Tinkerbell is their grandmother


We have always joked that Larson is Tinkerbell. She’s tiny, she is spunky and just a spice of life.

IMG_6361

Today, I have decided MEESE, my mother, is the REAL Tinkerbell. She has done this my entire life. Making life magical. Every party, every atmosphere … just plain magical.

She’s amazingly thoughtful and a queen at building a home that makes you feel loved and noticed individually. She loves and she loves big.

I told her that Larson loves Tinkerbell and fairies above all else right now…and mentioned long ago that the lake house (now their full-time home) would be the perfect spot to build something so neat for her fairy land. I was thinking a small 2×2 area with some rocks.

Typical Meese/Tinkerbell style – Larson now has a HUGE world. A serious fairy world. Multiple stations.

IMG_6316

She found this house at an OLD hardware store with mounds of dust – had Pop cut the door and added rocks, moss, etc.

IMG_6357

There’s no telling how many months she’s been glueing and potting plants. Or  creating little hideaway areas for my kids to dream and imagine.

IMG_6360

And painting tiny furniture and collecting. Not because she’s bored. Because she loves to delight our hearts.

IMG_6353

Where the heck does she find this stuff? A swing! I squealed.

IMG_6346

The first area was mind-blowing and then we rounded the corner for more goodness.

IMG_6336

IMG_6341

A bird house with some furniture in it – and a bell hanging over to call the fairies over to play.

IMG_6343

A note to moms at home

This isn’t about stay-at-home vs working because I don’t what I am – we are all moms that equally matter. Just know that this woman never worked outside of the home a day in her life. She hasn’t started a blog or adopted anyone or owned a non-profit. However, she has spent her life devoted to me and my siblings (and my dad) and it astounds me. How she serves. How she affirms. How she lives out a walk with Christ. How she listens.

IMG_6349

I watch her love big with my girls now and it brings me to my knees. Oh thank you Lord they get to see. They get to feel her love. They get to walk in and play in the wonderland of Meese. Where there is peace like a river, patience like none other, tenderness, grace and unconditional love at every turn.

It never surprised me that we had a cereal box for every kid in the neighborood at the top of our pantry. She thinks that is what kept them coming. I know it wasn’t. It was her fairy dust. Her ways. Her love of Jesus oozing out.

IMG_6344

So, for the mom that feels CALLED to be at home – but feel this tension to pile on and look at their peers. Listen to what God put on your heart. You can only decide for you and I can only decide for me.

IMG_6345

Just know as a daughter of a mom that could be home with us all of the time. I am forever grateful. I hope she knows her life, her effort was worth it. Her long days are now familiar to me and I respect her even more. Every little rock glued to a little table and not written in each lunchbox matters. It’s a high calling. A job worthy of praise. And I’m so honored to be a mom with all of you – those that work in the home and out of the home. Hang in there. You matter.

IMG_6347

I will be her for the next week and my girls even longer. Soaking up every split second. She has worked for almost 40 years of parenting and created a magical home that we never want to leave. My siblings arrive this week and there is nowhere we’d rather be – on the porch laughing together. Sure, boats and material things are appealing – but I’m pretty sure the draw is in her dust. And my dad’s too. It’s their love. Their acceptance. Their support. Unending.

That’s my goal. Watching like a hawk.

Similar Posts

8 Comments

  1. MEESE! you have now become an inspiration to dedication for many moms, not just your own! i love your generosity to others but your devotion to your family is wonderful. i LOVELOVELOVE ….
    “She hasn’t started a blog or adopted anyone or owned a non-profit.
    However, she has spent her life devoted to me and my siblings (and my
    dad) and it astounds me. How she serves. How she affirms. How she lives
    out a walk with Christ.”
    it is so easy to lost focus on THIS. the most important. and we never know who else we may reach with this laser focus.

  2. What a sweet, sweet tribute to your Mom and what a wonderful woman she must be. I hope and pray my children and Grans have such sweet recollection of me one day. Blessings to you!

  3. I just love any posts that include Meese…but this has got to be one of my favorites by far. What an example of service and love she sets for so many of us. It’s a challenge for me to think about the people I love…and how they want and need to be loved. Thankful for the faithful example Meese has set…and love that your girls–and you—are getting to soak up some quality time with her!

  4. Amazing. It is in her fairy dust. I agree. She is so special and has a way to make us all feel that way! Love her dearly! You are so so blessed Court! precious tribute to your remarkable mother!

  5. Your mother has a beautiful heart. Love your blog. It brought a happy tear to me. Enjoy your time with your family!

  6. I’m a little late to the party on this one, but I just wanted to let you know that this post was great encouragement to me…an “older,” (blech) stay-at-home mom. And this is not about working mom vs sahm or women who don’t have children for whatever reasons. We ALL work, am I right?

    After our first child was born with special needs, my husband and I made choices for what was best in OUR family…not anyone else’s…and I’ve been working at home, behind the scenes… serving and supporting my husband and children for the last 27 years. And, while some of the days have been lonnnng, I’ve loved it. The things you write that your Mom did for you and your siblings…are things I have done for mine. And I don’t mean that in a prideful way AT ALL. Not everyone wants to make that choice…not everyone can. I’m one of those who truly has felt called to be at home. I hope that I’ve lived out my walk with Christ. I don’t really care if my kids remember anything else…just that I was there for them…and that I was thrilled to be able to do it.

    What a sweet tribute to your mom. 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.