This past Wednesday was my mom's birthday. She turned somewhere between 55 and divine perfection. I drove the 4 hours home to Maryland to surprise her and we had a nice, quiet few days. There was a fancy dinner, some sofa snuggling, ice cream and an incident with her birthday candle being blown out in an untimely manner. She got a do-over.
Mama Merrick is really the heart of our family. She smiles at strangers and pats puppies. She's honest, reflective and aware. She's compassion personified. She hugs with reckless abandon. I dug up this old photo of her riding bareback with my sister and I think it really says it all.
Mama Merrick is really the heart of our family. She smiles at strangers and pats puppies. She's honest, reflective and aware. She's compassion personified. She hugs with reckless abandon. I dug up this old photo of her riding bareback with my sister and I think it really says it all.
Love the photo. I hope my babies feel the same way about their photos with me when they're older. What a doll you were to surprise your mama on her special day! :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful picture of your mother & sis. She sounds like an amazing woman.
ReplyDeleteAll your posts and all your photos are so poetic..It's always a lovely surprise to see a new one!
ReplyDeleteHappy belated birthday to your beautiful mother!
Holy gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely adore that photo. That is the mother I want to be.
ReplyDeletep.s. You are my biggest inspiration. Thank you.
I really love all the thoughtful tributes you make to individual members of your family. Nearly everybody I know has a "I sure wish I would have told [fill-in-the-blank person] how much I loved/appreciated them while I could" story (including myself), and I just think it's fantastic that you do so on such a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteYou have a wonderful mother! This photo is so full of love!
ReplyDeletebeautiful photo. beautiful post.
ReplyDeletewow, your mom is so lovely :) sounds lovely too. that is such a sweet picture... happy belated to her!
ReplyDeleteThis is genuinely lovely.
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful
ReplyDeleteYour Mum sounds like an inspirational person
Happy birthday to your mom! My mom just turned 55, too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post. Your mother is lucky to have two loving daughter like you and your sister.
ReplyDeleteTo know know know her
ReplyDeleteis to love love love her
and we do, and we do
and we do.
oh how beautiful!
ReplyDeletemothers are simply the best.
xx
what a lovely tribute. happy birthday to your beautiful mama!
ReplyDeleteI've only read about your mother on your blog and I love her. Your tributes to her are always so touching.
ReplyDeleteI love your family. I just do. The love you express for your home life, upbringing and family is enviable. And I envy it!
ReplyDeleteshe sounds like a great mama. and so so beautiful!
ReplyDeletevery cool. what part of maryland? i grew up in ellicott city. did my undergrad at College Park.
ReplyDeletewow you look just like your mom :)
What a beautiful photo, you are right, it says it all.
ReplyDeleteHello! I am Michael TheMonkey! Lets be friends! Follow me on http://travelwithmichael.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet photo!
ReplyDeleteJust a little note to say I love your blog. Your writing and photography is just beautiful. So clean, and unpretentious. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteI read your anniversary too, and as a fellow owner of quirky appendages just want to say thank you :)
Cx
tracesofmagic.blogspot.com
All the photos of your mom look like model shots out of McCall magazine in the '70s... how cool is THAT?
ReplyDeleteYour mom's smile is just glorious. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post and tribute to your Mom! xo Samantha
ReplyDeleteOh, Happy Birthday Mama Merrick!
ReplyDeletewonderful! and touching as usual :)
ReplyDeletei'm from maryland too.
The description of your mom's age truly brought tears to my eyes. I pray my children will describe me that way one day, even if they aren't as eloquent. Something to aspire to! Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteOMG just beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photo. Your mom looks like a supermodel.
ReplyDeleteHow much do I love Mama Merrick? SO MUCH.
ReplyDeleteAnd as the picture loaded really slowly from top to bottom I was like, no WAY is she on a horse. Yup, she's on a horse. A sweet little chestnut mare named Nutmeg, I bet.
She is such a sweet and beautiful lady !
ReplyDeleteaw happy birthday to her! She sounds amazing, and this picture is so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteHaha, Lily. My family would adore you. I think the Stockmans and the Merricks would be thick as thieves.
ReplyDeleteThe horse's name is Max, short for Maximilien Robespierre. He had a bit more bite than a nutmeg would :)
so beautiful the way you speak about your mom. i hope my daughter will feel the same about me when she is older :)
ReplyDeleteYou are so very lucky to have a Mom of her caliber. My mom had five kids and truly never should have been a mom. Some people just aren't cut out for it. I always envey women who have good relationships with their Moms.
ReplyDeletejust gorgeous, I'm officially heart-warmed!
ReplyDeleteoh my god!!!
ReplyDeleteyour post is great!!!
love your style!
follow u
xx =D
Happy Birthday to your mom! Yes, this is a sweet, loving photograph of your sister and mom together.
ReplyDeleteYou are all so sweet!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your birthday wishes.
But perhaps we have this backwards... it is I who is sooooo blessed to have my unique and wonderful daughters.
Amy and Micha are my inspiration.
My mirror and my window.
It was they who taught me how to be a mother. How to live and love!
She looks so much like you (or rather.. vice versa?) in this photo. Moms are awesome.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to your beautiful mom. You make me miss me mom even more.. :(
ReplyDeleteyou didn't mention how pretty she is. Happy belated Birthday Mumma Merrick!
ReplyDeleteyour posts are so beautiful. thanks for sharing your talent with words with us and the beauty of the everyday.
ReplyDeleteeverytime i read a post about your mom i inevitably think the same thing. i hope and hope and hope that roxie feels the same way about me one day.
ReplyDeleteLovely. :)
ReplyDelete