I don’t often get to celebrate Mother’s Day with my mother. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I did.
So when Balsam Hill asked me to share some Mother’s Day inspiration using one of their gorgeous artificial arrangements, all I could think about was how much I would love to have her come over for a simple brunch.
Just the two of us.
We would sit together at the table with no kids (or retired husband/my dad) vying for her attention and just relish our time together. I would break out the china and silver and maybe whip up my yummy Lemon Creme Brulee.
You see, by this point in my life, I’ve come to realize that not everyone can say that their mom is also their best friend. I know that it’s a rare thing. A blessing. A gift.
I can talk to my mom about everything from home decorating to finances to the challenges of being a mother myself.
And she’s always there. Always available. Always ready with a listening ear and solid wisdom.
I always find it interesting that when I think back on my childhood, it’s not the specific conversations that I remember. It’s the feelings, the moments, the smells, the essence. When my mom would come and kiss me goodnight, I loved the scent of her face lotion. When I close my eyes I can still smell it. It represented comfort and familiarity and consistency.
She would pray with me and sing to me and I would fall asleep with such a deep sense of security.
It’s a security I still feel to this day when I’m with her.
When I became a mom myself, suddenly it seemed like I needed my mom more than ever. Yes, I needed the advice and the ideas and the re-assurances, but what I needed most was the security that she provided. Even though my entire world had changed, when I was with my mom I felt like I was just ‘me’.
Just Vanessa. Just her daughter.
My mom is a truly one of the most wise women I know. And the best piece of parenting advice she has ever given me is to always remember that I’m an imperfect person raising imperfect children in an imperfect world. She reminds me that I’m just not going to do things perfectly. It’s an impossibility. I will make mistakes and I will mess up and so will my kids. But, in the midst of all of the trying and messing up, there’s always grace. Grace for them and grace for myself. Lots of it!
There is something about looking at photos of my mom when she was near my age that strike me so differently now that I’m a mother too. I see her in a new light.
I see myself in her.
And I’m beyond grateful that God gave me the amazing gift of having her as my mom. We might not be able to celebrate Mother’s Day together this year (my parents divide their time between two homes and won’t be back here in Oregon until summer), but it’s really ok. Because it’s only a day.
The real celebration happens every time we laugh together over a funny family memory or when she listens to me as I moan about how hard it is raising a teenager.
The real celebration is in our hearts.
I love you mom!
For more Mother’s Day brunch inspiration visit the other participants:
Balsam Hill Blog
The Yellow Cape Cod
My Sweet Savannah
French Country Cottage
Such a beautiful post – and a beautiful table setting! I love that you remember her face lotion smell. My youngest son always says he loves the way my face smells when I go kiss him goodnight too! I don’t always see my mom on the actual Mother’s Day either. Sometimes we just pick a day during that week and go out somewhere when it’s not crowded. I have also had a Mother’s Day brunch with my sister and her son, my mom and my boys. So many nice ways to celebrate yet the message gets across how special moms are to us! Great post!
Shelley
You, my dear, are so blessed to have had a mother like that and to have so many great memories.
…always love your posts!
What a beautiful table setting and I love today’s post. How blessed you are to have such a wonderful relationship with your mom. I was too. I love how you reference the smell of her face lotion. For me it is the smell of Emeraude or as I came to call it the stinky green stuff.
She loved her Emeraude. I do believe God created our sense of smell to grace us with peace when we need it.
Today I will head to my local Walgreens and ask to hold a bottle of Emeraude and spray the tester. My mom passed 9 years ago today and I miss her every single day. I know she is here with me but to just get that hug and smell her favorite fragrance on her would be the best.
what a precious post. I can hear your heart beaming when you talk about your mom …..and your family. You are a real gem and a blessing to your mom and to your own children.
That was just lovely Vanessa. I’m passing it on to several friends. Thank you so much for the reminder that there is grace for all.
Ahh, Vanessa! It warmed my heart reading this today. You were certainly a delightful little girl to raise to adulthood! Happy (early) Mother’s Day to the loveliest of daughters! We will celebrate a month late. I love you!
What a beautiful post and tribute to your lovely mom.
The tablescape – all the touches- are amazing.
Heading over to Balsam Hill now – those faux are incredibly realist looking – WOW WOW WOW!
Your table is beautiful and so is your story and the love for your mom….your mom gave the greatest advice…she said it all … there is no such thing as perfection as humans…if we were all perfect, the world would be a boring place!!…That arrangement is so beautiful and sweet….like southern tea!
First, what a sweet tribute and compliment to your mom! I love how the ribbon ties in with color of the floral arrangement and how the black and white photo you’ve attached adds a nostalgic touch. It helps you realize where you came from, what is happening now and where you are going. The floral arrangement looked lovely with your accents and I’m sure that lemon take on the brulee is tasty.
Vanessa,
I have never been to your blog before, and though I frequent several every week, I don’t always comment. However, this post was so gorgeous (the photos! that table setting!) and so tenderly written, I just had to tell you. As a blogger myself I know how hard it is to write from the heart every time, and this was wonderfully written. It was warm and heartfelt, and real. It made me tear up and made me think of my own mother and how she raised me, as well as my own children and my connection to the three of them. And on top of that, the tablescape was gorgeous.
Thank you for such a beautiful post…. literally and figuratively.
Sheila
http://www.maisondecinq.blogspot.com
Oh Sheila thank you so much for your incredibly sweet comment! I hope I will be seeing more of you At the Picket Fence! 🙂