Happy Birthdays to Tyler, Dixon and Mom!

All on separate days (1/7; 1/14; 1/15, respectively), of course. Actually there are many more Holmes-related birthdays in January, but to avoid insanity, I shall focus on the original 12 (10kids+2parental units).

So, Mom and Dad have arrived in Russia. I hear that they will very soon have a blog up and running (thank you, Moddy) for all and sundry to peruse at our leisure. In this way we can keep up with the news and appreciate that none of us can possibly be as cold as they are. If you don't have to wear ice picks on your shoes, in the winter, just to go to the market-- you aren't as cold as Mom and Dad. No. Don't argue.

Mom turns a respectable, but not specified age, tomorrow. I wonder if, like me, she ever wonders where the years have gone, can she really be __(insert age), and has it all been worth it? How can the kids be grown up already, and isn't it nice that they are? (I love having a nearly-independent 8yr. old, btw.) Also, what next?

Truthfully, my mom is more active than I am, not to mention way more talented and lovely. She is a perfectly complete person and woman. If you do not know my mom, and even if you do, let us revisit her many wonderful qualities and skills*.

Firstly, Mom is a listener and councilor. The kind everyone needs. She will listen and ask what you think. She may give some examples of how she can relate and may offer some ideas but she will never tell you what you have to or should definitely do. She is wonderful at sympathizing and empathizsing and loving. She is also good at not saying, "I told you so." And she would never say, "Holy Crap! You did what?!" (mostly because she is so polite and "crap" is not a word she would say.)

Secondly, Mom is full of ideas and willingness to see things through. I can remember many times coming to my mom with a homework quandry and she would stop what she was doing (always with the "doing") to help. Poems got written, sewing projects put back together the right way, meals saved, YW activities planned, algebra problems got worked and so on. And always with humor.

Mom is funny. She is always one to look at the bright side and share a giggle whenever there is one to be had. My favorite 'making mom laugh moment' comes from back when I was a teenager. I was reading the Reader's Digest anecdotes to her so we could both laugh. The phone rang just as I was getting to the punch line. I hurried and said it just as she picked up the phone to say hello. Instead of talking, she was laughing too hard to say anything. Good times.

Mom knows what's important and doesn't sweat the small stuff. (A trait that our other January birthday people are also known for. Coincidence? I think not.) Running a little late? Oh well, just do your best to make up for lost time and leave a little sooner next time. Bad hair day? Could be worse and really, you're just making every other woman feel better about herself (though, to be clear, my mom doesn't have bad hair days -I'm talking about me). Make-up on wrong? -no biggie. It's just make-up. Gravy not your best? Well, one thing in your meal should be less than perfect -that way you're not showing off.

Speaking of gravy. And now for a list of some other extraordinary talents:

• scrumptious cook
• sewing dervish
• crochet-master
• grower of flowers and plants
• tender of many a happy grandchild
  

Last but not least, my mom is an excellent friend. Movies, books, frozen yogurt, quick shopping trip, you name it and she's up for it. And all the way there or during are so many things to talk about and ideas to explore. She's up for it all. I love that about her.


Happy Birthday (1/15)!


*See also Reagan's great post