COTE DE TEXAS: Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day

 

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A few days ago, Elisabeth, my 18 year old daughter, surprised me with these peonies she picked up on a trip to the grocery store.  What an unexpected and totally sweet gesture!  To tell you the truth, that’s enough of a Mother’s Day gift for me, though I suspect she and her dad have something else hidden up their sleeves!    The older Lizzy gets, the more thoughtful she is of Ben and me, even though there are plenty of days when she thinks we are the craziest loons in the world.     Just looking at this table conjures up all sorts of great memories of our family.   The shells in the bowl are ones that we have actually collected at either South Padre Island or Galveston – two places not exactly known for good shelling.   You should only know how hard we worked to find those!!!!!   While we have jars and jars of tiny shells, these are the cream of the crop that we’ve found.    Ben and I can look through that bowl and remember where we found each shell and which summer it was.    Just glancing at the sand dollar on top, for instance, reminds us of that time in Galveston when Lizzy was in 8th grade and we were there with her then best friend Cori.  A huge storm blew through and dislodged  hundreds of shells from the dunes.  Later that afternoon I found five perfect sand dollars, a record for our family!   Hopefully one day Lizzy will tell her own children about that day, and all the other specials times we’ve shared together.    Because, that’s what it’s all about – making memories to smile about later on. 

 

 

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Ben, with eyes only for our daughter Elisabeth, holding her absolutely too adorable baby cousin Laine Wise. 

 

Wishing all the mothers out there a wonderful Mother’s Day!!!!  And a very special one to my own mother, Betty Rae, and my mother-in-law, Mary.

 

54 comments :

  1. Happy Mothers Day to You Too :)

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  2. love your story- my little mother's day notes are in the same vein. h.mother's d. to you. G

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  3. Beautiful and touching. THAT is what it's about!

    Happy Mothers day!

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  4. Making a memory is what families are all about. You have a beautiful family. Happy Mother's Day!!

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  5. JONI
    I love everyone of your posts.
    But this is just the sweetest glimpse into your own precious family.
    And happy mother's day to you too!
    Thanks for all the joy you bring to us 'out here.'

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  6. Hugs for a wonderful day, Joni!

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  7. Lovely. I almost tossed my shells which actually do have memories from Destin with the kids. I'll try a cake plate and a plate. Thanks so much for the idea and Happy Mother's Day.

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  8. Joni,

    Have a wonderful mother's day!

    What a dear pic of Ben, whose kind nature is evident.

    And Elisabeth is absolutely beautiful and even more so with that sweet child she is holding.

    Happy, happy day to you.

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  9. Joni, your daughter is beautiful, and how thoughtful of her to bring you the pretty peonies! (I enjoyed seeing that pretty vignette on your table too.) I have hunted shells at South Padre, and you are so right-they are hard to find, and you have some beauties. Happy Mother's Day! laurie

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  10. What a great picture. You can tell that's a Daddy's girl. I can't wait till I can find Peonies at the grocery store. They are my favorite. Happy Mother's day.

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  11. Happy Mother's Day to you Joni! Love that little vignette!

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  12. * Such sweetness ~ such lovely memories ~ such a beautiful family... how blessed you all are, Joni! Jim, "Belle" & I send you wishes for a beautiful MOTHERS DAY, full or NEW memory-making fun!

    XO, Linda in AZ *

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  13. Dear Joni...love the tenderness of this post.

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  14. Happy Mother's Day Joni! making precious memories with our loved ones is what it's all about!

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  15. Joni,
    Love the story and the photo of your home with collections from your trips- lovely memories!

    Happy Mother's Day!

    Michelle
    Zuniga Interiors

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  16. Joni,
    Love the story and the photo of your home with collections from your trips- lovely memories!

    Happy Mother's Day!

    Michelle
    Zuniga Interiors

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  17. What a great family you have, Joni. Have a wonderful day!

    –Lana

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  18. Happy Mother's Day, Joni! Thank you for sharing that. Now I, too, am off to find those shells that I've stashed away. Of course, we should surround ourselves with the things that remind us of those we love and the special times we've shared. Thank you for the reminder!

    Kerry

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  19. What a wonderful glimpse of your family..all of the love just shines. Thanks for the reminder to makegood memories and tokeep them available. Happy mother Day!

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  20. Happy Mother's day Joni...this is a very warm and touching post. Love it and you!!

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  21. Happy Mother's Day proud Mama!!

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  22. Happy Mother's Day to you!!! Your table is lovely and the photo of your daughter is absolutely precious!!!

    Have a wonderful weekend!!!
    Cathy

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  23. Peonies are one of my favorites and I agree with the unexpected surprise making it most special.
    Hope you're enjoying a special day with those you love.
    Happy Twirls

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  24. Hi Joni, What a sweet and tender post. Making memories are what it's all about, and they don't have to cost a dime. Have a wonderful Mother's Day.
    Kathleen

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  25. Beautiful post Joni! I cried writing my blog post for today. I think all of us mom's are relecting on our precious children today!

    Happy Mother's Day!

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  26. Happy Mother's day ! I hope you have a wonderful wonderful day!!

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  27. Happy Mother's Day, Joni!
    From what you have told me about your beautiful Elisabeth, you have so much to be proud of.
    You are both very lucky to have each other!

    xo
    Brooke

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  28. Happy Mother's Day, Joni! What a beautiful, thoughtful daughter you have. Hope you're enjoying your day :-)

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  29. You have a beautiful family Joni. Happy Happy Mother's Day!

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  30. Happy Mother's Day Joni, you have a lovely family!

    XX
    Victoria

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  31. Ahhhh .... Mothers .... how very special they are to us. Some are long past in far away abodes while others are very near at hand. We love them all and give thanks for their love, nurture and wisdom of which they patiently bestowed upon us. What a great day today is ... an opportunity to pay homage to all mothers for their GIFT of GIVING OF THEMSELVES.

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  32. A lovely poem by Kathy Moore to her mother Irene.

    BEAUTIFUL MY MOTHER


    BEAUTIFUL MOTHER
    JOYFUL HEART
    SPIRIT OF LIGHT
    IMPORTANT YOUR PART

    IN THIS WORLD
    A DIAMOND TO SHINE
    KISSED BY GOD
    BLESSED TO BE MINE

    THRU EACH ACT
    THRU EACH DEED
    SHAPE MY LIFE
    BY YOUR LEAD

    UPON THIS WORLD
    THERE WILL BE NO OTHER
    WHO COULD REPLACE YOU
    BEAUTIFUL--MY MOTHER


    BY KATHY MOORE

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  33. Thank you everyone!!!!!! Hope your day was wonderful too.


    thank you especially to all the ANONS!!!!!!!!!

    Joni

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  34. Happy Mother's Day Joni! You rock. I love listening to your voice!

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  35. Hope you had the best Mother's Day ever, Joni. Those peonies from Elizabeth are gorgeous, but the picture of your sweet daughter holding her adorable cousin with Ben looking on is priceless! Peonies came my way too, only mine are the kind of I have plant in my garden. So that's what I'm "fixin" to do here now. Getting on my gardening togs and clogs and going out to dig in the dirt. What more could a southern girl want? Hmmm...maybe a gardener to do it for me!

    ~ Victoria

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  36. Happy Mother's Day, Dear Joni!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  37. Joni,
    You are blessed....I hope you had a fabulous surprise, although I am with you, the peonies would be just enough.
    hugs....

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  38. A wonderful Mother's Day to you as well.
    My favorite shell is actually a worn piece of one I found on St Simons Island...it looks like a white rose petal. I keep it in a silver memory box.

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  39. Happy Mother's Day. I really enjoy reading your blog.

    I love the lamp with the Paris shade--do you remember where you found it?

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  40. happy Mother's Day, Joni!!!
    -Linda, NY

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  41. Happy Mother's Day to you!!!

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  42. I almost wanted to cry...just such a lovely and thoughtful post. Love the sentiment and memories of being together. (The West End in Galveston -- in winter time -- always proved to be the time to beach comb.....One blustery day (and it can get cold thanks to the Gulf wind!!), it was 'raining" sand dollars. No joke. Enjoy your week, -susan

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  43. I hope you had a wonderful weekend!! What a beautiful post about your lovely daughter and husband. xoxo

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  44. What a fun day that you deserved, i'm sure. 3 Wonderful gifts in that photo. Your husband's adoring smile, the giggly smile on your daughter & those yummy cinnamon rolls that everyone must want to nibble on!
    Thanks Joni for sharing.
    Lisa

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  45. The peonies are perfect as is the table! Hope you had a splendid Mother's Day with your family!

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  46. My husband bought me peonies and my daughter bought me roses. :) Hope you had wonderful day!

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  47. Joni, that is absolutely the sweetest picture ever of Ben and the girls. Look at his face! And look at Elisabeth's! That is a keeper for sure. The love in that photo is tangible.

    And I love the tablescape and all of the special things that are a part of it. And Elisabeth has certainly inherited her mother's good taste.

    She's a mighty blessed young lady to have a mother as special as you, and you are that!

    A belated Happy Mother's Day, Joni, from a friend who is as proud of you as a mother would be!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  48. ton blog est vraiment sublime magnifique , merci de nous faire voyager bravo

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