Worldwide Wednesday Linky Post ~ {Mom}

Sometimes I cannot believe how very lucky I am.

For I have been given the gift of a wonderful mother...

Mary Frances (Krystofik) Olenick

(Mom and me circa 1972)

Her laughter is still like music to me....

And now my children get to hear that music...

(Nana and Max)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And then, thanks to the joining of families,

I have been given the gift of a mother-in-law

Ann Marie (Capehart) Brunner

(Grammie and Joe)

who deeply loves me, my husband, and my children 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And then....the greatest gift of all...being allowed to be called mother..

For I,

Mary Joanne (Olenick) Brunner

am constantly amazed, humbled, and strengthened by these two blessings

(Joe and Max)

I love my new names of mommy, mom, mama...

My life is full...

and I am ever so grateful for it all

 (Max and me)


Come over to Misty's Place and see other beautiful images of Mom...

Worldwide Wednesday Linky Party ~ {mercy}

If you do not know about Heifer International, I encourage you to go to the website and learn about their works of compassion. They help to break the cycle of poverty by "teaching people to fish" (or farm, etc.) instead of just handing out food. In turn, the families that receive the gift of an animal must then "pass on the gift" to another family. It is indeed the gift that keeps on giving. It is life. It is mercy. (Being of Polish descent, I just loved this picture with a father, son, and their flock of sheep....)

Head on over to Misty's place for other wonderful pictures...

Poland Sheep

Meczyslaw Rodzynka, with his son, Grzegorz, 10, with Heifer International sheep in Skorodne and Podkarpacie, Poland. “There are many people in a difficult situation here in our villages. The natural conditions are perfect for sheep with pastures and hay. The price of lamb is very encouraging so it is profitable today. It is important for Heifer International donors to understand that these sheep will assist families to make a living tomorrow and in our future,” he said.

*** Disclaimer/copyright info:
This photo is courtesy of Heifer International and from their photo stream. I do not own this picture.)

Worldwide Wednesday ~ {Easter}

Easter. The very word fills me with hope. With peace.... How I wish that I could say that I had just the photo that captures it all. Maybe of Easter Vigil at St. Peter's.  Or of early morning in Jerusalem. That holiest of holy days that is incredibly difficult to put into words, let alone pictures. (For how do you capture salvation?)

But here, in Chester, Virginia, Easter comes just the same. And this year, it came in a special way from my son, Joseph.

He came tearing into the house one day last week, and said, "Mommy! Here it is! Finally!"  As I unwrapped his gift ("wrapped" in newspaper and a plastic bag), the look of joy on his face was one that I wish that I had been able to capture. This is what he gave to me:

As I cradled this perfectly imperfect egg creation in my hands, my heart swelled.

Indeed, this is what Easter is about. Eggs (not just decorated and pretty) but raw, life containing vessels....

I asked Joe to tell me why exactly he made it for me. And his answer, his second gift to me was, "Well mommy. It's, you know, like new life. Jesus came out of the rock cave on Easter, and baby animals are coming out from eggs, too."  

So Happy Easter my friends, from this perfectly imperfect heart of mine. New life is all around. Enjoy...

(Today, I am linking up with fellow blogger Misty, who has a beautiful heart. Come on and join in the fun. She'll give you a prompt and you find just the picture that speaks to you.)