Even Mommy needs her mommy sometimes.

Over the course of the last 18 months or so has Jill has been struggling with various and sundry trials--some of epic proportion. During this time period when the kids have asked "what's wrong with mommy?" I have told the kids that "even mommies need their mommies sometimes".

This week has been one of those times.

As mentioned in other posts on our blog, Jill has recently "gone under the knife" and had a couple medical procedures done. These, however, didn't actually involve any knives. They did, however, involve anesthesia and heavy pain killers; not to mention down time for recovery.

I was able to take two vacation days for each of these procedures. The first, however, also ended up needing a sick day too so I could be here longer.

She seemed to be recovering more quickly after her second "surgery" than the first. This was good. We were pleased. Then, all of a sudden, her back decided it was going to go on vacation--by itself.

This was not a "take a load off and put your feet up" vacation, it was more of a "sorry, I'm leaving you to fend for yourself; and good luck surviving without me" vacation. She was basically bed ridden and immobile for several days.

I had been doing the best I could to keep up with the house while she was totally down and out (many times literally out). However, let's face it....I am a man. There's only so much I can do.

I couldn't keep up on all the laundry. (There's only so much laundry that can be done on Saturdays when I'm home all day.) I did manage to keep us with clean dishes to use--that's not to say all the dishes were clean, just that we had some clean dishes to eat off of. Speaking of eating, I had to also ensure everyone did that too.

Long (messy) story short, I couldn't keep up.

So what's the point of all this? Am I just complaining? Airing my grievances? Explaining why my children looked the way they did? (Does that kid ever wash their face?) Oh wait, I know. How 'bout looking for sympathy?

Well, no.

Actually, this is more like one of those thank-you-mom-for-coming-to-the-rescue-because-I-was-losing-it-and-don't-know-how-much-longer-I-could-hold-on posts.


Yes, the point is I want to send a BIG THANK YOU to Jill's mother, Janet.


Last week I was just chatting with her and happened to ask her if she knew about Jill's back. After a bit more discussion she offered to come over and help.

Now for those who don't know, "coming over" doesn't just mean hopping in the car and driving a few miles to spend a few hours assisting. No, in her case it actually means getting a substitute for early morning seminary, doing her husband's laundry and preparing meals for him for while she's gone, packing a suitcase, and driving for six hours. Janet lives in Orange County, California.

That's right, she put her life completely on hold to come to Arizona to help her daughter and her family.

While here she did laundry, dishes, laundry, dishes...(you get the idea), shopping, cleaning, entertaining (and occasionaly disciplining) children, cleaning bathrooms (yes, plural). She was so incredibly helpful. She went walking early in the morning with her friends who live in our neighborhood. And, like a true grandmother, she even made time to visit all the other grandkids and their parents while here.

I know I speak for both Jill and I when I say that when I grow up, I want to be like her. Janet has always shown Christ-like love. She is one of the most caring people I know. She does all this service for one reason and one reason only: because she loves us. She saw a need and took action. Tell me that's not why Jesus Christ did all that He did for you, me, and everyone else. He loves us.

Yes, when I grow up I want to be both able and willing to drop what I am doing to fill the need of someone else. Janet is an example of the believers; she epitomizes Christ-like love.

James writes in the New Testament of showing his faith by his works. "[S]hew me thy [love] without thy works, and I will shew thee my [love] by my works." Janet has definitely done this.

Mom, thank you for coming over.

Thank you for all you did for us.

Thank you for being an example.

We love you.