My Mother-The Proverbs 31 Woman

Mom occasionally rode her mule Bandit to town and did
her banking in the drive-through. She stopped the practice
because the bank didn't appreciate the deposit left by the mule.
(Photo by Naylor Made Photography)

I knocked four kinds of poop off my boots and directed my Toyota Hybrid back to Dallas. A visit with mother leaves me in awe.She is the most amazing woman I know--the living, breathing picture of the woman described in Proverbs 31.*

Newlyweds

The eldest of four daughters born during the Great Depression to a West Texas cotton farmer, she was driving a Model-A pickup truck by the age of seven. By 12 she was not only driving a tractor in the fields, she cooked meals for the family, and took care of her younger sisters.Her parents sacrificed to send her to college where she met my father during her freshman year. Their love story had an auspicious beginning with her beaning him with a snowball from her dormitory window. He admired her spunk and strong arm. Almost 62 years later, she still knows how to get his attention. Generally, it's with a hot plate of food served on a tray in front of the television. However, Mom says there is no reason why a woman can't get anything she wants when she owns a 100% of the thing her husband wants the most.(A little naive, perhaps. I've known spouses to look for it other places, but not my dad.) 

The trailer had no indoor plumbing or refrigerator.

After a six-month courtship Mom and Dad married in July of 1951. When Dad graduated from college  they drove to California towing their home. Dad attended Golden Gate Seminary in San Francisco while building several small churches. To support his burgeoning family he worked as a carpenter, in a saw-mill, and for Union Oil. He wasn't home much, but he said every time he threw his pants on the end of the bed Mom got pregnant. Their first child, Randa, was born in 1952. Three more children followed in quick succession.

From left to right, Randa, age 6, Tim, age 2 1/2, Lacene, age 4 1/2. In front, Ranell, 2 months.

Mom is a great cook. Every hearty meal was homemade including the bread. It wasn't complete without our choice of homemade pie or cake for dessert. If we "only" had cookies it was served with ice cream. This explains much about my sugar addiction.
She made all our clothes and her's too. Very often our dresses and Tim's shirt came from the same bolt of fabric, a practice we resisted as we grew older. My love of fashion comes from my mother. She taught me to design my own clothes and choose the appropriate fabric. She also taught me to feel the fabric to judge its quality and squash it in your hand to see how it holds up with wear. She taught me to make the most of my figure. "An A-line skirt suits you best! A pencil skirt makes your behind look like two pigs wrestling to get out of a burlap sack." She was right. (Curvy girls take note!) She would piece together several different patterns and create my vision.
Her years as a missionary took her from the cotton fields of Texas to the tropical Philippines. She adapted to a new culture and learned a new language. She went from being a field hand to managing household help which included a cook, a laundress, and a gardener. She home-schooled all four of  us until we went to boarding school at age 14. Learning to let go may have been her hardest task.
Now 81-years old, Mom can still work circles around me. She and Dad live in an "assisted" living facility--Dad assists Mom and Mom assists Dad!--on seven acres in Whitesboro, Texas.
Mom rests in her recliner while watching the Mavericks and the Rangers play, but her hands are rarely still. She uses this quiet time to crochet. Every child, grandchild and great-grandchild in our family has one of her afghans. She's created and given away hundreds of crocheted stocking caps to friends, neighbors, store clerks, and waitresses.She's filled mission boxes going to Mexico with the same.

When she isn't crocheting, she shells beans, cracks pecans, and any other chore she can do while sitting still.

Stop by their home on Bones Chapel Road and you will be treated
 to a tour of the garden. I guarantee you won't leave empty-handed.

In spite of Mom's protests, Dad planted 1,100 onion plants.
Because everyone needs 1,100 onion plants.

They set out 85 tomato plants. This summer Mom will can tomatoes and tomato sauce
Part of the onions and tomatoes will go into picante sauce, The rest they will give away.
They will not go hungry next winter, nor will anyone they know.
 (The rusty buckets protect the plants from late spring freezes.)

A couple of rows of Dad's favorite flower, gladiolas, will brighten up the garden.

Tip for the organic gardener: Plant radishes within your row of
crookneck squash. It will keep the bugs at bay. 

Mom found a tiny mewling Coppertop tossed out on
the road in front of their house.

Rescued and loved, he never goes hungry either.

Fresh eggs are always available. The hens lay about 50 a day.
If you want rich yellow yolks try the duck eggs. She's got those too.
Mom supplements their income with what she can sell.

These ducklings were incubated and hatched in the laundry room.
Mom loves to nurture all living things. A telephone lineman stopped by
once with a tiny squirrel which had fallen out of a tree.
 Mom nursed it to health with a bottle.

I couldn't get a good picture of this hyper little pup, but she is
Mom's five-month old German Shepherd. Dad decided she needed
something to train besides him.

You can't talk about animals without including her horse. Mom is showing off a little bit,
but that's part of her too. She still rides, although it makes me a nervous wreck to watch her.
The bandage on her arm is where a chicken attacked her. He only did it once. We had him for lunch.
 You don't want to cross her.

My dad says, "The best thing I ever did as a father was pick you a great
 mother!" I quietly agree, but he also made her fee protected and loved her
 unconditionally. It gave her the freedom to be the best woman she could be.

I'll never be the woman my mother is but I keep trying. It just won't be on the farm.
Happy Mother's Day! So glad you are my mother!I

Proverbs 31:10-31 A good woman is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds. Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long. She shops around for the best yarns and cottons, and enjoys knitting and sewing. She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises. She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day. She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden. First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day. She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking. She's quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor. She doesn't worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear. She makes her own clothing, and dresses in colorful linens and silks. Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers. She designs gowns and sells them, brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops. Her clothes are well-made and elegant, and she always faces tomorrow with a smile. When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say, and she always says it kindly. She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive. Her children respect and bless her; her husband joins in with words of praise: "Many women have done wonderful things, but you've outclassed them all!" Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God. Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her life with praises!

If you get up to Whitesboro, it's about an hour north of Dallas, between Sherman and Gainesville on Texas Highway 82. You can spend a lovely afternoon browsing the shops on Main Street.

Shop at Lovejoy's On Main for a unique gift. Rita will fix you a sandwich in the tearoom or
have one of Hank's creations at the soda fountain.

If you are interested in gently used Antiques Cook's Main Street Mercantile is calling your name.
I found a white glass pitcher and lace tablecloth for a wedding reception at very reasonable prices.
 The company and conversation were priceless. Tell them Lace said to stop by!
You can find them at !www.facebook.com/CooksMainStreetMercantile‎

Mom and I enjoyed a yummy old-fashioned burger and fries at the The Finish Line Diner across the street. We couldn't help but gawk at the gentleman in the next booth. Served the largest hotdog I've ever seen, topped with chili, cheese and onion rings, he was forced to use a fork and knife to get it to his mouth.