In 1908 Anna M. Jarvis campaigned the church, for a day called Mother's Day to become official, in remembrance of her mother Anna Reeves Jarvis. Her mother had devoted twenty years to the church doing Sunday School teaching. On May 10, 1908 at Andrew's Methodist Church, in Grafton Virginia, a celebration was held. To honor her mother and in celebration of peace. This celebration was the first official Mother's Day celebration in the United States. Other women in previous years, most notably Julia Ward Howe, had celebrated Mother's day unofficially mainly on July 4th. In 1914Woodrow Wilson made history as he officially signed the paper to make the second day in May Mother's Day.
Through the ages many different meanings have been attached to Mother's Day. Or as some cultures call it Mothering Sunday. Did you know that in other regions of the world it is even celebrated at different seasons/months of the year. Some countries celebrate the church as the Mothering Spirit in which they are grateful to as other's give offering to other deity's. Celebrations can last just for the day of even up to three days in the observance of the Mother. Whether the Mother image is Mom, church or deity; the thankfulness for the giving of love, inspiration, life, and protection is the main thread.
Therefore, remember your Mother in some way this Mother's Day. Be thankful for what she has done for you. Maybe, she wasn't a perfect Mom or always there like you wished. Mothers are not infallible, they are human after all. If you have a problem or issue that has kept you apart; then maybe the best gift of all could be resolution, forgiveness or at least talking it over (actually listening to her side without interruption). If your Mom is still around and you need to resolve something -- don't wait till it's too late. She is always going to be there for you (even if you are the one at fault-- she will forgive you). That's what a Mom's love is all about.
Now, ideas for those that need them:
You could get the regular standbys of chocolate, flowers, or a card.
Or you could dress up those options:
1)Don't buy a card - make one;Mom's love handmade things, then if you live nearby make her either breakfast or lunch too and do the dishes afterwards.
2)Hand-picked flowers in an unusual or hand-painted vase with a photo of you (or your family attached) to it.
3)Home-made candy or chocolates or even bread or cookies (whatever she loves the best) on a home-made ceramic plate with her grand-children's hand-prints drawn/painted and glazed (dated too).
Don't live nearby; Here's a few options:
1)With liquid embroidery draw around one of each of her grand-children's hands, placing one hand on each side of a plain white potholder. Place the child's name and age inside the hand print. If you have four children you can make two potholders with this method. If you have more than four children you can also do this same method on a plain flour sack kitchen towel. It will be treasured by her believe me, I still have the one I gave my Mother (I got it after she passed away). One year I did a Kitchen Curtain Set for my Mother, by gathering all her grand-children together, who at the time were ages 6 months to 8 yrs. I had each of them draw, write and color (with liquid embroidery) whatever they wished upon the plain white material I had sewn into curtains. Of course I had to measure her kitchen windows when she wasn't home. She really loved those curtains, she put them in her cedar chest when she moved and they wouldn't fit any of her other windows.
2)A Handmade card; this is still a great option. You could also include a coupon book. The coupons you could make to say little things like; this entitles you to an I'm sorry Mom; this entitles you to I love you Mom; this entitles you to a phone call to me no matter what time and I'll listen; this entitles you to me calling you on your birthday; this entitles you to me coming to dinner (if you only live an hour or something like that not out of state)-- you get the idea. *remind Mom in the coupon book to let you know she is using her coupon at the time if it's over the phone and not in person.
3)A handmade photo frame with a picture of you/your family. You could dress up the photo frame with dried rose petals, confetti, lace, smaller photo collage images, buttons, seashells from a childhood family vacation or make it from twigs. Please wrap it in bubble wrap if it is fragile and ship it accordingly.
4)Make a dvd or cd of the grand-children, your children, singing songs and telling stories. Mail this to her. Then call her on Mother's Day to allow her to talk to the children and let them know how much she enjoyed the dvd/cd. I still have a cassette tape my children made for my Mother one year when we lived in Wyoming and she was in California. (once more I got it after she passed on in 2004--one day I will probably play it for my grand-children so they can hear their parents as kids).
Most of all, whatever you do for Mom, do it from the heart. Celebrate her with love, enjoy the fact that she is your Mother and has cared/done what she could to raise you. Embrace her, forgive her if necessary, Mother's Day is a day to celebrate the woman she is/has been. If your Mother, like mine, is passed then sit back and remember her in fond memories. Celebrate her life as she would want you to do. Happy Mother's Day to all the Mother's out there.
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Showing posts with label photograhs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photograhs. Show all posts
Friday, April 18, 2008
Friday, March 7, 2008
A Mountain Summer Vacation:
Go To The Mountains Not The Beach This Summer:
In my youth I spent many a days upon the beach, listening to the waves. Running as youthful people always do, seeking seashells, basking under the sun's golden rays. I have visited many different beaches as a child since my father was in the Navy and we traveled a lot. As the years though have past and I have matured like the steadfast oak or the mighty pine. My roots have also found more solitary times defined by moments of deeper meaning within the mountains I have roamed. I have been from one coast to the other within the United States. I have been to many different mountains and have enjoyed the activities of camping, hiking, riding ATVs among the trails. I have enjoyed hearing or telling a variety of scary stories beside the campfire in the evenings.
Therefore, I would now always opt to go hence to the mountains over and over for my summer vacation over the beach anytime. As a writer I find my greatest inspiration in the sounds of nature that abounds within the mountains. It teems with a life that starts as tiny as a fly and can be as big as a bear. What fantastic moments can one come across as they hike among wild berry bushes spotting butterflies fluttering in the mountain air. As eagles soar up above their nests upon the mountain's ledges, bringing a small rodent in their talons to their little one. Mountain goats climbing the rocks above jumping from ledge to ledge. Waterfalls, so beautiful to behold flow freely creating a magnificent veil in which you can hide behind as you watch the wildlife below. Raccoons and bears sharing the streams as they both fish for their dinner.
The smell of the mountains are full of flowers and pine scents. The air is smog free, so take a deep cleansing breath. While you stand on the mountaintop why not try to yodel. It's something that was once always there for our forefathers and the pioneers. The mountains are disappearing quite fast, at least the ones in which they haven't been overtaken by some of the population. You may as well enjoy the freedom of the mountains while you can, because soon there just may not be enough mountains to just roam free within anymore. Go take a hike, a picnic lunch under a tree by the stream. Go bird-watching, take photographs of nature as it really is, go camping and fishing. If you're the really adventurous type you can go mountain biking, mountain climbing or even river rafting. You'll definitely enjoy a vacation in the mountains if you just go and do it. Enjoy the outdoor now as you can. As our world's population grows, places like the mountains, soon will be overtaken by home sub-divisions which will scare away the wildlife that reside there now. So take your next Summer Vacation in the mountains.
www.nps.gov
In my youth I spent many a days upon the beach, listening to the waves. Running as youthful people always do, seeking seashells, basking under the sun's golden rays. I have visited many different beaches as a child since my father was in the Navy and we traveled a lot. As the years though have past and I have matured like the steadfast oak or the mighty pine. My roots have also found more solitary times defined by moments of deeper meaning within the mountains I have roamed. I have been from one coast to the other within the United States. I have been to many different mountains and have enjoyed the activities of camping, hiking, riding ATVs among the trails. I have enjoyed hearing or telling a variety of scary stories beside the campfire in the evenings.
Therefore, I would now always opt to go hence to the mountains over and over for my summer vacation over the beach anytime. As a writer I find my greatest inspiration in the sounds of nature that abounds within the mountains. It teems with a life that starts as tiny as a fly and can be as big as a bear. What fantastic moments can one come across as they hike among wild berry bushes spotting butterflies fluttering in the mountain air. As eagles soar up above their nests upon the mountain's ledges, bringing a small rodent in their talons to their little one. Mountain goats climbing the rocks above jumping from ledge to ledge. Waterfalls, so beautiful to behold flow freely creating a magnificent veil in which you can hide behind as you watch the wildlife below. Raccoons and bears sharing the streams as they both fish for their dinner.
The smell of the mountains are full of flowers and pine scents. The air is smog free, so take a deep cleansing breath. While you stand on the mountaintop why not try to yodel. It's something that was once always there for our forefathers and the pioneers. The mountains are disappearing quite fast, at least the ones in which they haven't been overtaken by some of the population. You may as well enjoy the freedom of the mountains while you can, because soon there just may not be enough mountains to just roam free within anymore. Go take a hike, a picnic lunch under a tree by the stream. Go bird-watching, take photographs of nature as it really is, go camping and fishing. If you're the really adventurous type you can go mountain biking, mountain climbing or even river rafting. You'll definitely enjoy a vacation in the mountains if you just go and do it. Enjoy the outdoor now as you can. As our world's population grows, places like the mountains, soon will be overtaken by home sub-divisions which will scare away the wildlife that reside there now. So take your next Summer Vacation in the mountains.
www.nps.gov
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