Just last week, we celebrated my mom’s birthday exactly how she wanted, with all of us together for a big seafood boil.
Seafood isn’t really my thing, so I happily stuck with mac and cheese, but it didn’t matter what was on the plate.
What mattered was being together, laughing, reminiscing, and making new memories.
Seeing how much it meant to her reminded me once again that family is the greatest gift.
As I get older, I find myself reflecting more on the people who have shaped my life, and at the top of that list is my mom.
Our relationship has gone through so many seasons—from childhood, where she was my whole world, to adulthood, where I’ve come to appreciate just how much she sacrificed for us.
Now, as I watch her love on my kids and even my grandkids, I’m more thankful than ever for the incredible woman she is.
My mom was a single, young mother, and looking back, I don’t know how she did it all.
She worked hard, loved deeply, and somehow made sure my siblings and I never felt like we were missing out even when we didn’t have a big extended family.
So it was always just us—Mom and her kids, figuring life out together through the good times and the not so good times.
She taught us that family isn’t about the number of people around the dinner table but about showing up for each other, no matter what.
That lesson has stayed with me. Because of her example, we make it a priority to be there for our grandkids today.
We want them to always know they have a family that loves them, supports them, and will be there in every season of life.
Watching my mom as a grandmother and great-grandmother is such a gift.
The same love and strength she poured into us, she now shares with the next generations.
Life changes, and so do our relationships, but one thing that remains constant is the love of a mother.
Life has a way of coming full circle.
This past week we all went to my grandson’s first basketball game.
Three generations cheering him on from the sidelines.
Seeing my mom there, clapping and smiling just as she did for my adult children all those years ago, was a reminder of how special it is to have family show up.
It’s moments like these that make me so grateful for the love she instilled in us and the legacy of togetherness she started.
Family isn’t perfect, and life isn’t always easy, but at the end of the day, it’s the love we share that matters most.
And for that, I am forever thankful.
Weekly Wins
For a while now, I’ve made it a priority to visit the chiropractor regularly, and I can honestly say it’s made such a difference in how I feel.
Keeping up with adjustments has helped me move better, feel less tension, and just overall feel healthier.
While I was there today, I saw this sign that gave me a good laugh: “Sorry for the things I said before I was adjusted.”
I think a lot of us can relate to that.
Sometimes, we don’t realize just how out of alignment we are until we feel the relief afterward!
Favorite Find
I picked these up at Aldi a few weeks ago and was instantly hooked.
They are just the right amount of sweet and crunchy, and I highly recommend them if you have an Aldi nearby. They are a little pricey for a snack, in my opinion, but totally worth the five dollar splurge if you have room in your budget.
However, you have been warned. These are dangerously good!!
What I’m Watching/Reading/Listening to:
When I first saw the Gabby Petito Documentary was on Netflix, I knew I wanted to watch it as soon as possible.
What happened in the final days of Gabby Petito’s life? In this gripping true-crime series, her loved ones reveal the untold story of her tragic murder.
I remember following this while it was happening in real time through social media.
I knew there were things about this case we didn’t get to hear at the time, so I wanted to fill in some of the missing details.
Like how involved were his parents and what was his reason for committing this crime.
It’s such a sad tragedy.
This documentary comes in three episodes, each one about forty minutes long.
Looking back on these moments—celebrating my mom’s birthday, cheering on my grandson, and simply being together—I’m reminded how precious family is.
I’m so grateful for my mom and the example she’s set.
She taught me that family is about showing up, loving unconditionally, and making memories.
Passing those values on to my grandkids makes me even more thankful to have her still leading the way.
Wow, what an absolute “God moment” when you email came in immediately after I answered a friend who was really thinking of not going to her granddaughter’s party because of problems in the family. The Power of Showing Up was just the icing on the cake of my reply to her. Thanks for sharing! ~April
Oh my, I love hearing this. Thank you for sharing 🙂