Lydia, Easter, Aurora Borealis, Mother's Day, Etc.

I've been a little neglectful of my blog lately. I usually like to post once a month, but I just didn't feel like writing last month. There's quite a bit to catch up on. I'll try not to be too wordy though.

 

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Tuesday, March 26th, Lydia came home from the hospital. She had finally got the hang of eating (something the nurses said takes preemies a little longer to learn) and was putting weight back on after losing a little.

They had detected a heart murmur when she was still in the hospital and they could still hear it in the weeks after she went home. On April 29th, she had to go to the cardiologist to have that checked and they said there's nothing to worry about. At that doctor visit, she weighed 10 lbs. 11 oz.

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Easter was March 31st. I wore the yellow Talbots dress I had bought from someone on Poshmark back in February. I wore nude heels with it, a white shrug, and carried a light blue straw Talbots tote that I had bought from someone on Poshmark in May 2021. I really liked the outfit and got compliments.

I don't remember much from that day as far as what church was like because I waited too long to post about it. lol We had a good crowd though and the weather was beautiful. Sunny and in the 70s.

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Sean's birthday was April 9th. He's 27 years old now. Seems crazy to have an almost 30-year-old. I had remembered that he had said something a few weeks before his birthday about needing new church shirts, so I met him, Ashley, and Lydia at Belk on Saturday the 13th and bought him a couple dress shirts.

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Saturday, April 13th, Charlie bought a flamethrower redbud tree for our front yard. He couldn't find an eastern redbud at Lowe's or the nursery that's near our house, but the nursery had a few other kinds of redbuds. He texted me about it while I was getting groceries at Walmart asking me which one I wanted. I looked them up and chose the flamethrower. The other two were called hearts of gold and ruby falls.

I'd like to get a dogwood in the fall. Our yard has looked so sad since we lost our trees in a storm on August 15th. But I don't want anything big enough to crush our car again.

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Monday, April 15th, I got our taxes done. I went to the same lady I've been going to for the past few years. We're not getting a big refund, but enough to get a new mattress (it's time).

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Our pastor announced at church on April 21st that his daughter Savannah and her husband Jonathan are expecting their third child! Exciting news! Their oldest (Vincent) is almost 3 years old and their youngest (Valentina, soon to be middle child) is several months old. A friend of mine told me that Savannah wants five children. I wonder if they'll all have V names.

 

Our youth leaders (Jerry and Jessalyn) announced a month or so ago that they're expecting a baby girl. I didn't even know she was pregnant. Also exciting news! They have a boy (not even a year old, I don't think) named Ronin.

 

Jessalyn is Savannah's husband Jonathan's sister. She has a twin sister named Joelle. Joelle is married to a man named Ross. They have a baby boy named Abram.

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Friday, April 26th, I went to urgent care because my right arm, which I hurt on October 18th, was hurting really badly and the arm braces didn't seem to be helping. The pain was getting worse. The doctor told me that it seems like I hurt it in multiple places (wrist to shoulder) and gave me the number of an orthopedic doctor to see. I need to call them this week. I had to put off calling because I didn't know exactly when AF would start and didn't want to schedule an appointment only to have to reschedule. And then I got sick and have been sick all this past week. :-\

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This past Friday night, the aurora borealis was visible for much of the US. Including North Carolina. Well, not that visible to the naked eye, though I could see it a little bit, but if you put your phone camera on night mode, the colors show up. It was beautiful! And at times, we could see this white pulsating - like streaks or streams of pulsating white light - with our naked eye! It was so cool! I was bouncing with excitement every time that happened. lol

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Yesterday, Sunday, May 12th, was Mother's Day. I slept maybe 15 minutes Saturday night and couldn't make it to church. I hate missing church! :-( I was so sad about that. I finally fell asleep around 8:30 in the morning and slept off and on until about 2:20 in the afternoon. I also wasn't feeling well still. But it was such a beautiful day - Carolina blue skies, a few clouds, and temperatures in the 70s.

Sean, Ashley, and Lydia came over this past Saturday and brought me flowers and a card. I wish I could've held Lydia (I love that sweet baby so much!), but I don't know if what I have is contagious (I'm thinking sinus cold), so I didn't.

I also got flowers and a card from Charlie, a card and money from my mom (we gave her a card and a purple orchid - her favorite color is purple), and I bought a couple dresses. We gave Ashley a card and money to buy a new dress. (Charlie transferred the money to her account.) She had said to me a few weeks back that she needs new dresses.

 

Flowers from Sean and Ashley.

Flowers from Charlie.

 

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Purchases since my last blog entry:

Boden dress. Purchased from someone on Poshmark. (This is their picture.) Originally $198. I paid $71.52 after shipping and tax. More than I normally pay for dresses these days, but I had been looking for this dress in my size for at least a year.

 

Modcloth dress. Purchased from someone on Poshmark. Originally $150. I paid $36.24 after shipping and tax.

 

 

Modcloth dress. Purchased from someone on Poshmark. (This is their picture.) Probably also originally $150. I paid $46.94 after shipping and tax.

 

 

Calvin Klein shirt dress. One of the dresses I bought for Mother's Day. Purchased from someone on Poshmark. Originally over $100. (Could be between $120 and $135.) I paid $40.54 after shipping and tax.

 

Tommy Hilfiger dress. The other dress I bought for Mother's Day. Purchased from someone on Poshmark. I don't know the original price. I paid $35.20 after shipping and tax.

Hail Storm, Mother's Day, Loki, and Music

Friday, May 6th, I needed to go to a few places and was getting ready when I heard it start raining. I knew it was supposed to rain and didn't really think much of it, not even when I heard a few rumbles of thunder, but then I heard hail. I quickly left the bathroom and looked out the living room windows. I then got my cell phone and went outside to record it. Most of the hail stones were pea sized to marble sized, but a few were bigger. It went on for about 6 or 7 minutes. I don't think I've ever seen hail last that long.

When I came back inside, I turned on the news to find out if or when I could leave the house. While I was watching, they said they saw rotation over McLeansville (about 15 minutes or so east of my house) and not long after that a possible tornado hit Mebane (less than 40 minutes from my house). The meteorologist said that he believed it was a tornado. It made me wonder if there'd been rotation over us when the storm came through here. Thank God it didn't touch down here, but I feel bad for those who were hit by a tornado.

Rockingham County got the worst of it, from what I saw. Either one tornado that hit several towns or more than one tornado, but obviously from the same storm/rotation. I've seen a few photos and some video.

Because of the storm and the time I spent watching the news, I ended up leaving the house about 30-45 minutes later than I had planned. First I went to the vet to get Milo's food and one of his medications. Then to Goodwill to drop off some stuff. And then the pet pharmacy (on the other side of town from where I live) to get Milo's other medication.

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Mother's Day was May 8th. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it to church because I woke up after an hour and couldn't go back to sleep. (I actually woke up several times in that hour.) I finally fell back to sleep around 7:00 AM.

None of us (me, Charlie, Kelly, Mom, Sean, Ashley) made it to church that day. :-/

For Mother's Day, I got flowers from Charlie and Kelly and Sean and Ashley. They and my mom also got me cards. My mom gave me some money. We gave my mom flowers and a card.

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Kelly and I brought Loki to the vet this past Friday. (Only I could go in. They still have some covid rules at the vet's office.) They did the usual checks, took blood, and gave him two shots. I told the vet that sometimes Loki is a loud breather and when she listened to his lungs with a stethoscope she said she could hear a bit of a whistling sound. She said it's not bad enough to do x-rays, but if he starts coughing, panting, and/or struggles to inhale or exhale, to let them know. He could have/be getting (?) asthma.

They called yesterday with the results of his blood work and said that it looks good.

I have to take him back to the vet on June 3rd for a booster.

Loki did pretty well at the vet. I could tell he was a little nervous (I cracked up when he tried to "hide" between the cabinets and the little trash can; he often "hides" in full view next to doors and bathtubs lol), but he was cooperative - he didn't fight or try to get away or hiss or growl. He just laid there with big eyes.

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I've made a couple purchases since my last entry.

I bought this CC Couture top from someone on eBay. (This is their photo. I take no credit for it.) I paid $17 and change after tax. Shipping was free.

I bought this Jessica Howard dress from someone on Poshmark. I paid less than $31 after shipping and tax.

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We have a pretty good music team at our church. There are a few songs they sometimes sing that aren't my style (and that's fine, even though there are a couple songs I absolutely hate! lol), some songs that are okay or that I like, and some I absolutely love. A few weeks ago, they sang kind of a medley, I guess you'd call it, that just blew the place up. Such anointing!

The first song was Throne Room by Kim Walker-Smith. I had heard it once or twice before, thought it was okay, and never really thought about it again. But when our singers sang it, Lord, have mercy, it was powerful! Kristin did the lead and she was awesome!

 

As that song was ending, they went into part of Lifeline by Hillsong Young & Free - the part that goes, "You're all I want. You're all I want." (repeated several times) and then "Oh, You are my hope. Jesus forever, You've forgiven my failures. And oh, You never let go. Jesus forever, You've forgiven my failures." Kaley did the lead on that one and was also awesome. 

Then they went into part of The Blessing. "May His favor be upon you and a thousand generations. And your family and your children and their children and their children. May His presence go before you and behind you and beside you, all around you and within you. He is with you. He is with you. In the morning, in the evening, in your coming and your going, in your weeping and rejoicing. He is for you. He is for you." Then repeat "He is for you" several times.

 

 

It was beautiful and powerful and anointed! Many were crying, praying, worshipping, hands lifted. Many went to the altar to pray. I absolutely loved it!

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*~*Nocturnal Queen*~*

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New Flooring, DH, and Mother's Day

April 15 - new vinyl plank flooring bought. First choice was High Point Chestnut by TrafficMaster (Home Depot). Second choice was Ginger Wood by Home Decorators Collection (Home Depot). The guy at Home Depot said that they sometimes have people come in saying that these floors got scratched easier than they expected. He recommended the brand LifeProof. We chose the style/finish Heirloom Pine.

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April 28 - Charlie had a follow up appointment with his doctor. They removed the staples, said everything looks good, and told him that he could eat whatever he wanted. I can only imagine how happy that made him. lol He's been eating many things he couldn't eat because of diverticulitis and the rupture/infection. Including my homemade spaghetti, fried chicken, sausage, etc. This week he wants my chili. :-)

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May 9 - Mother's Day. And what a beautiful day it was! Perfect weather (sunshine, temps in the 70s), wonderful church service, cards, flowers from Sean and Ashley, flowers from Charlie, money from my mom and from Charlie. I used the money Charlie gave me to buy clothes, shoes, a couple purses, and a few sweaters. All from eBay, Poshmark, Mercari, and Thredup. Which meant I could get lots of things at great prices. Much of what I buy still has tags on it. :-)

 

I'm quite short and one of the things I love about buying clothes this way is I can usually see or find out the measurements of things and find shirts and other things that aren't ridiculously long on me. Even shirts in the petite sections of department stores are usually too long. I've managed to buy a few shirts that are the right length. In the past, I've said I could just take things to a seamstress, but I never do.

The day before Mother's Day, Kelly and I went to Cugino Forno (THE best pizza!) before vacuuming the church. :-)

 

 

From Sean and Ashley.

From Charlie.

 

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Sometime this past week, the governor of North Carolina lifted the mask mandate for vaccinated people. Though I can't help but wonder why vaccinated people should be afraid of being around unvaccinated people without a mask. Doesn't the shot mean that if you do get covid it will be a milder case? That on top of the fact that around 96%-99% of people who get it survive?

 

Despite what the governor has said, stores can still demand people wear masks. :-/ A declaration by the government should be for wherever we go. Other than medical facilities, of course.

 

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Charlie finally started laying the new flooring this past Saturday. He had begun ripping out the carpet in the living room and hallway before that. The living room flooring is almost done. (Still have to do quarter round molding, and the reducer molding between the new flooring and the tile in the dining room and kitchen.) The hallway is not quite halfway done. He'll be doing Kelly's room after finishing the living room and hallway, then my office/library, and then our bedroom.

I can't wait until it's done. It feels like it's taking forever. lol

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~*~Nocturnal Queen~*~

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This and That

Charlie had to go to Texas (again; he's been so many times) for work shortly after Sean's birthday (which was April 9th). He came home a week ago Saturday. It was looking like he might have to go to Charleston (that would at least be closer), but hasn't so far. Hopefully he'll be home for a month or more before he has to go anywhere again, but you can never count on that with his job.

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A mockingbird made a nest in one of our gardenia bushes a few weeks ago. The babies left this past Tuesday. They were so sweet. I kind of miss them.

Mama bird in our redbud tree, which is right next to the gardenia bushes, calling to her babies. I think she was trying to get them to fly.

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I've gotten rid of several articles of clothing over the past month or two. The main reason being they didn't really look good on me. Just because something is pretty doesn't mean I should wear it. lol I'm trying to be choosier when shopping and not just buy something because I like it. If it doesn't look good on me (not just "okay"), no matter how pretty it is, I don't buy it. Not anymore anyway. And, of course, I always look for sales. I don't like to pay full price. 40% off or more, in most cases.

Anyway, this is what I've bought over the past couple months:

I got this at Dress Barn. Just $44. It covers my kness. I wore a black shrug with it and black slide heels.

Dress Barn. Only $40.

 
I'd been looking for a green purse for a long time, a year or more, when I finally found this one at Macy's. Originally $149. I got it for about $78. I love this purse (green is my favorite color) and carry it a lot.

I got this at Stein Mart for about $20 or $25. I couldn't find it at their website or any pictures of it online.

I also got this at Stein Mart for about the same price as the shirt above. It's not the prettiest top, but it's very comfortable.

I got this top at Stein Mart for $35. It's by Democracy.

**All sleeveless items will be worn with a shrug to cover my arms and a cami or tank underneath, if necessary, to cover cleavage.** 

American Eagle Outfitters. I don't remember how much this was. $30? $35? Something like that.

Macy's for $10. I got this (and the white one below) to wear under other shirts.

Macy's. I wore a white shrug over this.

I got this at Cato for $20. It covers my knees.

Dress Barn. Just $28. It's not quite as bright/harsh as it looks in this picture. A reviewer gave it 2 stars, saying it runs very small. I disagree. I got my normal size and it fits perfectly.

I got the white shrug. Not the dress. $20 and change after coupon. Dress Barn.

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Mother's Day was May 10th. We got my mom some pretty purple flowers to plant in her yard and a card. Charlie got me flowers, a pink "Happy Mother's Day" balloon, and a read heart-shaped balloon that says "i Love You", and I bought some things for the kitchen - a big, new frying pan with lid, bamboo cooking utensils, a cutting board. Seems like there was something else, but I can't remember what.

We were going to go out to eat on Mother's Day, but all the restaurants were packed (no surprise). So we went on Monday instead. Mom wanted Olive Garden, so that's where we went.

Flowers from Charlie.

Sean got me the carnation at church.

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After church last night, I went to Food Lion to pick up a couple things. Something unexpected happened shortly after I walked in and I thought I was going to die laughing.

I walked in and got one of those little buggies. As I was going towards the check-out lanes (to pass them and get to the food aisles), I saw a roll of bubble wrap on the floor and part of it was unrolled. It was the kind with the big bubbles about the size of a 50-cent piece or bigger. I went to go around it, but ended up running over it instead.

Pop-pop-pop-pop! It sounded like firecrackers or something. This woman nearby spun around real fast, with fear on her face, and said, "What was that?!" ROFL!! Maybe she thought it was a gun, I don't know. lol 

I was laughing and had tears in my eyes. A man who works there was also laughing and told the woman that it was bubble wrap.

When I got to the aisle I needed to go to, I called Charlie to tell him about it and that's when I really lost it. I was laughing so hard, tears pouring down my face. I had to get a tissue out of my purse to wipe my face and eyes. I laughed most of the way home. Every time I thought of the popping or the look on that woman's face, I'd bust out laughing again.

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I finished reading Paper Towns a few days ago. I had seen the trailer for the movie and thought it looked good, so I read the book. It was okay. There were a few things I didn't like, especially since it's supposed to be written for teens/young adults - multiple uses of the F word (something that would get it an R rating as a movie - the kind of movies teens aren't supposed to watch), drunk teens, a male teen talking about something sexual that he'd like to do to a teen girl, multiple male genitalia mentions/"jokes". Most of these things aren't in the adult  books I read. :-/ So, all that took away from the book for me.

The part I liked best was the disappearance of Margo and the search for her. I thought that was very good. The mystery of where she went and what she was doing is what kept me reading. I wish the author had focused more on that. I understand other things were happening in the lives of the main male character (Quentin) and his friends, but it wasn't nearly as interesting. And I guess I just have little to no appreciation for stupidity and immaturity - drunk teens and sexual talk.

I'm now reading The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. I've only read the first chapter so far, but I really like it and look forward to reading the rest of it.

This and That

Saturday, May 17th, Charlie, the kids, and I went to Alamance Battleground for the living history program they were having. There was also a wreath-laying ceremony and musket and cannon demonstrations. We really enjoyed that.

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Sunday, May 18th, I was expecting Charlie to go to church with us. After all, it's all I wanted for Mother's Day and he had gotten up Mother's Day morning, shaved, and gotten halfway dressed before deciding he didn't feel well enough to go. Surely he would give me the only thing I asked for. Something that he wouldn't have to spend a dime on.

But, alas, he didn't go with us. It made me cry, but as hurt as I was, I wasn't going to go to church and not  worship God. In your face, devil!

A few days later, I went shopping and bought some dresses.

Ivory lace dress. Purchased at Dress Barn. It comes to my shins, since I'm so short. I wore it to church yesterday with a black shrug and black heels.

This dress (also purchased at Dress Barn) comes down past my knees. I wore it last Sunday with a white shrug and natural/cork strappy heels.

I wore this Simply Vera Vera Wang dress (purchased at Kohl's) when my mom and I visited family grave sites. I wore it with a black cami, black shrug and black sandals.

This dress (also Simply Vera Vera Wang) comes just below my knees. I wore it to church Wednesday night with a navy tank, white shrug, and white sandals.

I love the dresses and am happy to have them, but they don't come close to making me as happy as Charlie going to church with me would've made me. Someday he will make me that happy. I know it!

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Friday, May 23rd, we had our anniversary celebration service at our church. We were celebrating our pastor being our pastor for the past 25 years. It was an awesome service! The man who was my pastor in Raleigh (from age 9 to age 12) was the speaker.

My awesome pastor and my awesome, beautiful pastor's wife in front of our awesome, beautiful church. :-)

Photo credit: DJ Moore, a member of my church.

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Saturday, May 24th, my mom and I went to Bladen and Robeson counties to visit old family graves. (My mom's mom's dad's side of the family.) In working on the family tree, I've found out where many of our family are buried. I'd been wanting to visit their graves for a long time. A few of the ancestors buried out there were born in the late 1700s.

Many of the family graves we went to are in a small family cemetery that sit back from the road in a field with trees along the backside of the cemetery.

 
Others are buried much further from the road on private land. (Well, they're all on private land, but one of them has a no trespassing sign in front of it. A man who lives near that one said that it's just to keep partiers away.)

Taken from inside the cemetery.

The smallest of the cemeteries is in a small clump of trees in the middle of a large farmer's field that had recently been plowed, so we couldn't get to that one. Mom would like to go back after harvest and ask the farmer (whoever he is) if we can go see our ancestors' graves.

I wanted to bring flowers and thought that I could find a place to buy some in the small town we would go through before reaching the cemeteries (because I'd seen a Subway in the town on Google maps and surely I would be able to get flowers somewhere in that town), but the town is so small (Tar Heel, population 300 and something) that there was no grocery store. There's a Subway, a Marathon gas station, a smaller gas station, a couple churches, an elementary school (I assume the middle and high schools are in one of the bigger towns), and some houses. That's it. And one stop light. Next time we go back, I'm stopping in Fayetteville to get flowers.

My mom's dad's family are all buried in western NC (Rutherford County mostly) and some in Cherokee County, SC. We'd like to visit their graves someday, too.

On our way back home, we stopped at my dad's grave in Ft. Bragg. His parents and one of my uncles are also buried there, but there was road construction going on and we couldn't figure out how to get to their graves.

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Sunday, May 25th, and the following Tuesday and Wednesday nights, we had revival with an evangelist and his wife from Texas. (She's originally from Boston.) We enjoyed having them both with us. He's a great preacher and she was funny and inspiring when she spoke to the ladies Tuesday night.

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So, that's all the big stuff that's been happening lately. There's nothing planned for awhile, but you never know what life or God will do next. :-)

My Mother's Day

So, the day before Mother's Day I told Charlie that all I wanted was for him to go to church with me. He gave me a look like, "Hm. Okay.", but said nothing. I left the house right after that to do a little shopping and while in my car I suddenly felt so excited. Like I knew  he was going to go to church with me. I could hardly contain myself.

Sunday morning, Mother's Day, I was getting ready for church and saw that he had shaving cream on his face. Hmm. Then I saw him in his church pants (eeekkk!! so excited!) and putting on his dress socks. I was on cloud nine, trying not to cry from happiness. Then a while later, he had on his jeans (wha'?!) and said that he wasn't going because he wasn't feeling well. :-(

I went from being way up high to being way down low. I felt so sad and had to fight back tears. Well, all I can say is he still owes me my Mother's Day gift. I don't care if it's not Mother's Day. He better go to church with me and the kids tomorrow! :-)

After getting home from church (a great service, by the way), we went out to eat (I wanted Red Robin's croissant sandwich, believe it or not lol), went to the bakery for cupcakes (yum!), and then went to Lowe's to get some things for our yard before coming home.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is this Sunday and there's only one thing I want. It's something I've wanted for the past 7 or 8 years, but have yet to get. My husband in church with me and our kids. It's the greatest desire of my heart, to have my husband in church with us on Mother's Day and every church service after that until we die or Jesus returns. Whichever comes first. :-)

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And now some quotes about mothers.

"The career of motherhood and homemaking is beyond value and needs no justification. Its importance is incalculable." -- Katherine Shor

"A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path." -- Agatha Christie

"I never knew how much love my heart could hold until someone called me 'mommy.' " -- Author Unknown

"I'd rather be a mother than anyone on earth
Bringing up a child or two of unpretentious birth...
I'd rather tuck a little child all safe and sound in bed
than twine a chain of diamonds about my carefree head.
I'd rather wash a smudgy face with round, bright, baby eyes
Than paint the pageantry of fame or walk among the wise."
-- Meredith Gray

"One good mother is worth a hundred schoolmasters." -- George Herbert

"When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child." -- Sophia Loren

"If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?" -- Milton Berle

"The woman who makes a sweet, beautiful home, filling it with love and prayer and purity, is doing something better than anything else her hands could find to do beneath the skies." -- J.R. Miller

"I've carried a child within my body. I've slept with a baby on my chest. I have kissed boo boos, mended broken hearts, been puked and peed on, and spent sleepless nights in a rocking chair. But I wouldn't have it any other way. My body isn't magazine perfect, but when I look in the mirror I see a Mom, and there is no greater blessing."

"The phrase 'working mother' is redundant." -- Jane Sellman

 "The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness." -- Honoré de Balzac

 "An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy." -- Spanish Proverb

"She never quite leaves her children at home, even when she doesn't take them along." -- Margaret Culkin Banning

 "The sweetest sounds to mortals given
Are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven."
-- William Goldsmith Brown

"The formative period for building character for eternity is in the nursery. The mother is queen of that realm and sways a scepter more potent than that of kings or priests." -- Author Unknown 

"A father may turn his back on his child, brothers and sisters may become inveterate enemies, husbands may desert their wives, wives their husbands. But a mother's love endures through all." -- Washington Irving

"Every beetle is a gazelle in the eyes of its mother. " -- Moorish Proverb