As Google Video is finally closing the window of opportunity to provide playback to videos stored on its system, I transferred most of mine to YouTube today. The videos began back when Jackson, my four-year-old, was born, and special milestones in his life, as well as other events for our family.

It was a wonderful trip down memory lane, and there was much I had forgotten already! Jackson set next to me as I showed videos of him as a baby, which he got a real kick out of. As he giggled, the video which had started this whole process caught my eye. When it was finished uploading, I clicked play.

On this Mother’s Day, I was blessed to have my mom and dad here, swinging through to join us for church on their journey back home. It was great to have them here!

Today my other mother, Sharon, also was on my mind, and has been even more so since we’ve moved back to Missouri.

My husband’s mom Sharon was such an amazing, gentle, kind person who I loved dearly. It’s been three years since she went home to be with Jesus, and there are so many moments where both Matt and I at the same time wonder out loud how we wish she could be here to see this (as her grandchildren play) or we wish we could ask her about this…

In particular, now that I am staying home again, there are many moments throughout my day where it would be so wonderful to pick up the phone and talk with her. When Jackson was a baby, she was always there to talk, to ask questions of, to share in the excitement of his “firsts”. She was the person I called when I realized Jackson had his first tooth, because I knew her joy would nearly parallel mine. She was there when he first crawled and when he said his first word: “Mama”.

Today, I have been reflecting on how she lived such a life in service to her Savior, and how that spilled out on all those around her. She had more patience than anyone I have ever known, and exercised such loving kindness with her family, her friends, her church and so many others fortunate enough to cross her path. Her passion for Jesus impacted so many, and continues to do so to this day. We are still receiving gifts from her that she bought years ago in anticipation of Jackson’s growth!

On Mother’s Day, I pray that I will be the kind of mom she was and model the same kind of humbleness and servanthood she did as she loved Jesus, her family, her church and the world her Savior came to save.

Below is the video I had made for her memorial service.  Jackson watched with me this afternoon, and was very excited to see himself and Daddy and Mommy and Granddad and Aunt Heather and Aunt Erin. But, most of all, he recognized his Nana, and pointed her out again and again. At one point, he looked at me and asked, “Mommy, Nana loved me, didn’t she?”

Oh, yes, Jackson. Nana loved you with all her heart!

And, just as I know she did, I am praying for the day Jackson chooses to follow Jesus, and then, one day, see his Nana again.