MY MOTHER

Six childrens hands and our Mother's

She conceived me, carried me in her body as I grew into a viable person, birthed me and gave me life. Then the fun began. For the first 14 years of my life she fed me, nurtured me, taught me right from wrong, took me to school, or pushed me out the door to walk to school, kissed my boo boo's as a small child, lost many nights sleep due to my early childhood illnesses, cheered me on to victories big and little, encouraged me, supported me in every way, and always loved me unconditionally. This could not have been an easy task as I was one of six children, all one year difference in age and my Mother, who married at 15 years old had all her children by the age of 24!

Every Sunday we were all dressed, shoes shined, hair curled and swept off the Sunday School and Church. Even on the days my Mother did not attend, she made sure her brood of 6 did!

We grew up in a subdivision called Roebuck in Birmingham, Al and when Mother had dinner on the table she yelled out the door, “All the Bonta’s come home”! Six little kids came running from all over the neighborhood. Wonder if we were that hungry or afraid another sibling would eat our food??

We lived in a small house with 3 bedrooms and 1 bath; 6 kids, parents and a Grandfather! Talk about crowded, but it was our life and today I know it was instrumental in to making me who I am today!

Time went on, and  I became a teenager and as all teenagers do, I knew what was best for me and started to pull away from my Mother as well as every other “adult” in my life. My mother made sure we all had a job by the age of 16. No laying around the house for us on Saturdays. We began to learn work ethics and the meaning of the words, “nothing in life is free”.

When I got married and left home to become my “own person”, I maintained an off and on again close relationship with my Mother. I never strayed from my Mother, just sometimes closer than others.

My young adult life consisted of marriage, having children, divorcing, and then trying to make it on my own. I became  busy with my own career, picking up kids from daycare, homework, housework, yard work, cooking, taking my own children to church, dating, and somewhere in the shuffle, my Mother had to settle for an occasional telephone call, occasional visit, and numerous greeting cards. Holidays were always a time for a huge meal, lots of gifts, and to accept love and appreciation for each other. We all loved Holidays!

As my life changed and my own children grew, we revised traditions with holidays and my Mother and Dad became guest in our own homes.  I never remember my Mother complaining about any of the adjustments, she just wanted all her children together. As a matter of fact, I never remember about my Mother complaining about anything or any situation (except of course the occasional ups and downs with my Dad). Life for my parents was a financial struggle and I have always felt she never had the life she truly deserved. My Mother was a wonderful, loving, and giving person.

In the natural order of life's events parents die before their children. I have lived through this “natural order”.

You only have one Mother, if you are lucky to still have her, cherish her and appreciate the life she gave you and all the sacrifices she made to allow you to become the person you are today.

The loss of my Mother is a life-changing event for me. It is a great time to sit back and look at my own life, overcome behaviors that no longer serve God, and rejuvenate my life. What more could a Mother wish for than for her child to blossom and do well in life?  Isn’t t his really what we all want?  What a wonderful testament to her love for me, if I can move beyond her death and into the joy that comes from successfully and healthfully processing my grief toward healing. With the help of our Savior Jesus Christ and my faith, I know I can.  I know I've done it right when my sweet and wonderful memories stay sweet and wonderful.

Mom, you will be sorely missed but I will see you again someday. Give Dad my love!

Love,

Kelly

http://obits.al.com/obituaries/birmingham/obituary.aspx?n=gwendolyn-d-bonta&pid=146251079

THE LOVE FOR MY MOTHER

"Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT)

Sunday, our sermon at Church revolved around the scripture in Corinthians 13:13, faith, hope, and love.  I love my Mother. I pray as her daughter she knows how much I love her.

Everyday lately is a very emotional day for me and I’m sure my brother and sisters as well. After many years of various illnesses and various health issues, July 16, 2010, my Mothers doctor gave us two options. To admit her to the hospital and insert a feeding tube which would possibly give her a few extra weeks, bedridden, or take her home, make her as comfortable as possible and enjoy the time we had left with her. My Mother is on a journey to a better place. This is one of the hardest facts of reality I have ever had to face. We elected to take her home. Hospice was called in immediately to access what we needed and to begin their job of making her comfortable.

Watching my Mother slowly die is a difficult process. From one day to the next, she is continually slipping away. I never know when I leave their house if it will be the last time I get to tell her I love her, will it be the last time I touch her warm skin and kiss her on her face, or the last time I stroke her hair.

She does not eat, only a few sips of water or some crushed ice, and on a good day she may eat some Jello or ice cream. She has always had this thing for sweets!  She does not talk. The only glimpse of expression you may see is in her eyes. Some days I convince myself she knows me, but in reality I’m pretty sure she does not. She looks at my sister, who takes care of her, like a child would look at their mother. Hospice has recently put her on oxygen to improve her breathing. I leave there asking God, how long will it be?

I do not believe my Mother is afraid of dying. I think she is ready. She is tired; you can see it in her eyes. I have a very strong faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as does my Mother. I know that her journey will be right into His waiting arms. I know also that in Heaven all the things that burden us now -- the pains, the heartaches, the sorrows, the fears and anxieties -- all will be gone. One of the most encouraging passages in the Bible is this description of Heaven, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away" [Revelation 21:4]. This is my hope for my Mother. She certainly has had to bear her share of pain while on this earth, but has always bounced back with a special laughter that none of us will ever forget.

Prayer is also important to me, as is the Bible -- especially now. God knows what we are going through when we grieve, and He wants to assure us of His love and concern. He also wants us to turn to Him and bring our heartaches and burdens to Him. The Bible says, "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall" [Psalm 55:22].

I don't know exactly what my Mother will see when she enters Heaven, because from everything I have read, Heaven is far more glorious than anything we can possibly imagine. As the Bible says, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" [1 Corinthians 2:9).

But I do know this: Heaven is the dwelling place of God, and one day, soon, my Mother will see Him face to face.

GIRLFRIENDS - WHY DO I NEED GIRLFRIENDS?

No one has greater love than to lay down his own life for his friends. John 15: 13

Why do we need friends? I have God (my Savior), my husband (who is my friend), my work (where I have a few friends), family (I'd like to think my daughters, brother and sisters are my friends), and a comfortable lifestyle. What else could a person want?

I need friends, girl friends, because I  want to bond and share. I  need girlfriends because I need somebody who will be there with me when I fall into bad times.  We all  hate loneliness and family alone cannot make us feel that bond we have with a group of girlfriends! Only true friends can fill that need. I need friends, because I want to let somebody know about my deepest thoughts, my ideas, and for them to see my real emotions. Only a good girlfriend can help me share all these.  When girls are together, you share laughter, stories about life, family, kids, grand kids, good things and sometimes bad.

We take many things for granted in our life. We take air for granted. We take it for granted that the sun will rise again. We also take it for granted that the friendship will never suffer. But that is false. If we don't water the plant of our friendship regularly, our friendship will suffer and we may create distance with our close friends. We need to value them and value their friendship.


An addition to my daily prayer list will be to pray for God to bring friends into my life.


Tracie Miles from Proverbs31 devotion wrote a blog on the need for friends and I related more to this blog than I would have ever thought I would!

To quote her:  "Women need friends.

Women who can let their guard down, tell jokes, be selfish but forgiven, and be able to relax around each other? Women who are your BFF's, despite all your flaws?

That would be nice, but the truth is, good friends are hard to come by at any age, but even harder as we get older.

Truly good friends - the type of friends that warm your heart - do not just drop into our lives accidentally, but instead, they are an answer to prayer. A blessing that God created us to crave. A treasure that we discover as we not only find a friend, but learn to be a good friend as well.

God hears even the smallest, yet deepest longings of our hearts, and when we release those feelings to Him, then He can really get to work.

If you are feeling even the tiniest twinge of unspoken "friend-less-ness" today, then I want to reassure you that you are not alone!

Every woman's heart longs for deep friendships and close relationships with people they can share life with.

So if you find yourself with that friendship craving today - then I want to encourage you to pray for friends! Pray for them each and every day, and then prepare to keep your spiritual eyes open so that you can see when God is working on answering that prayer."

Thank you Tracie!

I ran across this poem that describes my current friends! Would love to hear about you and your best friends!

Friends Without Faces

We sit and we type and we stare at our screens,
We can't help but wonder what all of this means. 
With mouse in hand ...we roam through this maze,
On an infinite search...lost in a daze.

We chat with each other, we type all our woes
At times we'll band together to gang up on our foes.
We wait for somebody, to type out our name
We want recognition, but it is always the same.

Soon friendships are formed - but - why we don't know,
But some of these friendships, will flourish and grow.
We give kisses and hugs, and sometimes we'll flirt,
In IMs we chat deeply, and reveal why we hurt.

Why is it on screen, we are so easily bold,
Telling our secrets, that have never been told.
The answer is simple, it is as clear as a bell,
We all have our problems, and need someone to tell.

We can't tell real people, but tell someone we must
So we turn to our 'puters ...and to those we can trust.
Even though it sounds crazy...the truth still remains, 
Most of my "friends" have no faces...and odd little names.

~Rusty Black, ©1996

After writing this blog, I read a blog by Rachel Olsen, another Proverbs 31 favorite of mine and she is hosting a blog carnival. Click here, Rachel Olsen and read all about it!

AUTUMN'S BEAUTY

It is amazing to me how someone can look at the fall foliage and not think of God! Doesn’t He paint a beautiful picture for us? The horizon decorated with leaves turning from green to orange, to brown and crimson, and all the colors in between. Evergreens have always amazed me. They stay green to create a wonderful contrast for the changing leaves! I believe God colored the world for our child like delight; a small child painting on a canvas!

Autumn’s beauty comes to us as a result of death. Isn’t that ironic! It is only in the dying of the leaves that they become so beautiful.

The leaves change colors and then they fall to the ground. As the temperatures get colder, we change from one season to another. Change can be scary in the real world, but as things change outside, we don’t have to worry or be afraid if we remember that God made the seasons and He is in control of everything. He made the world and everything in it, including each of us. God never changes. He is always the same and He always loves and cares for us.

Isn’t that a wonderful feeling!



God Bless!

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: Ecclesiastes 3:13

“Really Woolly Bible Stories"

“Really Woolly Bible Stories”, written by Bonnie Rickner Jensen is a wonderful little book containing 17 stories including Creation, Noah, Abraham, Moses, The Ten Commandments, Jonah, the Birth of Jesus, and many many more.

The stories are easy to understand and the book is full of colorful illustrations of bunnies, ducks, lambs, very child friendly, by Julie Sawyer Phillips that are adorable. I especially liked the scripture that was found along side each picture that corresponded with the story, should you desire further reference.

This is a small padded book so toddlers can look through without tearing the pages and it has a soft cover so can be wiped off easily.

This is a great introduction Bible for young children in which I highly recommend.

The precious book would make a great addition to any Church nursery, a baby gift for a newborn as well as a great Christmas present.

The book ends in a very sweet little prayer called “A Prayer for You” which is a blessing for children. I highly recommend this book and can not wait to explore the pages with my grandchildren!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?

Is something missing in your life? I feel there is in mine!

Scripture tell us, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (NIV) Matthew 5:6.

I have read many articles and books that tell us we should look at our world through God’s eyes. Now I have to ask myself a series of questions. Does God like what he sees? Am I doing something that will bring Him glory? I pray, but am I praying the right prayers? Am I asking for God’s guidance in everything I do and say? Am I spending enough time reading and studying His word?

To this day I remember the popularity in the 1990’s of the WWJD – what would Jesus do? This was very popular when I was teaching Junior High teens on Sunday nights several years ago. Christians used the phrase as a reminder of their belief that Jesus is the example to be followed in daily life, and to act in a manner of which Jesus would approve. The WWJD can also mean "Walk with Jesus daily".

When we are faced with decisions of importance and don’t know what to do, whether it is our marriage, our career, our family, our social life, whatever – pause and ask these few questions:

1. Is it consistent with the Bible?

2. Is this a wise decision?

3. Can I honestly ask God to enable me to achieve this?

4. Do I have genuine peace about this?

5. Does this fit who I am as a follower of Jesus?

6. Does this fit God's overall plan for my life?

7. Will this decision honor God?

I want my life to be a “Yes” to all the above and I want everything I do to glorify Him.

My next list will be ways I can improve and my plan for achieving this goal!

Have a Blessed Monday!

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
- Psalms 37:4

THE NATIVITY COLLECTION

The Nativity Collection, written by Robert J. Morgan, is a collection of very heart-warming stories that have been read by the author to his congregation during the yearly Christmas Eve service. This is a wonderful hard back book that would be a wonderful addition to anyone’s library or would make a great coffee table book during the holiday season.

I enjoyed reading the collection of 6 stories as each one is a beautiful reminder to cherish the simple things of life that the Lord has given to us in family, health, and most of all, Himself. The illustrations throughout the book enhance the book even more. This book can be enjoyed by all ages.

As I read the stories, I thought each was my favorite until I read the last story, "Sugarplum and the Christmas Cradle." This is the story of expectant parents and the father's desire to make the perfect cradle for their baby. It's one of those stories that leave you at a lost of words when you read it for the first time.

I had never heard of Pastor Morgan before but would be interested in finding out if he has written other books. The book is beautiful from cover to cover and was a joy to review. It was so enjoyable; I read it in one evening and did not want it to end!

I highly recommend this book for you to enjoy or as a gift for others. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review; the opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

THE BEST BIRTHDAY GIFT!

Kris Ann the little girl I sponsor through Compassion International recently moved from her Aunt’s house back to live with her Mother. All of our correspondence has been with her Aunt and I had not received a letter in over a month, which for her Aunt was unusual. Naturally I began to worry.

I have been praying that God would be with Kris Ann and her family during this transition and that my little girl would continue to do well in her studies, to be blessed with the necessities she needed, and continue to learn about Jesus. More important to know that Jesus loves her and so do I.

Poverty breaks my heart! It is one of those things I wish I could block out of my mind and hope it will go away! But, guess what………it doesn’t!

Yesterday was a very hard and stressful day at work. We are engaged with a new ERP system and needless to say it is a stressful time for all!

When I got home, I had a wonderful surprise, a prayer answered! I had a letter from Kris Ann and her Mother!

Her Mother wrote (actual verbage) “Kris Ann likes Sunday School and every Sunday we attend Church worship. Kris Ann and me is always praying that you and your family are in good condition, that you could continue to help Kris Ann.”
“Her favorite food is fried chicken, the same as you too!” I told her that in a previous letter. “Thank you very much for the coloring pages you’ve sent. We have a goat. It’s a girl and is going to give birth soon. She does not have a name because in our place, only dogs have name.” In the last letter I wrote to her, I sent her a picture of my ducks at our pond and told her their names were Donnie and Marie and Sonny and Cher!

The Mother continued, “Kris Ann enjoyed their field trip. We’ve been many places, mayors office, fire station, kindergarten school, police station, public market, and poultry.”

“Thank you so much that you like the drawings of Kris Ann”. Across the top of every letter she always does some kind of artwork, a house, a flower, a tree! She prints her name and had gotten much better in the past few months!

Now, here is the Birthday present to me! All my grandchildren (8 of them) call me MiMi. Her Mother says, “Kris Ann says can she call you also MiMi?”

Isn’t that great! Something so small can take away all the worries in the world!

She ended the letter with “Please pray for the good health of Kris Ann. Take care and God bless”. Her Mother signed it and her Aunt signed it both with love.

My prayers were answered in one sweet letter. Kris Ann is OK! God is watching out for her, she is learning every day about our Savior, and she is having fun! Kris Ann also wrote at the top of the page, Genesis 1:1 in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth!

Thank you Lord!

My prayer for me and Kris Ann:

Jesus help my eyes to see
All the good you have done for me.
Jesus help my ears to hear
Calls for help from far and near.
Jesus help my feet to go
In the way that Thou wilt show.
Jesus help my hands to do
All things loving, kind, and true.
Jesus may I helpful be,
Growing every day like Thee.

Amen