Celebrating my mom is EASY. She is the most incredible woman I have ever known. Not only did she devote over 20 years of her life to raising 8 children, but she also stayed patient, kind and humble the whole way through. My dad was in ministry for a long time, and Mom was telling us today that Mother’s Days used to look very different than it does now. Apart from coffee in bed, she pretty much got the kids out the door and to church by herself. ANY ounce of celebration she gets these days is very well-deserved.

This Mother’s Day looked a little different than most, because now most of my sister’s are mothers as well…and they deserve celebrating! We skipped church (#grace) and instead of doing a BIG lunch with everybody, we opted to do brunch at Seed in Marietta with those who live close. After enjoying all of the joys that brunch has to offer, we were ready to chill for the rest of the afternoon. We went back to my Mom and Dad’s house and put together an array of snacks to graze on, got a dessert in the fridge and hung around for a few hours. Once my oldest sisters got there with their families we naturally tried to recreate an Easter picture from 15 years ago (these are the things you do when all 8 kids are together at one time). The rest of the afternoon was a breeze: opening gifts, telling little ones to be quiet because babies were asleep…the normal things that happen when 25+ people are together.

I love my family…and I am so incredibly proud to be related to them. They are the smartest, kindest, most loyal humans I know, and together I think we could conquer the world. But the best part is thinking that we wouldn’t be where we are without the sweet, soft-spoken, warrior that raised us.

XOXO,

AP