Moms...and Sons

Missy, here. I just got back on Monday from spending the weekend up in Durham, NC, for my son's college graduation. What a thrill! Here's a photo (with Cameron Indoor Stadium behind us--one of his favorite places of his college career). :)

There's something special about mother-son relationships. And it was really difficult when he moved over five hours away to go to Duke. It just felt like the family wasn't complete once he left. It took a good while for me to go to a restaurant and ask for a table for four instead of five (and to not cry when I did so!). Each time he comes home to visit, I feel like everything is good...complete...as it should be.

But now that's he's graduated, he's taken a job up there. He's in love with Durham. And more, he's in love with a young woman who he's dated for three years who's still in pharmacy school at UNC. So North Carolina is now his home. As I flew out on Monday morning, looking at the beautiful scenery, I felt sad. But I also felt good that he's in a great place with a wonderful girlfriend--a place where he's extremely happy.

And isn't that the whole point? To see them through to adulthood, praying they'll meeting the person God intends for them, praying they'll be happy and productive and giving, serving the Lord in all they do.

Sunday after graduation, he came to the hotel to give me my Mother's Day card. I was impressed that he even remembered with all that had been going on. The card made me cry. It says:

Mom, You were the first woman in my life. And what a woman. Strong, kindhearted, and good. Most of all, loving. And today, I hope you know how much I respect you and love you for the amazing woman and mother you are. Happy Mother's Day to the first lady of my heart.

Yeah, there's something special about a mother-son bond. Something that will last a lifetime.

A Healing Heart's new cover

I'm excited to share this vibrant new cover for A Healing Heart, April 2013, from Abingdon Press.

A Healing Heart Releases April 2013
from Abingdon Press' Quilts of Love line

Writing On Moms

Lindi here.

After one of my critique partners read a third manuscript of mine she asked what was up with me and moms. She said something like all the moms in my books are strange.

Well, as you read last Monday I have a really great mom and step-mom. And I get along well with both of them. So no, I don't have strange moms. Not really sure why I write them.

In Her Best Catch, Allison's mom is turning fifty and acting like a teenager. In my second release, which is coming out my month's end, Summer's Song, Summer's mother isn't the kind and nurturing type. At one point in the book she tells Summer, (the heroine) this: "I do want what's best for you Summer. I'm just not sure being a mom is what you're best at." Yeah. She says that.

In my May 2013 release Rich In Love, my heroine's mother abandons her for the missionary field. Something my heroine has a hard time getting over. So I don't know what it is about strange mothers.

What about you? If you write, how are your family dynamics? Do you have a trend? If you're a reader what kind of family dynamics do you like to read about?

Reflection on Mother's Day

Missy, here. I know Mother's Day isn't until Sunday, but I wanted to go ahead and wish all of you mothers (and those who are mother figures) a wonderful weekend!

When my kids were little, they would make me breakfast in bed on Mother's Day. And it was no easy feat, because my husband was always at church early, before they got up. They had to do it by themselves! Of course, that only made it more special. That and the fact I could hear them banging around the kitchen, sometimes fussing with each other. Usually the oldest bossing the other two around. :)

My oldest will be graduating from college soon. And you know, now that I think about it, I don't believe I've had breakfast in bed since he moved from home. Maybe I owe him the thanks for those crazy breakfasts (the last one I remember consisted of a frozen waffle, scrambled eggs, toast with jelly, a banana, milk and orange juice). :)

So today I'd like to honor not only mothers, but also thoughtful kids who take the time to make their mothers feel loved with food, painted hand prints, scribbled messages using kindergarten spelling, cards with dripping glue and massive amounts of glitter, slobbery kisses, tight hugs, laughter, snuggle time...and yes, even a college diploma.

Now that my son is graduating, my job is done. Well, at least this phase is complete. I like to think this is a job that'll last a lifetime. :)

Missy

Great Grandmothers

Mindy here. Today we're going to move past mothers to grandmothers. Isn't it interesting that the older we get, the better we become. We can go from being just a mother to a grandmother. And if we're lucky, we later become a great grandmother. We go from good to grand to great!

My grandmothers have both passed away, but I still think of them often.

When I think of my Grandma Brock, I think of laughter and family. Grandma Brock was the eternal optimist.

My Grandma Steavens was a little more demure. I can still hear her soft chuckle. When I think of Grandma Steavens, I remember summers at the lake and picking blueberries for jam and pie.

Now that I'm a grandmother, I often wonder what my grandchildren will think of when they remember me. I hope they, too, remember laughter and good cooking. I hope they remember that I love Jesus, that my life, in some way, reflected Him.

What comes to mind when you think of your grandmother(s)?

Happy Tuesday, y'all.

Perfect Mother, Perfect Daughter

Angie here: Our interview with Roxanne Packham today... Her book was featured last week on our blog. Pictured below are moms and daughters from one of Roxanne's Teen Blessing Teas.

Start your own chapter: http://www.inspired31.org/start-a-chapter.html

Angie: I just have to ask because I love supporting orphans. Has your book been able to provide anything substantial for the orphan ministry in Romania?

Roxanne: All profits for the book go to Heart of Hope Ministries International. The book is a gorgeous full color, high gloss, photo coffee table book for $40.00--$15,000 to the organization already!

Angie: I LOVE that! Wow,I'm excited about the success you're having. Yay! That kind of money goes a long way over there. Is there a way to see the book for folks online?

Roxanne: On Pinterest- roxannepackhaminspireddesigns -and anyone can download 10 pages for free.

Angie: What would you say your book, Inspired Designs, is most like?

Roxanne: I'm told the closest comparison is Emily Barnes. I love doing my own photography, but the photographer for this book has taken photos for places like House Beautiful so the pictures are spectacular.


Angie: Tell us about your Inspired 31 group.


Roxanne: Inspired 31 group meets about every 6 weeks, 6-7 times a year, not during holidays or summer, honoring mom/daughter busy times. I’m not losing my daughter when she goes off to college {to the world}. I wanted to show other women they didn’t have to live in a mold. Daughters seem to listen well to other mothers. So we bring them together. Moms feel they can help each other in supportive ways by sharing the same concept one mom has been trying to get across. Teenagers have opinions. We give them experience on what it’s like to run something in these meetings so in Inspired 31, we don’t try to run it for them. They’re getting the experience to help them in college.

Angie: Oh interesting, how do you work with the teens to help them share an opinion, but gain experience?

Roxanne: You can’t just say something you don’t like. You have to have an idea or discussion toward the solution. Complaining is outlawed. I use questions and solutions like--
“And how would you fix that?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well then that’s your job for the next meeting, research that and let us know.”


Angie: I can see how that would be wise with teens. They're part of the solution, but they're asked to step up and not leave it to someone else. Roxanne, Tell us about the events.

Roxanne: A Teenage Blessing Tea is really popular. Our last event had over 300 in attendance. There’s so many messages our teenage girls and women need to hear and want, but they’re getting one dimensional messages.  Tea and scones with special speakers with amazing Christian women who could show the daughters amazing women doing amazing things across the wide gamut of opportunity. Women who are bakers, doctors, newscasters, a variety of talented women so teens learn they can serve God in the way that He has made them, with their talents and gifts. Not just celebrities, all walks of life.

Angie: How do you keep the event focused on the event and not the frustration of the work?

Roxanne: For the teas, I only choose one food to keep the focus on the event and not on the prep and clean up work. The girls had the utmost respect for the moms on the steering team after they learned all the work they moms put into the event. {Roxanne laughs} The girls get really tired, but they have a great time.


Angie: You have a tagline that sums up what you want to share.

Roxanne: Teaching teenage girls, mothers, and others to find, follow, and celebrate God’s path for their life.

Angie: Roxanne, we really connected with a like-minded heart even though you're way over there in California and I'm in Montana. What do you suggest for other women who'd like to connect with like-minded sisters?

Roxanne: I suggest Women In Christian Media, it's always right before the NRB (National Radio Broadcasting) as a great opportunity to meet interesting women. Listening to incredible deep teaching from these awesome women is inspiring.

Angie: Roxanne you have a heart for the teens, other moms, and the Romanian orphans and your create these amazing events connected to your Inspired 31 group. How do you keep yourself encouraged for ministry and life?

Roxanne: Through prayer and reading scriptures.

Angie: Is that what you did for your book?

Roxanne: I spent an hour in prayer every morning for a year and did not act on anything until the year was up in the planning for this book. This book created deep time with my daughter. We did it quietly and didn’t tell anyone what the project was about for 2 years.

Angie: What would your daughter say about all this?

Roxanne: She'd say she loves getting to know the other moms and girls, admires the other women, and loves listening to the others.

Angie: What a delight it's been to have Roxanne here with us, and more so for me in the time I spent on the phone with her for our interview. May God bless your ministry, Roxanne.

Roxanne: Thank you for having me.

Angie: Here's all the scoop on where to find more on Roxanne Packham and her work.

Roxannepackhamdesign@yahoo.com
www.inspired31.org
BLOG: inspireddesignpublications.blogspot.com www.inspireddesignpublications.com
Heart for the teens, other moms, and the Romanian orphans.

Mother May I?

Lindi here. Celebrating May with talk of mothers. Do you remember the game? Mother May I? We always thought it was so funny to tell our friends: "Say Mother may I then spell the word cup." So they would say "Mother may I C-U-P." Ha--so childish, yet when you're seven it's terribly fun and funny. I'm not sure if kids play that game anymore. After just spending the whole weekend with my grand kids, age 6 and 4, you'd think I'd know these things. But all I know is we didn't play it. Okay, back to the mother may I part of the post. I'm grown now and I don't ask my mother for permission per say, but I still ask her advice. I still want to know her thoughts on things. I actually have a mom and a step-mom. Both amazing ladies whom are very different, which is great for me. I get advice all around on lots of different things. How about you? Do you still ask you mom or step-mom for advice? Here's a pic of me and my mom.

Here is a picture of my step-mom--with my dad, my daughter and my daughter-in-law.