apples and trees

“You look just like your mom!”  I’ve heard it time and again beginning way back in those teenage years when the ugly duckling stage of the tweens began to molt into something a bit easier on the eyes.  I never knew how to take the comment, because what do you say when someone states the obvious?  “Um, thanks?” I certainly took it as a compliment since I always thought my mom looked great for her age.

(And now that I’m approaching the age she was at the time of these comments, can I just say she was young?  Really, really YOUNG!)

Here we are back a few years (decade?) at my bridal shower:

I’m one apple that didn’t fall too far from the tree.

I think looks are one thing shared among the women in my family.  Here’s me with my younger sister:

We don’t look alike.  Nope.  Not a bit.

It’s one thing to get looks from your mom.  It’s another thing entirely to get the whole package deal.  I’m one of the rare (and I believe blessed) individuals who can say “I sound just like my mom” and be thrilled about it.

My mom’s got some things I’d like to grow into some day.  Things like…

…wisdom

…grace

…creativity

…forgiveness

…empathy

…play

…childlike spirit

…faith in hard times and easy times

…and love.  Lots and lots of love.

…love for adventures

…love for new places

…love for memories and traditions

…love for family

…love for friends who have become like family

…love that goes around and around till it’s reached all the loveables and unloveables in life

…and a ridiculously svelte figure for a woman her age.  (Which is still young, really, really YOUNG!)

So if you tell me I look just like my mom, I’ll give you a hug.  I want to be just like her when I grow up.  And if I can pass anything onto Little Friend, any seed of the things I love in my mom, well, then I will have done my job as well.

I’d say we’re off to a good start.  Here’s me at age 2:

Here’s Little Friend at age 2:

She’s another apple that fell pretty darn close to the tree.

I guess I can say: “like grandmother, like daughter, like grand-daughter.”

Here we are, the tree, the apple, and the seed:

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Trees who nurture and grow the Apples and Seeds of tomorrow!

8 Comments

  1. Martha said:

    I had no idea Little Friend looked so much like you. That could be a picture of her. But, you already know that.

    I totally agree with the description of your mom. Especially the part where friends are like family. She has always made our family feel like her family. That is why we love your family so much! 🙂

    Hope your Mother’s Day is one filled with lots of fun, love, and things memories are made of.

    May 8, 2011
    Reply
  2. Emily said:

    literally said “oh my gosh” out loud as i looked at these photos – beautiful babies – beautiful post as always – HAPPY MOTHERS DAY 🙂

    May 8, 2011
    Reply
  3. Julia said:

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE our mom. Lydia is totally convinced I have lost it and that picture of you is really Little Friend.

    May 8, 2011
    Reply
  4. Nancy said:

    You are very much like your amazing Mom. You are also nurturing a wonderful new seedling who will benefit from having both of you in her life (and her amazing Dad too!)

    May 8, 2011
    Reply
  5. Donna Guerard said:

    What a beautiful tribute to your Mom! I can honestly say that your Mom is one of the finest Christian women I have been privileged to know over the years.

    May 8, 2011
    Reply
  6. Dad S. said:

    James,

    Sometime soon, perhaps God has a boy that looks like you planned. Until then, it’s ok to be blessed with such fine looking girls.

    May 10, 2011
    Reply
  7. john schoeneck said:

    Beth I remember Gram had that picture of you on the fridge!

    May 14, 2011
    Reply

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