To all the mothers.

One of our favorite author-artists is a man by the name of Brian Andreas. Gracie introduced us to him, and now we are addicted. He pairs childlike drawings with intriguing comments about life. He makes you cry, he makes you laugh, he makes you grateful for the little things on this journey of life.

Mother's Day is tomorrow, a time we remember all the women who have molded us and inspired us and poured their lives into us to help us thrive; to realize what an amazing gift our children are to us (there's nothing in the world like being a mom) (they all said that) (and now I know it's true); and maybe even to remember the moms who went before us, showed us the way, and now cheer us on in the great cloud of witnesses. Mother's Day last year was the last time we saw Bethany's grandma, and the picture of her face on that day is unforgettable: She sat at the dining room table and soaked it all in. Her face wore a gentle, grateful smile. She looked around at all her offspring and her eyes twinkled. One word to capture what she seemed to be feeling: "Ah." Hers at that Mother's Day table was the most contented face we had ever seen. Everybody noticed it. Nine days later "her faith became sight," and oh how we miss her! One of the best moms and grandmas there ever was.

Many of the following Brian Andreas quotes remind us of her. Others are just plain funny. Still others good food for thought. They're our gift to you. Happy Mother's Day. (What cheapskates we are!)

"Everything changed the day she figured out there was exactly enough time for the important things in her life."

"Just because they die, she said, doesn't mean they go away."

"I heard that the big kids soaped the windows on Halloween and all we had was a box of Tide and I couldn't reach the windows anyway, so I poured a big pile of it on our neighbor's doorstep and I never figured out how my mom knew it was me until we had kids."

"There are lives I can imagine without children, but none of them have the same laughter and noise."

"I used to believe my father about everything but then I had children myself and now I see how much stuff you make up just to keep yourself from going crazy."

"Time stands still best in moments that look suspiciously like ordinary life."

"Sometimes I can't wait to leave, but not when my boys are wishing I could stay."

"There has never been a day when I have not been proud of you, I said to my son, though some days I'm louder about other stuff so it's easy to miss that."

"If you kill your brother, she said, you're going to get a huge timeout."

"I sometimes wake in the early morning and listen to the soft breathing of my children and I think to myself, This is one thing I'll never regret. And I carry that quiet with me all day long."

"I always wanted to invent something that would move around and make funny noises and would change the world as we know it and I forgot all about that until we had kids and now I see I came pretty close."


A few photos from last Mother's Day. It is amazing what changes in just one year. Gracie's off crutches and living in Ohio. Shiloh and Sam are expecting a baby. Luke is a little bit bigger. Grandma is no longer with us (but just because they die, doesn't mean they go away).


Last Mother's Day, Mom and Dad took pictures of each of us girls with Grandma. We had no idea these would be our last pictures with her. Gracie and I had gone over to her house that morning because she wanted us to help her do her hair. One of the sweetest moments of Gracie's and my life (though she could do her hair way better than we could).




We miss you, Grandma. So, so much.


Last Mother's Day, Luke was just a little bean! And today he is 16 months old!






Have to throw in a picture of Dad on Mother's Day. Why not.


And look at him now! An early-morning "must go outside and must wear my hat and must wear it looow" moment.


Mom's pushing Luke in his lego cart is one of his favorite new pastimes.


So is climbing on the table naked.


You never know where Luke might sleep best any given day. This particular day, he cuddled with Mom's robe as he slept on the couch. (What a life.)


Day out with Daddy! Somehow Richie's fancy road bike seems like an oxymoronic match for a Kidarooz bike trailer.


Yesterday Timothy turned one! Luke wanted all his presents.








Luke gave up on paying any attention to Timothy and went to the corner by himself to play with Timothy's bus.


Saturday morning. Where's Luke? Flying in his rocking chair.




This morning, Luke told Richie ("told") that he wanted to wear his new blazer. So Richie put it on over his pajamas. Then Luke told ("told") Richie that he wanted his fuzzy jacket over his blazer. So Richie put that one on too. Then Luke was happy and trotted around the house all decked out.


And finally, a set of pictures from Bethany's parents' camera. They always get some good shots!










Luke loves walking on their mow strip (or balancing on anything narrow and dangerous, for that matter).




He also loves trying to jump! He thinks it's hilarious. His whole body gets into it. He rarely gets off the ground though. (You know what they say about "white men"... they can't jump.)


Watching tractors at Grammy's house. What could be better?


Well, driving the big green van is tough competition.


This guy wishes all the moms out there a wonderful Mother's Day.


Happy Mother's Day, indeed!