Happy Birthday, Mom

Lucy Ann was born on September 11, 1929 to Ivan and Melvina. They were young and in love. Lucy grew up poor (certainly by today's standards in the States) but not really too poor. They had food to eat and shelter for protection. Mom and her brothers (Tim and John) received a good education from the public schools in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  Some of my favorite stories have been those of she and her brothers growing up at what our family has grown up referring to simply as "410."  I learned a lot from my mom -- many things she intended to teach and other things I "caught" along the way. There is no question in my mind that she and my dad were primary agents of growth and development in my life who God used to mold me into who I'm becoming. Late in her life she put into words some things that I didn't understand as well then as I am beginning to now -- things about her wishing that there were some things I hadn't learned from  her. This past summer I've been working at making some changes in my own living that don't so much reflect what my mom taught me as they honor what I believe she had wished she had taught me. Among other things, this has meant a number of visits to doctors this summer -- continuing into the Fall. It may sound a bit odd to say this, but all this poking and prodding and peering and processing that doctors and their people in matching outfits do -- this is for you, Mom. Happy Birthday!