Sunday, May 11, 2008

Mother's Day Weekend Recap

Happy Mother's Day everyone! This has been such a good weekend for us and I hope it has been for you, too. I have not updated the blog in a few days because I've been so busy! I have a big work project going on right now, so last week Curt worked at home with Jackson while I went in to the office for two days instead of one. I will probably work in office two days this week, too. On Wednesday my sister flew in and her husband followed her down on Friday. They had not been home together since they got married. I think it was a memorable weekend for them. I kept thinking about how happy Colin's mom must have been to have her married son home for the first time. That will be me in the blink of an eye!

On Friday Jackson and I drove out to the Galleria to shop for Mother's Day and meet NancyMon and CourtneyS at the Nordstrom Cafe for lunch. Nancy wanted to disciple me in the ways of the Nord. If you are a big fan of Nordstrom, you will find a kindred spirit in Nancy. They had great food and I'm looking forward to eating there with the girls again when Jackson starts MDO this summer. We arrived at the mall right after it opened and I have to brag on my son because he was p-e-r-f-e-c-t. Of course, his nap was ruined because he fell asleep on the way home, but it was worth it to have such a peaceful shopping experience.

On Saturday I did a repeat of the Galleria, but this time it was with my mom and sister and without my toddler. Mom was in the mood to spoil her girls, so Melissa and I got to do a little shopping. Isn't that sweet of her to do on her own Mother's Day weekend?

Upon arrival, we all got some tea from Teavana. I am pretty hacked off at that place because the one time my mom and sis decide to forgo their Starbucks and fellowship in my love for tea, they didn't have any milk and they served it lukewarm. Teavana, are you listening to me? Based on well over a year of regularly visiting your store, I think you either need to majorly improve your beverage service or cut it out altogether. I'm kind of embarrassed for you. I'd love to see you do better, and that's all I have to say.

The shopping extravaganza produced some some shorts for me, a fun t-shirt, and a cute dress from Zara. It's always fun to wear something new on Mother's Day. I say that like I've had a lot of experience. For lunch we had some sushi and other Asian yumminess at a restaurant called Kona. Then we drove over to Anthropologie because how can we be that close and stroller-less and not? We got some fun things for my grandma and Aunt Johnnie, who we'd celebrate Mother's Day with that night. I got Memaw a cute red apron and Johnnie an "J" paperweight and a monogrammed hankie. I got myself some very, very cheerful placemats for my breakfast table and a half-price pillow for my bed. The cashier couldn't believe it was marked down so low. That's quite an achievement at that store! I felt like a victor.

On Saturday night we had a Mother's Day fiesta at my parents' house with my mom and dad, Melissa and Colin, Memaw and Pappaw, Johnnie and David, and my little trio. We had some very tasty fajitas, homemade guacamole and the best queso I've ever tasted. I brought sopapilla cheesecake with me, which is a First Irving specialty. Many thanks to Janelle for supplying me with the recipe. My sister was very impressed and I tried hard to make her think it had all kinds of gourmet, exotic ingredients instead of just two cans of crescent rolls and plenty of cream cheese, butter, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon.

Uncle Colin and Aunt Melissa made Jackson's week with a whole new set of cars and trucks. He was over the moon with happiness. He can't stop talking about them. I'm sure he dreamed about them, too.

The party was an absolute blast and it was 100 times better than waiting an hour to be seated at any restaurant in town at noon today. (Remember how we ended up at Wendy's last Father's Day? Never again.)

This morning my boys presented me with two bouquets of flowers, the new Barbara Walters biography, and a beautiful card. My main present was that when we go on our San Antonio vacation, I get to have a massage at the resort spa. I can't wait. Curtis woke up early and made a huge breakfast for me with pancakes, bacon, fruit, croissants, and orange juice. He did SO GOOD! I felt like the most blessed mom on the planet.

Church was excellent. We are loving being in a young marrieds class. We have a great teacher who is not afraid to get up in our bidness and the class really feels like a family. We don't know people very well yet, but they have been extremely warm to us. After class, a bunch of us ran downstairs to get our kids registered for summer Mother's Day Out. Happy Mother's Day to us, indeed! I am confident that Jackson will enjoy that time as much as I will.

After church we headed to my parents' house for leftover fajitas and then went home for naps. It has been the perfect Sunday. We even had low humidity today. Thank You, Lord!

I could never put into words exactly how thankful I am for my own mother. Many people look at her and see a Bible teacher, an author, someone who you might see on TV wearing a cute Jacket and praying in a sweet Southern accent. I love that person very much, but not as much as I love the woman who is my mother. If people stopped reading her books or attending her conferences, if her name became reviled across America, I'm telling you I would still be every bit as proud of my mother as I am today. I'd still want to be just like her. She has heard me say this before, but my sister and I would tell you that as good as she is at teaching and writing, she is even better at being a mom. Mom, you are a phenomenal woman. Thank you for always giving us 100% of yourself. In my journal this morning I thanked God for your wisdom, your love for Him, for what a good wife you are to Dad, for your generosity, your compassion, your ability to filter everything through God's grace and mercy, your intelligence, your patience, and your amazing work ethic. Thank you for loving me and for teaching me how to love my God, my husband, and my child. I'm proud to be your kid.
Love,
Manda

30 comments:

Fran said...

Oh Amanda...your kind words about your momma are what any of us hope to be. She is a remarkable woman of God and a fantastic mom. I love her teachings or words of wisdom when it comes to parenting.

Thank you for sharing your fabulous weekend. Happy Mothers Day to you too.

Much love~
Fran

Anonymous said...

Wow! Sounds like a wonderful weekend.

Happy Mother's Day!

Lauren said...

I am cracking up at how, among all the other wonderful things that happened this weekend, you also thanked God for the low humidity. We are kindred spirits, my friend.

Happy Mother's Day!

Unknown said...

What a wonderful time you've had! What you've said about your mom is so sweet. I bet she cries when she reads that! I'm glad you have had such a great mother's day! I've enjoyed a very low key day with some great homemade gifts (a poem and a picture)! My hubby sent me flowers (he's out of town). Enjoyed dinner with my mom and oldest daughter last night. AND I got a nap today!!! Happy Mommy's day!

Anonymous said...

Happy Mother's Day Amanda. What a wonderful tribute to your Mom. As a Mom of a daugher who is now almost 32 and a mother of two herself... I know tha the greatest gift we can get as a Mom are sweet words from our girls.

What a blessing I know you melissa are to your Mom I'm sure and I know Jackson is just the icing on the cake:)

Big Mama said...

Glad y'all had a great weekend.

If Caroline can ever say half the things about me that you've said about your mom, then my life will be complete. Y'all are blessed.

Anonymous said...

What an awesome mother's day weekend. I wish we had an Anthropologies around us... Would you mind sharing your recipe? I love a good cheesecake... Thanks.

It's a Mom Thing said...

Sounds like an awesome weekend.

I have to comment b/c I've never met anyone else who knows about Sopapilla Cheesecake. My husband and I lived in Fort Worth during seminary and I got the recipe from a gal I taught school with. Since then I have made so many times and have always gotten rave reviews. And it's so easy! Just cool to know someone else who enjoys that recipe!

Missy said...

Praise God for low humidity today - it was PERFECT outside!

Glad you had such a great weekend with family! Enjoy your week.

Texas Aggie in Florida said...

Happy Mother's Day! Sounds like a wonderful weekend. Now I'm homesick for the Houston Galleria! It may come as a shock that we have NOTHING like that in Orlando! Apparently the tourists would rather go to this place called DisneyWorld than the mall??? I miss those Texas sized shopping malls!

Holly said...

I just love the love that you all share. It makes me not one bit jealous...but happy and glad for the measure of love and respect God has given you for each other.

My story is quite different--polar opposites really. But that does not change the hope I have to have the same kind of love and affection for one another with my own daughters and sons. I cling to the hope that Jesus changes things.

BTW, the recipe? I want it! :o)
And the spa, breakfast, shopping trip and Mother's day out? So wonderful!! I'm thrilled for you!!

I pray this week is just as special as the last for you, Amanda.

Also, I thank you for sharing your Mom with me. In many ways, she has shown me ways that are altogether different from the ones I have been taught. And because of that? I got a hold of Jesus. So thank you! I know that some days you probably want everyone to just go away and leave you all alone to be just a family. :) I guess there's just another reason for the name Moore. Moore family than you ever wanted. Ha Ha!

Love you much in Jesus,
holly

Kelly @ Love Well said...

I totally get what you're saying about your Mom, Amanda. And I'd bet she'd say the same thing. No matter what she is to the world, her sweetest calling is the one to her family. The other stuff is just icing. You are the cake.

OK. Now I've got to go cry.

Happy Mother's Day, mom to Jackson. That little boy's smile shouts to the world, "My Mom loves me big!"

MamaBear said...

Great post, Amanda, but I tell you it is simply NOT allowed in bloggityville to mention awesome queso, sopapilla cheesecase, and such and not post the recipes. Not allowed, sista. So, produce the goods, quickly!!

I loved what you had to say about your mom. It's neat to read your thoughts on what she's like "behind the scenes" and to be reminded that the woman we all love publicly is the real deal privately. Glad it was such a great weekend for you all.

Dana said...

Sounds like the perfect weekend. Happy Belated Mom's Day!

Amy Beth @ Ministry So Fabulous! said...

Precious. Especially the part about going shopping. ;)

Anonymous said...

Again, I'm a poster from the LP blog butting in to read your blog too. I hope you don't mind a total stranger peeking in here. I just wanted to say what a sweet, sweet tribute to your mother that was.

Momma 2...5 said...

From one Amanda to another, Happy Mother's Day! It sounds like it was the perfect day!

Glad to hear from you!
Amanda in SC

Allison said...

A note on cafe bistro-- they have a chicken dish that tastes almost exactly like cafe eccell's yummy chicken pasta. Love that place!

Beth said...

Oh, Honey, your words are such testimonies of God's grace and mercy to your mother. You and Melissa are the most dramatic of all living proofs of His kindness to me. Because of God's grace, Jackson will have a much healthier mother from the very start that his mommy did. But, though I have plenty of regrets, I do not begrudge our family journey. Much compassion and ministry came as a gift of God from it. I love you so much and you are an unspeakable joy to me.

Prodigal Jon said...

thanks for the comment on my site, stuff christians like.

I have to agree with your husband. That sounds like exactly the kind of thing I would have hoped for.

Jon

connorcolesmom said...

Amanda
You sounds like you had an amazing time but the very end got to me
I pray every day to have my children speak of me the way you just did of your mom
I ask God to allow me to grow my children to be all He wants them to be
It is only through Him that we can be anything worthy!
Happy Mother's Day sweet Amanda
God bless
Kim

Catrina said...

Her children arise and call her blessed...(Prov 31:28)

A wonderful weekend for a wonderful family! I'm so glad you all had that time together! Thanks again for living this life with us.

We had a really fun weekend too!The Lord is SO good to His children, yes?!

Have a good week and hope the work project goes well! :)

Kelli said...

What a sweet weekend and precious words about your mother!

Anonymous said...

Hi Amanda,

Sounds like you had a wonderful Mothers day!!!!

Will you share the recipe for the "Sopapilla Cheesecake"?????

Lisa

Deidre said...

Sounds like a special weekend, Amanda (especially the shopping :)

I love what you said about your mother. I pray my girls will be able to say something similar one day - only by God's grace.

Happy Mother's Day.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you had a wonderful Mother's Day!! My daughters made me cards and presents (books they wrote). My youngest daughter gave me all her favorite stuffed animals (they were back in her possession by bedtime). One of my favorite moments as a Mom has got to be that first "I love you". How precious your little man is!

Anonymous said...

p/s Amanda, your words to your Mom remind me of the Proverbs 31 woman "her children will rise up and call her blessed". I hope I will be that kind of Mom too, by God's grace and mercy I can hope to be!

su said...

Amanda,

I loved reading your post. And now I realize that I'm going to overuse the word "love" but other than grabbing my Roget's Thesaurus, I think that I'm stuck. I can't begin to count how many times I've written or spoken that I love your mom. And now I gotta tell you that I love you.

And I love (here I go again) reading about you and Jackson. My grandson is one year younger than Jackson so I get a preview on Andrew's life every time I listen to you. It is very fun.

I will tell you one quick thing that happened last week. I take care of Andrew two partial days a week while his momma goes to work. We had agreed to meet in Wendy's parking lot for the transfer. When I drove up Andrew and his mom were sitting on the curb playing with rocks. I rolled the window down and called out - "Hey, little boy!" He had his back to me but struggled to his feet and twirled around and ran as only a new walker can. He came over to my car and held out a pebble to me. Warmed my heart.

I'm glad you're getting settled in Houston and that you're found a Sunday school group that you can call home.

And thanks for the recipe. I'll make it for next Tuesday's Bible study. Sounds delicious.

Unknown said...

Amanda, I think the reason I'm so drawn to the LPM Blog and your own blog is because of the encouragement you and Melissa offer to this mother of three. Thank you for sharing your love for the Lord, life and your family. I can't even begin to tell you how much encouragement this offers me as I seek to raise my children to know and love the Lord wholeheartedly.

LauraG said...

Amanda, I'm a faithful reader but haven't commented for awhile now. This might seem like a funny place to post a comment (on a 2008 entry!) but I didn't want to just throw this out randomly (especially on a more serious Haiti post). So I did a "sopapilla cheesecake" search and came up with this post. Anyway, all that nonsense just to say a quick Thank You for introducing me to sopapilla cheesecake! I'm from Albuquerque but had never heard of it before. I have now made it many times (most recently last weekend) and it is overwhelmingly loved and the recipe requested many, many times. I always give you the credit. :) This last time I used Tofutti (my friend can't have dairy) and to my surprise it was still scrumptious. You have brought many people some serious dessert joy! Take care, Love, Laura