"...joy comes with the morning." -Psalm 30:5

I'll preface this post by saying I absolutely love my roommate. She's a God-send to me as a roommate and is such an encourager. When I have a bad day, she is there to listen. I walk into my bedroom at my house pretty often and find a little "happy treat" sitting on my bed, and without even looking at the card, I know who it's from. If you know her, you feel like you've met Jesus after being around her. I need to brag on her more than I do and show my appreciation to her more than I do.

However, yesterday, Jordan and I drove up to the house, and I heard a lawn mower. The gate to our fence was closed, so I did not think the noise was coming from our yard. Jordan and I went inside and started to prepare dinner (okay, I cannot lead you on to think I was actually cooking--preparing dinner consisted of warming some leftover barbecue up), and I looked at the window and saw the aforementioned, precious roommate cutting grass. I felt a little bad for her because I had only cut the grass a few days previous, but I was so thankful for her random act of kindness that I did not want to interrupt. So, she went on her way cutting grass, and I was looking out the window for a few moments. I turned my attention away from the yard, and as I turned it back to the yard, I realized my precious lilies had been "eaten" by the lawn mower. (I must note that the lilies did have blooms on them but had not bloomed, so they simply looked like tall grass or weeds.)

If you know me the least bit, you know I am two things--sentimental and emotional. I need to digress and give you some back knowledge on these lilies. Two summers ago was really tough for me, but I have a tendency to hide what I am feeling on the inside. Within a week, Jordan went on a mission trip, leaving with our relationship in lingo, and my sweet Grandmother was put into the hospital. There were no certainties that summer at all. My mom had given me these lilies, and they served as an outlet. My sister Morgan and I planted them and watered them diligently. They gave us a time to spend together and a way to channel our emotions into something that was bringing new life as opposed to all the seemingly dead (or sick) relationships around us. They helped me to cope with what was going on around me. They were also a gift from my mother, someone with whom I am very close.

When I saw the lilies gone, so many emotions surfaced, and I was not sure why. Although I was sad and even cried a bit, several neat things were seen. One, Jordan reassured me that tomorrow (which is today) he would take me to buy new flowers that I could plant. We have been talking about how I need a hobby and I have been enjoying working in the yard lately.

I was given the opportunity to think about my mother and all the things she has done for me and continues to do for me. She calls me every afternoon at 4:15 to see how my day has gone. She sends me random text messages throughout the day just to let me know she's thinking about me and loves me. She unselfishly loves my dad, my sister, and me. She's taught me how to put up with my dad and let him be himself, which has prepared me for Jordan. She's truly a mother, always taking care of everyone.

Also, I was able to think back to that summer, which immediately took me to memories of my precious Grandmother, which was very fitting as it was Mothers' Day. Just like my roommate mentioned before, my Grandmother loved life. Every person she came in contact with left a little happier. My dad put it this way the day she left us for a better place--"When a lot of love leaves, the world feels it." I cannot say it better than what my aunt's facebook status said yesterday--"So thankful for the memories of the greatest love a Mother could give her children!You were a most precious gift,My FIRST best friend...my teacher, my Christian educator, my best critic, my greatest cheerleader, my role- model, my Judson Sister, my musical mentor....my Mother!! I miss you so but no tears on this beautiful day!Your last grandchild graduated from Alabama yesterday well done good and faithful servant."