A taste of what's to come!

Sunday
Roger and I celebrated Mother's Day by going out to eat early evening at La Petite France which, as its name implies, is a French restaurant in nearby Evendale. The owner is a genuine French lady, and the food is very good. It is, however, a little pricey, so a place to be reserved for special occasions. This beautiful stained glass window is in the foyer, and apparently is designed and made by a fellow Frenchman, known to the owner. Unfortunately, our kids are far away - our eldest daughter and her husband in Houston, Texas, our son in New Mexico, and our youngest daughter in Macedonia, serving with the Peace Corps - but I know they were thinking of me, as I was thinking of them. Jen, our eldest daughter, had sent me a beautiful box of chocolates, Philip called yesterday to wish me a Happy Mothers Day, and we skyped with Laura this afternoon as usual.

It was a lovely day, weather-wise, though a little on the chilly side, and it would have been lovely to get out and enjoy it, but there was too much to be done at home - Roger working in the yard, and me continuing with my sorting in preparation for our move.

Our morning was spent at church as usual, and at the second service we sang a hymn that was new to me " A Mother lined a basket", the words so appropriate for Mother's Day - hope you enjoy them too!

A mother lined a basket
to keep her baby dry,
then rocked him on a river,
lest he awake and cry.
She let a princess name him
her son that he might live.
God's people had a leader.
She had such hope to give.

A mother sewed a jacket,
lined in the softest wool,
then dressed her little boy-child,
her cup of blessing full.
She brought him to the temple
where he would serve and live.
God's people had a prophet.
She had such faith to give.

A mother laid her baby
in manger lined with straw;
then, in the shepherds' story,
his call from God foresaw.
She nurtured him and taught him
the way that he must live.
God's people had a savior.
She had such love to give.

Like Jochebed and Hannah,
and Mary too, we know
the hardest part of loving
is learning to let go,
so when we send our children
out in the world to live,
grant us such hope and faith, God.
and love enough to give.

(Footnote for those who may not know, Jochebed was the mother of Moses, and Hannah, the mother of Samuel)

The hymn was written by Mary Nelson Keithahn, a United Church of Christ minister and church education specialist, who works out of her home in Rapid City, South Dakota as a curriculum writer-editor, journalist, and lyricist for musical dramas and anthems.