I met my dear little OreoSouza when she was quite pregnant with her youngest Abe. She was so kind to even allow us in her home considering I had 6 children at the time and she was so well so pregnant. Shurleen is a very content woman. Self-aware and considering I’m a blubbering fool that wears her heart on her sleeve (and doesn’t that get annoying after a while) I admire that in her.

She is a hippie chick, Lola Granola. Really she kinda is. Dangly earrings, until recently long hair and just exuding the confidence of a woman who loves and is loved by her family. She is careful and thoughtful in who she chooses to be-friend. Me, I feel so glad someone would even be my friend that until age 40 I took what I could get. Often that was not such a good idea. I have to ask myself if I had been so confident in my parents love, my mothers acceptance of me would I be different. Before I can dwell too long there I think… What kind of Mommy am I. I am a walking blind woman when it comes to being a Christian wife and Mommy. I do open the instruction book daily, still some days I can not feel my feet underneath me. Having no older, wiser woman to lean on, it is a lonely walk. I do not want to be like my Mother, God bless her. I want my children to have that deep down, unshakable knowing that they are loved by me, by Christ exactly for who they are. Oh, I want responsible children, kind children, mostly children who love and serve the Lord.

One thing I know, I may never completely feel like I have the world by the tail, but my children will. They may grow up to be blue collar workers, or artists or ? They will know Christ loves them. Their Momma and Daddy loved them and I pray each day, sometimes several times a day that I can be the Mom Shurleen’s Mother was and is. What could be better than knowing because of your obedience ALL your children walk with Christ. What a reward!