In celebration of Mom -- Then Sings My Soul!

Celebrating my mother's 85th birthday with her this weekend brought many good memories for me, along with a flood of gratitude.

A key to the emotion and memories for me was that, rather than just sing a solo at Mom's church in her honor, I was able to work up a duet with one of her great-granddaughters. This is something I'd been wanting to do and had never managed to follow through.

For God to give me the idea, for me to ask my niece Emily and sister Becky if they thought Heidi would be interested, their affirmation that she would be, and then to come up with a song and to practice and then do it was a blessing beyond measure for me.

She has a beautiful voice and such a sweet spirit. My heart danced to hear her sing out strong and secure!

 I thought of how I would have loved to have someone sing with me when I was that age. Then I remembered: I did have someone to sing with me!

I thought of growing up with a singing Mom, and sharing that love of singing. I wish I could remember specific songs I heard Mom sing. Right now, I can't even remember for sure which songs Mom and my sisters and I sang at church. "Pass It On" and "Ivory Palaces" come to mind. Maybe she and Becky will help me remember other songs. My memories of singing with Mom and my sisters possibly blur into us all singing in the choir at Whaley during my junior high and high school years. The last song I recall Mom and me singing together was "The Lord Is My Shepherd and Keeper," many years ago at Whaley.

Another thought that came to mind several times yesterday (the party day) and today (the actual birthday) was Daddy's 85th birthday celebration. It was March 2011 -- and little did we know, that would be his final birthday on this earth. Rather than bring sadness, the memory brought gratitude for those final months with Daddy as well as gratitude for another celebration with Mom. 

Mom's 85th also brought to mind her 80th birthday celebration, which included a big party at the church. My gifts that day included songs as well.

Somehow, this also goes along with my spiritual journey -- bringing to mind "My Mother's Faith," a song as well as a testament to what keeps me going and what made my soul sing today.

In my journal this morning, I noted that several of my daily scriptures were about joyous praise to God, perfect for this day of singing praise to God for the gift of Mom, among so many examples of His goodness.

The Bible App/Bible.com Verse of the day:

The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

And the Psalms 98 passage from my Bible in One Year reading plan:

A Song of Praise to the Lord for His Salvation and Judgment

Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!

For He has done marvelous things;

His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.

The Lord has made known His salvation;

His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.

He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth;

Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.

Sing to the Lord with the harp,

With the harp and the sound of a psalm,

With trumpets and the sound of a horn;

Shout joyfully before the Lord, the King.

Let the sea roar, and all its fullness,

The world and those who dwell in it;

Let the rivers clap their hands;

Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord,

For He is coming to judge the earth.

With righteousness He shall judge the world,

And the peoples with equity.