A day with my mom

Today is the last day I get to spend with my mom before I leave for Germany.  She's sleeping right now because she works nights, but when she gets up we're gonna go eat and watch the new Madea movie.  Yes, the new Madea movie.  We find her very hilarious.

It's going to be enormously bittersweet as we both recognize the fact that I, her youngest child, am going off into the world to explore, find my independent side,  be with family, and see what God has for me outside of the US.  She has been a mother longer than she hasn't (over33 years to be exact), so this whole not having anyone living under her roof anymore thing will be devastating at first.  But then she'll soon come to realize that it's kind of great that out of eight children, none will still be home.  They'll all be living somewhere else, being independent in some sort of way.  She always says parenting doesn't end just because they don't live with her anymore, because they tend to call pretty often.  But other than the occasional few phone calls a week, she won't have anyone left to tell them to "text me when you get there," or "love you.  Be safe and drive CAREFULLY!"  It'll be the first time in a while that she finally has a chance to focus on herself and see what she needs rather than what her kids need.

Please pray that the transition into this new life of having no children left at home goes smoothly.  I'm not mom but I can see and she's told me many times that she loves doing what she does, being a mother to "eight great kids."  I mean, if you know my mom, then you know that she would be a mom forever if she could.  Even though she hasn't been perfect in her profession, she's pretty dang close.  She has the best motherly, gentle touch around and guess what?  My mom could beat your mom any day! hahahaha :)