For my first post I thought I'd share the environment in which I was raised in as well as talk about the woman who inspires me most and who has shaped me into the woman I am today: my beautiful mother.
...My beautiful family has taught me to be a selfless disciple of Christ pursuing Him with every breath I breathe, and loving everyone the way Christ loves me. I want my future family to feel loved and treasured the way my family makes me and everyone they encounter feel...
Growing up, when my older siblings went off to camp, I felt left out and dreamed of going with them. I’d wake up when they did, find a shirt that matched theirs, ask them endless questions about camp, and pack a lunch only to be told I wasn’t old enough. I’d sit on the curb with my packed lunch and watch them drive away. I wanted to wear the matching shirts and the lanyard with my name on it. I wanted to have a camp counselor and learn all the dances and hand motions. I wanted to be just like my brother and sister and go to camp. When I came back inside my sadness could not be any more evident to my mom. This was the moment Mommy Camp came to life.
My mom recognized my feelings of rejection and heartache and decided to do everything in her power to allow my little sister and me to attend camp. She went to the store and bought matching pink t-shirts and wrote “Mommy Camp” on them. She decorated lanyards with our names and Barbie Doll stickers. She created games and crafts for us. And she even let us play Mommy and taught us how to clean the house like Cinderella. We also swam in the backyard, ate yummy snacks, and watched princess movies. We’d run errands with our matching Mommy Camp shirts and lanyards, and I was proud to show them off to every stranger.
When my older brother and sister came home from their camp they were surprised I wasn’t waiting for them on the curb like usual. I was too busy having the time of my life. At dinner, we’d go around and share stories from our day. Before, I would listen to my older siblings’ stories of camp with a heavy heart. But now having attended Mommy Camp, I could share stories about my yummy snacks, pool side games, and what I looked forward to the next day.
Mommy Camp is a perfect illustration of the Parker family. If someone is heartbroken and feeling excluded, Parkers do anything and everything to make them feel loved and valued. This goes for everyone -- the wise and foolish, the good and wicked, the just and unjust, and the lovable and unlovable. Just like Mommy Camp, my family goes out of their way to ensure people’s security in their value and desire to feel included. My mom has everyone she’s ever met’s birthday in her calendar and sends them a yearly birthday card signed by my family. My dad treats everyone he knows to lunch and takes the time to listen to their aches and joys. And my younger sister loves everyone she meets, even the unlovable, with a kind, patient, and cheerful heart.
When I am a wife and mom with my own family, I pray to be a Godly, righteous woman like my mom. This goal is not something I will start working on when I become a wife and mother, but something I practice everyday with my character and actions. My beautiful family has taught me to be a selfless disciple of Christ pursuing Him with every breath I breathe, and loving everyone the way Christ loves me. I want my future family to feel loved and treasured the way my family makes me and everyone they encounter feel. I can’t wait for the day to come when I can give my children experiences and memories like Mommy Camp. I pray I love my husband the way my parents love each other. I hope I always value my sister and grow closer to her as we grow older. And I pray to love my children with the same unconditional love my mom pours on me.
Love you Mom, Daddy, and Allison. This one's for you. xoxo, em
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