Mothers May I

Happy Mother's Day!!

I know I paid homage to my two dads, so I'd like to take this special day to equally acknowledge my two mothers.

Although Swedish Mother's Day isn't for another couple of weeks, spring fever had me itching to share my favorite Mother's Day tradition with my lovely Swedish mother.  I made things subtle; scheming with the family members on the side.  Mette had the flowers, Lars was assigned to keep her unsuspecting, Vegard was asked to simply be there and I set my alarm clock to prepare for breakfast - in bed of course!  I made a puff pancake with berries on the side and Vegard and I delivered it to Eva's room this morning.  We went around quickly saying something we admired about her and I felt bubbly with anticipation for a good day.  

I looked around me at church and it was nothing more than any old day.  I guess that's what happens when you're the only one celebrating a holiday.  So it's true, our day was a little more normal than maybe it could have been.  Highlights: eating decadent chocolate dessert and going outside in a downpour.  Two of my favorite activities that I believe are indisputable to a good life. 

This morning we chose to share a couple things about Eva that we liked.  I chose to mention her honesty, for the following reasons.  Eva's honesty reaches to realms where I never knew there was even room for the opposite.  She's my biggest example of staying true to one's self and never compromising standards and beliefs in any situation.  Eva keeps everyone in the house grounded and realistic; something this day-dream prone brain of mine is lacking.  Most of all she has helped me learn about myself by asking all the right questions and making all the right points. 

The conversations I will remember the most are the ones I've had with Eva during my year.  She has a way of making me want to tell her all my secrets, wishes, desires and internal struggles, lay them all out on the table and ask her to solve the puzzle for me.  Her honesty will tell you what you need to hear.  Her insight will dig further than you thought you could.  Her wisdom will help you find the solution.  For me, a person with so many worries and dreams, we are a match made in heaven.  My host mom probably knows me better than most people within 8 months from our soul-searching conversations.  

Eva is well respected among her acquaintances and peers.  She watches out for her friends and harbors the tender parts of many people who have come to her in need of comfort.  It was my second day at the Landrö house and the first day I was alone since being in Sweden.  I will remember it as the hardest day of my entire exchange.  I was homesick and anxious for the solid 10 months ahead of me.  At exactly the right moment, Eva walks into the room with chocolate and comfort for me.  A woman who brings both chocolate and a listening ear is absolutely perfect.

A highlight of my day that I did not mention was my Skype session with my original mom.  What to say about Tomoko?  She's a firecracker my dad doesn't even come close to taming.  She is tenacious and sassy and opinionated to the core. Oh, did I mention stubborn as a rock?  She got it from her mother - crazy runs straight through the Shimoji women.  Wait around a couple years and I will start showing the symptoms :).  Nearly 30 years in the States has only coated her Japanese roots and values that helped shape our family to be like none other.  From her I learned how to serve and to devote my whole self to loving another person.  She doesn't always know quite how to express her adoration for you, so you have to keep your eye out for the tell-tale acts of love she sprinkles around you.

You will never meet a more complex woman with more tricks than her sleeves can fit.  I'm starting to understand the depth of her actions and words, although I can't hold my breath.  Take my word for it - there is no sweeter joy than being woken up in angry Japanese every morning.  It's not uncommon to find us curled up in her bed daydreaming together about any and everything.  Where Eva helps anchor me, my mother is the helium in my balloon.  She's either my biggest cheerleader or my biggest Facebook stalker, it's a tossup.  The woman practically invented social media stalking.  You can always find her (unless we are shopping) because she's the one with her nose behind a camera.  Tell her to put it down, I dare you.  I swear I grew up with a paparazzi!  My friends adore her, animals scare her, weird foods excite her.  All the same, I can't imagine a more unique and spirited mother to take me through old age (she's not going anywhere for another 50 years at least!)

This tells me I need more pictures with Eva!

Just a few pictures Vegard was kind enough to take today.  *Laughing with eyes closed*