Be a Mother to me now.

Happy Mother's Day, to all you mamas out there, both physical and spiritual! Pray that your day is filled with lots of love and joy!

Joining another round of Answer Me This! Enjoy!

1. What's for dinner?

Sushi! Hopefully. For Mother's Day it's my pick since I'm the mama in this household. My pick usually is a fun brunch place or sushi! Hoping it's sushi, today!

Since having the boys we don't get out to sushi as often as my tastebuds would like, so it seems we've started going on special occasions. Something I am happy about and will take! Special occasion sushi is way better than no sushi.

***
Ok, just got back from dinner and we did not end up at my new favorite sushi place. Instead we went to an incredibly yummy burger place. So glad my husband reminded me I've been wanting a burger! This place came recommended by friends and it definitely lived up to it's reputation. It's called Shady's and has a fun open/outside set up to it. I had a burger with grilled onion and jalepeno, swiss cheese and fries. All that goodness was topped off with a perfectly made margarita. Good times were had, friends! And, I'm thankful!


2. What's the last thing you borrowed from someone?
Hm. I have to think about this one.

Ah, yes! I recently borrowed a garlic mincer from a friend who came over for dinner. We were hosting them for a fun Saturday evening dinner and seeing how I only recently discovered the magic and glory of a mincer but have yet to buy my own, asked if she would bring hers over.

Speaking of which, I need to get it back to her!


3. What is your favorite prayer?

Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a mother to me now.

It's a simple prayer that I hold dear to my heart. Ever since becoming a mama I pray these words during the tough days and the good days. It's comforting to know that the Mother of Our Lord is praying for me. I know she brings me to her Son when I call on her. And, I know she knows what to say to Him better than I ever could in the mama prayer department. Especially when I'm having one of those challenging mama days.

The prayer is one that I know Blessed Mother Theresa would encourage those she spoke with to pray. I met with the Sisters of Charity while I was in DC and one of the cards that Sister Theresa gave me had these words printed on the back (Not Blessed Mother Teresa, but a Sister that knew her and worked with her for awhile in India before moving to DC.). Special and beautiful and all things lovely.


4. What is the oldest thing in your house?
Does the house itself count? It was built in 1967. And, I honestly don't think we own anything that was made or purchased prior to that. I do have a ring-holder that was my maternal-grandmother's but I'm not sure how old it is. I also have a tray that belonged to her.

So, the answer to this question lies somewhere a midst the three things I just mentioned. Unless I'm completely missing something that's really old, but either way it's not on my radar right now, so I'm sticking to somewhere in the three mentioned.


5. What's the best concert you ever attended?
I've never been one for concerts. I did go to a Lifehouse concert while in graduate school that was standing room only in a warehouse type venue. That was fun. Aside from that, I'm a huge fan of anything jazzy, comfy, and cozy. Take me to a Jazz bar or restaurant with some good jazzy classics and I am one happy woman.


6. Do you have a nickname?

Never been one to be called anything other than Amanda for the most part. I suppose some people call me Manda, but I don't think that counts. I'm definitely not a Mandy nor have I ever been.

When I was little my mom, dad, and brother would call me Nana. My brother had trouble saying my whole name and so Nana it was. They still call me that every once in awhile, but once he started saying my whole name, that's what it was - Amanda.

The only other nickname that I would say stuck with one side of my family is Manny. I had an aunt that would babysit me often when younger and she would call me Manny. She still does to this day and so do some of my cousins and aunts on that side of my family. But, the nickname never escaped that side of my family.

~~~

That's all for Answer Me This with Kendra at Catholic All Year. Thanks for the fun content to blog about, Kendra! 

Also, tagging on What I Wore last Sunday. I got a picture but never got around to posting it. So, this will be me linking-up this week with what I wore last week for Mass. As well as a couple random photos of the boys at a park downtown. Random and fun times were had. 

Jewelry: James Avery

Cardi: Target

Dress: Online (can't remember the name)

Shoes: Nine West

All you amazing selfie takers for WIWS need to teach me your ways. I have no idea what I'm doing and would love some tips!!

Love him in this picture. Is it just me or is it so incredibly hard to get face forward pictures of toddlers??

Mr. Serious Linus on the Merry-Go-Round. He was a fan. But, I think he was more a fan of holding onto the ball he brought.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Going to leave you with a favorite quote from G.K. Chesterton on motherhood that the lovely Sarah also shared today.

How can it be a large career to tell other people's children about the Rule of Three, and a small career to tell one's own children about the universe?

How can it be broad to be the same thing to everyone, and narrow to be everything to someone? 

No. A woman's function is laborious, but because it is gigantic, not because it is minute. I will pity Mrs. Jones for the hugeness of her task; I will never pity her for its smallness.

-G.K.Chesterton

Our little family on Mother's Day

Sweet memories, even if these pics are a little late.

~~

Our little family.

My beautiful mama, myself, and the little gifts that blessed me with mommyhood.

Hope all the wonderful mother's out there had a beautiful day filled with love.

Mama Mary, pray for us.

Always remember

There are two mothers that I spent quite a bit of time remembering on this past Mother's day. These two mothers have been instrumental in my life and my husband's life. They have loved us. They have laughed and smiled with us. Their kisses and hugs will always be in our memory. They are special for so many reasons and I'll try to capture their spirits that will forever live long in our hearts.

~

First, I will write about my husband's grandmother. She passed away this past year. I wrote about our trip to see her before and after she passed here and here. In the last posts, I failed to spend time writing about the woman that she was. The gifts that she shared with our little family. And so, I wanted to take the time to do that now, so that we can have this to remember in the years to come.

Great-grandma Delia was beautiful. She had soft skin and very pretty long nails that she always kept good care of. If I could pick a word to describe her, I would choose feisty. Little one, she was! She had a way to get on to your father. But no matter how many times she got on to him for this or that, the love she had for him was huge. It was beautiful. It's a love that she had for you, and for me, and for her family. Great-grandma Delia had a hard life growing up. And, I know she had her challenges even as a mother herself. But know, in her later years, things changed. Her stubbornness never left her, nor did her feistyness, but as the years passed she grew closer to those who meant the most to her in a wonderful way, including our Lord.

She worked her heart out till just a few months before she left us. She was such a hard worker all her life! Those that met her at her work were like family to her. She volunteered at a hospital and had many that fell in love with her there too, but the work she loved was her work at the local BINGO. She was a woman of spunk and honesty. She was blunt and direct and stubborn as a rock. Even when cancer and other illnesses plagued her, she was solid. She didn't want you to worry. She was strong. So very strong.

But, a main reason that this woman is so special to me and our little family is because she bore Daddy's mama (your Nonna) in her womb. Through this wonderful woman, we have another amazing woman. We're so thankful for your Great-grandma for bringing your Nonna into the world who then brought your amazing Daddy into this world. You see, sweetheart, your great-grandma participated in God's Will to bring forth life, which lead to your Nonna, which lead to your Daddy, which now leads to you. Her impact on our little family should be forever remembered. As well as her amazing love. So, when you are older, we will talk about her. We will remember her. I hope you ask us questions so that we can sit and reminisce about the wonderful woman who was your Great-Grandma. We have good memories and can't wait to share them.

~

The next woman was my grandma. This Great-Grandma of yours passed away when mama was young. I was in the 8th grade. Cancer took her life too. Writing about your Great Grandma Ofelia is a little harder for me only because I know I loved her so much and felt her loss so greatly, but in that it was so long ago, my memory struggles. So, I will do my best to remember all the little things that stuck.

I loved her laugh. She loved to laugh. She would laugh so hard she would get silent and tears would stream her face while she was slightly hunched over. If you ever want to know what this looks like, watch your Nana laugh. I see G-G Ofelia's laugh in your Nana. It's wonderful to have that. I remember that G-G Ofelia had very soft skin too as does your Nana. There's something about grandmas and their soft skin! You feel it in their hugs. When they hold your hand. And, it's always warm and comforting. She had short hair that curled and her fingers were kinda stubby with a grip that was firm but loving.

G-G Ofelia made trips with your mama when she was little. She went to Disneyworld with us. And other places which just shows her adventurous nature. Your mama used to play with the skin on her elbow when she was little. Haha. Don't know why I did that, but I did, and even did it to your Nana (still do sometimes). I remember G-G Ofelia would always greet with a big, wet, kiss. I knew to expect them. They never grew old. Her home had an old feel to it. It was the home that your Great-Grandpa built from the ground up. Nana and all her brothers and sisters grew up there. She was a woman of faith and I can only assume that she had a devotion to our Blessed Mother since she gave all her daughter's the name of Maria and then followed that with a unique middle name that they would each go by. Rather beautiful really. She would also do the sign of the cross on each child before bed time. Same as your Nana did to me, and same as I do to you. A sign of the cross so that our Lord will bless you and keep you while you sleep.

Cancer entered her life. Then it went into remission for awhile, before it came back to bring her to our Lord. She was strong too, my sweet. So strong. She smiled when her hair fell. She smiled when she felt ill. She didn't want us to worry. She wanted us to be happy and to love.

As we are grateful to Great-grandma Delia for bringing your Nonna into this world who brought Daddy here, we are just as grateful to Great-grandma Ofelia. She carried your Nana who then carried me, your mama. We're so thankful for the gift of life. The gift of family. Your G-G Ofelia had so much to give. She loved her husband so much as well as her kids and grand-kids. She blessed us and I know continues to pray for us in Heaven.

~

Both these women passed as peacefully as they possibly could. Family were with both of them. This past mother's day, I wanted to remember these two women who were both integral parts in our lives. These two women who shared such huge gifts. Their motherhood will always be remembered. It was so much bigger than they ever knew at the time. And, it will continue to grow as years pass.

I'm so thankful to have known both of these women. I miss them now, but am so overwhelmed with gratitude for the time that I had them in my life. I just pray that, when you are old enough, we will share the goodness of these two mothers and how they impacted our lives.

Sweet Mama's Day to me!

I had a wonderfully sweet Mother's day! I did. Even though it was mixed in with some grumpiness due to lack of sleep. But, it was also mixed in with a husband and son who did everything in their power for me to have a great day, which is what made it so incredibly wonderful and sweet.

We started off early. As you can see below, I wasn't the only sleepy one in the family. Here we are waiting at Cafe Brazil, my favorite restaurant ever in the DFW.

I think it's Seph's too. Or really, he just loves going places and engaging with all around us. He really is such a social little guy.

I had my favorite, El Gordo crepes, a meal I could eat a million times over and still love. It was spicy, just how I like it.

We then went to Mass. Seph was all over the place today since he had been up since 6AM without a nap. But, as hyper and overtired as he was, there was no crying. Such a sweet boy.

After Mass, we went home and awesome Husband went to get a few things from the store. This quick trip immediately followed a sweet card from my little guy (per Daddy) and some flowers. Bigfoot was so excited to give me this sweet card!

Then, after the written sweetness, I got the best thing EVER, a most amazing Mangonada. Yes, friends, I got a raspa with chamoy and mango, topped with some chili powder. It's delicious (not comparable to those back home, but still a close 2nd. And let's be honest, I will take what I can get since I heart them so much!). My tastebuds dance. They really dance with happiness.

I was also treated to some hot cheetos and cheese. I know. I know! You're probably thinking What in the world do you eat?! Ew! And, to that I would just have to say, You can take the girl out of the valley but you can't take the valley out of the girl. Other than that, I have no other explanation. ;)

Yup, and all these treats were topped off with some BEEF! Yum! I heart a good steak and that is just what my Hubby made for me. Along with some deliciously grilled veggies. You know, the saying goes, A way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but I'm not a man. And, obviously food does something for me, or my whole Mother's day would not have been filled with it.

Oh well. I am a wonderfully made woman, who enjoys food a whole lot, and who's husband knows how to make her heart happy. And, let me tell you, happy it was.

Our little stinker enjoying his meal. This little guy has become quite the fan of jalepeno hummus and crackers. Or really, hummus on anything works pretty well for the little guy. Just look at that,  thank-you-mama-for-filling-my-tummy-with-jalepeno-hummus-on-everything face! I'd say he's pretty grateful.

At the end of our day, we played, we cuddled, we tried to take this picture a million times over since my squirmy worm likes to point at everything. All the time. Everywhere. And, apparently I don't know where to look when taking pictures. I was looking at the wrong corner of my phone, literally, every time. Oh well. This is probably the best shot of the two of us. I figured it'd be a good thing to have a picture of the little man that I am Mama to on Mother's day. Not to mention, it's a rare thing I'm in pictures since I'm the one capturing life's moments.

All around, it was a great day. I made it through my sleep exhaustion and was loved beyond measure by my husband, son, family, and friends. Being a Mama has been the greatest work I have ever done. The gratitude I have for Our Lord for sharing this precious gift of motherhood is beyond words. Thankfully, I know He hears my heart's whispers, and with that, I know He knows how thankful I am.

Blessed Mother, Pray for us.

St. Gianna Beretta Molla, Pray for us.