When Country Visits City...

 On Sunday we visited the city our middle daughter lives and works in....

She trades the rural panorama of meadow and stream

For glades of steel and concrete where sky-scraper spires gleam

And past her window hastes a never ending symphony

Of traffic noise that rushes like a river to the sea

And where a country night is tucked beneath star-studded deep

Her night dazzles with lights and sights and sounds that never sleep

No ribbit-ribbit lullaby, no wild forget-me-nots

Here towers almost touch the sky, here flowers bloom in pots  

Here mother looks a little lost and daughter leads the way

When country visits city for a bitty holiday

© Janet Martin

Whenever I go to the city I feel a little like the country mouse😁

 (mid-video begins the part of the story where country mouse accidentally ends up in the city)

how do I know this?! perks of childcare😉
plus, I love Beatrix Potter stories!

  

Thank God For Godly Mothers/Women

We enjoyed a mother-daughter day with mom today...

no pics but lots of chit-chat! (missed you. Mar!)

My sister who hosted the luncheon sent us all home with beautiful blooms!

My mom modeled/models Prov. 31; 10-31 for her daughters...

 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Prov.31:25-31 

Of all the blessings that life grants

One holds a price beyond compare

It fills our hearts with humble thanks

For godly mothers everywhere

Though words will never be enough

We try in sweet and sundry ways

…and for a godly mother’s love

We lift to God a song of praise

We thank Him for mother, so dear

Who through wisdom, not of her own

Taught sons and daughters to revere

The one true God on Heaven’s throne

Who, by her walk, (not words alone)

Her children, when grown can applaud

And thank her for faithful love shown

That let them glimpse the love of God

© Janet Martin

Like No Other...

Nobody else can take her place

In loves that life may offer

One wears a truer, kinder face

Than any, any other

She leaves behind the girl she was

To answer life’s great honor

No more to serve herself because

Of love’s Call placed upon Her

Where innocence delights and charms

With blessing beyond number

When God bestows to *anxious eager arms

Life’s dearest, sweetest wonder

And though the chores this charge will ask

May seem but common duty

The love that draws Her to its task

Makes it a thing of beauty

…where she knows she cannot forsake

This sacred call, no never

 She will be stretched but will not break

For heartstrings cannot sever

And oft, though weary to the core

From a Source deep within her

She finds the strength to sweep the floor

Or clean up a late dinner

…to kiss, hug, hold, and oh, let go

As years scatter behind her

She, Keeper of the home, ‘they’ know

Where they can always find her

Her role of day-by-day lent grace

Is unlike any other

Nobody else can take the place

That God designed for Mother

© Janet Martin

*I have a niece waiting anxiously, SO anxiously/eagerly to become a mother! 

I do so hope she will be able to celebrate Mother's Day as a first time mommy!

 Thinking of you lots, Brittany!
Hang in there. It will happen and though the thought that motherhood NEVER ends can feel terrifying at first,(she expressed this and I remember feeling exactly like that!)

 we would never trade it for the world, 

and like every other call in life, it comes one day at a time, 

but unlike any other call in life God places to our care living souls! 

This is a charge like no other!

Treasure Your Mother

 This poem was made possible because a daughter became a mother,

and now I see not only through daughter's forgetful, well-intentioned embrace

  but also through a mother's devoted and forgiving grace

  My mother and her daughters on my mom's most recent birthday

(Mom on far right then us girls standing in order from oldest to youngest)

Treasure your mother

And while you still have her

Tell her you love her

Again and again

Who knows which morrow

May turn into sorrow

When oft you will hunger

To tell her, in vain

Talk to your mother

Dear son and dear daughter

She fed, clothed, held you

And tucked you to rest

So while you still have her

Be kind; don’t forget her

For she like no other

Desires your best

Cherish your mother

Her life’s love and labor

Deserves highest honor

Where memory imparts

The echoes that weather

What none can untether

For she lives forever

In her children’s hearts

© Janet Martin

I have many friends who’ve bid their dear mothers

Their final earthly farewell

Forbid we leave our thank-yous unuttered

And mourn, too late the words we did not tell

Another Mother's Day poem here, by Ann Taylor

 Happy Mother's Day 
 

Part of Us

We don't begrudge them their wings,

We don't intend to tie them down

But we miss them all the same:)

When you stand speechless but for ‘wow’

‘neath City’s alien dome

I hope, though you are ‘grown up’ now

You will still think of home

So long we helped you find your wings

And beckoned you to ‘try’

That was before we learned heart-strings

Don’t sever when you 'fly’

So every now and then, my dear

Though you are ‘on your own’

Remember you are still quite near

To all of us at home

You are a prayer poured from the heart

A wish upon a star

For you will always be a part

Of us; wherever you are

© Janet Martin

Hugs and prayers for all our 'far-from-home-dears)