The past several weeks at our house have been filled with celebrations – first my birthday, Easter and this past weekend our middle daughter’s 21st birthday! Even though this is such a cliche, I can’t believe how fast the time has gone since she was born.
Laryssa is such an accomplished young woman; the Lord has gifted her with the ability of being very intelligent, organized and disciplined, which translate into great leadership ability. She loves children and has been involved in babysitting, teaching and Children’s Ministry since she was a tweenager! She (as well as all of our daughters) make me look good as a mother!
Laryssa has developed a love for Children’s Literature and she got me a very sweet birthday gift centered around this theme. When the girls were little, we read often as well a lot. Recently she and I were talking about some of the books that we read. I mentioned that I always like Five Minutes’ Peace by Jill Murphy and that I would like to read this to my MOPS Moms sometime. This book is about how Moms often just wish for 5 minutes of peace when they have young children. Mrs. Large (who is an elephant) creates a tray with a cup of tea, treats and the morning paper and sneaks off to take a much needed stress relief bath. Of course, her children follow her to the bathroom and give her no peace!! It is a story any Mom who has ever small children will identify with. Laryssa created a Five Minutes Peace tray for me ~ I am enjoying it very much and thought that you would enjoy it as well:
My Five Minutes’ Peace Tray: a wicker tray, Five Minutes’ Peace book, unique violet tea cup, saucer & spoon, Oprah At Home Magazine, Milano cookies
For Laryssa’s birthday, I got her a Share HIS Story bracelet titles Be Filled with the Spirit. She is leading a Bible Study at college on the Fruit of the Spirit and I knew that this gift would remind her of all that she is learning and teaching.
I also made her a small scrapbook filled with greetings from her friends around the world. Laryssa has always been so good at keeping in touch with all of her friends and I knew that the messages of scripture, quotes and encouragement would also be special for this milestone birthday of 21!
Seeing my daughters grow up into beautiful young women who love the Lord and are serving Him with the unique gifts He has graced them with is one of the greatest joys of my life.
“I have no greater joy than to hear my children are walking in the truth.” 3 John:4
For those of you that are Moms reading this blog ~ don’t give up on the hard work of mothering ~ for the Lord will be faithful to you in spite of the mistakes you make. Here is what I wrote for Laryssa for her scrapbook ….
“It has been a complete joy to be your Mom each and every day of the last 21 years!! It is only by God’s grace that you are the special young woman that you are today ~ God has been so faithful despite my failures.
Continue living a life full of grace for others and especially for yourself. God has graciously given you His grace so freely ~ allow it to flow through you and accept it as the gift it is.”
”You then, my daughter, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrusted to reliable women who will also be qualified to teach others. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.” 2 Timothy 1:1-2, 7-8
Happy 21st Birthday Laryssa Lynn, I love you so much….Your Mom
