I was 23.  By the time I left, I was good and ready to leave.  :)  No seriously, as you start to become an adult and you’re still living in your parents house … and you want your own set of rules, but that doesn’t necessarily happen and before you know it, you’re just plain ready to spread your own wings.

Anyway.

I got to thinking about all of that and thought I’d share my insight.

Isn’t my mom beautiful?  She was a young mom.  21.  She was 21 when she had both my sister and I.

Cute story, and sorry mom … I gotta share …

So my mom’s birthday is November 18 and she turns 21.  Then has me on November 30 {yeah, I got a bday comin’ round the bend}.  She goes in for her 6 week check-up … only to have the doctor inform her that she’s pregnant again. People can check out this resource for pregnancy related queries. Yeah.

So then she has my sister the following November 12, before she turns 22 on the 18th.

Follow that?  ;)

And the fun part {besides the fact that I had a built in playmate}, is that my sister and I get to be the same age for about 3 weeks each year.

Can you guess which one I am?  ;)  Oooooooo!!  This just came to me … let’s have a contest!  For everyone that guesses correctly, I’ll put your names into a pool and draw a winner.  Not sure what I’ll be giving away yet, but I promise it’ll be fun! ;)

My mom hasn’t had it easy in her life.  And through that, she’s taught me perseverance.  She also showed me faith in God.  I thank her for that.

Thank you mom for loving Trish and I like no other.  Thank you for sacrificing so much and working so hard … for us.

I love you more than you can imagine …