Last night, after Mike got back from Asheville (where I found out later he spent a couple of hours befriending Will Graham, Franklin's son, in his office looking at the collection of stones ...right up Mike's alley); and after Mike and I sat on the porch listening to the toads and watching the lightening bugs as the rain fell gently, Melody and I finished cleaning the carport and stowing things away in the attic and McKala was drawing me a bath. Macklynn led me to the bathroom and swung open the door, so I could see the room lit with candles; music from my NOAA alarm playing; a chair beside the tub with a fresh towel, a glass, and a bottle of sparkling grape juice; AND Madalynn sitting on the seat doing her business! Macklynn laughed so hard he couldn't speak and McKala sat down in the hall laughing.
I didn't realize until today that McKala had put milk and honey in the water. I just knew how nice it all was in the flickering light of the candles on every surface. When the plum colored Clematis, that Madalynn and Macklynn had given me for my hair earlier, fell to the water and floated, the final touch was made; or so I thought. About 30 minutes later McKala commanded that I unlock the door. I thought something was wrong, but she was standing there with cinnamon rolls and milk for me. You're beginning to see why I enjoy Mother's Day more than any other holiday and was apparently so looking forward to it that I forgot to get anything in the mail in time to our mothers :/.
This morning McKala set her clock to surprise me with the things she'd gone to the store for yesterday. She's so happy to have a job so she can contribute; she gave me $20 already this week to "tan" or whatever I need for the beach. She came in our room with a tray full of food: eggs, pecan pancakes, orange juice, hot chocolate, more cinnamon rolls, and bacon, plenty of bacon, which is normally something we ration. She and Melody had made sure everyone knew what they were wearing to church the night before and had it ironed, including my pants.
While I got ready, Melody sat a vase of flowers from the yard and a card on the nightstand. I didn't know until we left that she had also decorated, which explains the noise I kept hearing while I was in the bath: the ribbon being curled and the tape dispenser being used. We sang for the first time in the choir and the sermon was fantastic, as always.
When we got back, McKala put together some snacks, although I was not hungry, and we went out to the freshly trimmed yard that Michael spent 4 hours on yesterday. To our beach, Melody brought jugs of hot water, a bowl, scrub, and lotion for my feet. I think it must've taken her an hour to finish by the time she was done massaging. It's a lot of work, but she's offered to do it ever since she was old enough, 5 or so. To me, it's a very special "washing of feet".
McKala sent Madalynn to get "what's in the freezer". She came down with lime popsicles. She thought of everything, just the way Megan and Miranda used to do. I dozed off and on under the sunlight peaking through the leaves being tossed by the wind as Mike, Michael, Macklynn, and Madalynn fished. Macklynn's fish are growing quickly. However, Michael excitedly caught a 5 lb Largemouth Bass, that broke Macklynn's line last week, which must've been in there before we stocked it. It's so funny to hear Madalynn name off the species of fish as though it were nothing and run to find worms under anything that can be moved as though it's natural for all girls. Hours later, when I came back in, Melody was ready to paint my toenails for the "real" beach. I told her to surprise me and now I have bright green nails highlighted with fuscia flowers. As they were drying, Miranda, who'd been looking up the Florida beach with binoculars for her sister, called me and told me all about their weekend and especially how they'd learned to cast nets off my Dad's boat today. I know that she and her Daddy planned to get me the 12 week old, 20 lb blonde Pit Bull puppy at the feed store that wouldn't take its face from my neck long enough for me to get a good look at it ...precious. I appreciate Mike wisely deciding that even though I miss my Tootsie so much, we don't need the expense of another animal.
Megan made it back from her walk before we hung up and I thanked her for my card that says begins with, "Mother, sometimes I'd like to roll back the clock and return to my growing-up years so I could make up for all the times I didn't thank you enough." I remember being rough on her, so I thank her more so for the message she sent me saying I am her best friend. They say, don't try to be your child's friend; but when they are adults, nothing is sweeter. I love being a mother, but can't imagine sometimes why God allows it, when on this Monday morning as I finish up here, I know that I'll never get done all that should be this week. He loves me anyway ...just like we all love our children, and should never let the stress of the other stuff get in the way of it. Thank God for a day like Mother's Day to stop and see beauty, when so many other days, I run against the wind, blind to God's delicacies that surround me.
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