The inspiring story of an AMAZING Mommy!

With Mother's Day approaching I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for Mommy and everything she is and does for the Lord and for her family! She has meant so much to me, my family and all who know her! Love you SOOOOOOOOOO much Mommy!


My goodness, where to start?  In order to even scratch the surface of who Momma is; her amazing heart for the Lord, her joy, her love, her servant's heart, her Godliness, her tenderness, her energy and devotion to mommy-hood, her beautiful and amazing character, her love for children and especially for orphans, her beautiful smile, her encouraging words and advice, her caring warm hugs when I need them the most, her sense of humor and mischievous pranks she so enjoys pulling on her innocent (halo headed) victims, her adorable laughter, her creativity,  her love for sunshine and flowers and fall and pumpkins and chocolate and coffee and family and babies and being a Grandma. . . I'd need to write a book! 

Thankfully, she already wrote one!  Yep, that's right! One of the biggest blessings of my life is not only to have all of who she is in my life, but also to have it written down in a beautiful, God-honoring keepsake book called BIG and small ways. . . a memoir of all the miraculous ways God has provided for her and Daddy through the years. In that book, she humbly writes of all the challenges and joys of life through marriage, being a missionary in Hungary, going through infertility for 6 years, and then miraculously being blessed with my amazing big sis Lydia.


Then she tells of her pregnancy with us quadruplets and the incredible sacrifices she gave, the providence of God, and the support of the body of Christ as she carried us to 32 weeks and gave birth via-C section.  The challenges she went through to carry Kyle, Valerie and Victoria and I always makes me tear up in awe of what a mother will do for her children. Mommy's love is incredible, and she is the closest example to me of what it looks like to lay down your life for the lives of others!

Then the daunting task of feeding and changing diapers on 5 babies (Lydia was 16 months old when we were born!!!). And raising us up to love and fear God, honor our parents and cultivate friendships with our siblings. Teaching and homeschooling us was no simple task, but she did it with such energy, joy and fun! She poured all she had into teaching us the essentials in school growing up, and I'm so thankful she taught us how to write and communicate well!  I remember those years growing up in Flagstaff, AZ and experiencing life with Mommy in the blue house with the tall pine trees to climb and plenty of lizards, bugs, spiders and tarantulas to catch; all of which she would allow us to keep in the house! (And sometimes that would escape!) And the hot chocolate, and sugar cookies in the winter as she bundled 5 little ones up to play in the snow and make igloos and eat chicken-noodle-soup and snow ice-cream!

What an amazingly joyful and beautiful childhood I had because of my amazing Mommy!

Then Timmy came along the year we moved to WA! Love him so much, and my goodness he is growing into an awesome young man. And THEN the miraculous pregnancy and birth of Joseph and ALL the BIG and small miracles God performed on October 26th, 2006, his birthday, when both mom and Joe were not expected to survive. All these little miracles are written in that book, so maybe in a later post I will share Joe's story!

Then the Lord began growing in her heart a love and desire for opening her heart and home to "the least of these." Little precious orphans in need of a forever family. Again her love continued to inspire me as she spent so many long nights finishing paperwork, going through training's and workshops, preparing the home study, waiting and praying and waiting some more for the precious children God had for us. Those were trying times as she looked so forward to opening her arms to needy children! And I might add, at first the thought of adoption was scary to me. But, as mom kindly and tenderly read to us scriptures of adoption, and showed us God's heart for orphans, and read us stories of families who had adopted. . . my selfish heart began to change. We went into adoption as a family, eagerly waiting for our new siblings! And because of this model of adoption she's given us, most of us kids have a desire to adopt children one day too!

Then Benjamin came to us as an infant! That was such a happy day for us all; but it was so neat to see Mommy SO giddy and joyful . . . even more than her usually cheerfulness and joy!  And I'm SOOOOOOOO incredibly thankful for her and Daddy's devotion to continue to pursue adoption. Benjamin is my best bud and special little friend. My goodness I CAN'T bear to imagine life without him. . . and he came to us because of God's providence for one, but also through Mommy's perseverance, dedication and prayer!

Our sweet baby girl Brielle, came to us in the winter of 2013! I remember the JOY that day when we went to pick her up from the foster home!  Us quad girls were old enough then that we thought we could each take a night a week to stay with Brielle and feed her during the night. . . well I got so exhausted and impatient I decided I better leave that job to someone much farther along in the sanctification process!!! :-)  It takes a special Mommy to care for an infant; and Mommy always did it with such joy, as if every minute with her babies were priceless. Her selflessness is so inspiring!

W. and G. were then brought to our doorstep one late, stormy night. We love them so dearly, but those first few months were the most challenging and stretching months of our lives. I know I, and the whole fam sometimes, struggled and became quite impatient and exhausted. . . up until Christmas. Then Mommy led the way as the Lord did a work in Her heart to show us how to love unconditionally and rely on His strength and grace that is sufficient. I remember the night when Momma and I were up super late and couldn't sleep. We cried together and shared our hearts, and it was so awe-inspiring and heart-melting as I watched God's power and love in her as she serves her family each day, despite the challenges. She CHOSE to love; even when it wasn't easy. She CHOSE to be cheerful, even when it was challenging. She is my hero. When I grow up I want to be just like her.

She's modeled to me what it looks like to be a Christ-like wife and mother. Her gentle and quiet spirit is so touching and refreshing. She's modeled what it looks like to rely on God's grace day by day, and seek His Kingdom first.  Her heart for orphans and needy children has modeled what pure and undefiled religion in the sight our God looks like. (James 1:27)  And although she's not perfect, her humility, genuineness and openness with the struggles and weaknesses she faces always inspires me as she grows and matures in her faith day by day.  If you ask me she's pretty close to perfect.  :-)

She's always been there for me during the stretching and challenging seasons in life. She's always pointed me back to Christ and is courageous and kind enough to point out areas in my life that need growth or just need a different perspective. Her guidance as I've grown up has been such a blessing! A hug from her is the best!! And her joy, smiles and laughter are so contagious and heartwarming!  Seriously, the best sound in the world is Momma's adorable laughter when she's especially tickled over something!   Love it!

How could I ever thank you Mommy for all that you are and all that you've done? And this is all just BARELY scratching the surface. I couldn't be more grateful and blessed by you!

Love you SO much Momma! Here's a heartfelt Happy Mother's Day to the best Mother in the world.

I should add; she's also now the BEST Grandma ever to the cutest baby girl ever!! :-)

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good all the days of her life. . . she gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family . . . she opens her arms to the poor and her hands to the needy. . . 

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, he praises her, "many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.". . . a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised!" 

(Prov. 31:10-30 some punctuation added.)