Grateful For Music Challenge Day 19

Song: Evergreen

Artist: Pentatonix

I find this song to be an absolutely, perfectly FITTING choice for today as it is my mother's birthday! 🥳

This song is the title track from Pentatonix's *BRAND NEW* Christmas/Holiday album Evergreen! This album is phenomenal! It definitely has a different vibe from their past holiday albums... it feels more "classical Christmas" even though several of the songs aren't necessarily Christmas specific songs (i.e. I Just Called to Say I Love You, The Prayer & My Heart With You) but their arrangements are phenomenal (just wait until I post their version of Over the River - GENIUS!! How they made that song sound so beautiful is a true testament to their talent!) and I love every track - as per usual.

This song is an original and it is one of the sweetest most heart-felt songs I have heard in a long time! I've gotten a little choked up more than once while listening to it. The first time I heard it I first thought of my grandmother. I've been reading her life history (as I recently mentioned here once before) and I'm just blown away learning more about her and her life experiences. I actually just read her account of when her husband, the grandfather I never knew, passed away. He was so young and it was such a tragic accident. I had tears streaming down my face! I cried for her, the loss of the love of her life, her companion and to be widowed so suddenly without a chance to say good-bye. I cried for my dad, who was so young and had to grow up without a father. I cried because I never got to meet the amazing man my grandfather was. Heck, I'm crying now! The way she reacted to this devastating news was with shock and grief (as is only natural) but also with an incredible amount of faith. One of the first things she did was kneel down in prayer, asking for the comfort of the Holy Spirit. I marvel at her strength. I wish I could have even a fraction of that faith and strength. I know she was devastated and had many dark moments and days but she got through it (after my grandfather's death she said she felt she could never be happy again. She recently shared with me that service was the secret to her eventual happiness where she could honestly say to herself "I am happy! Right now.") and was able to not only raise her 6 children still living at home but go on to get a master's degree, a job to provide for her family and still somehow manage to get a homecooked meal on the table every night. My dad always talks about the homemade bread, jams, desserts and meals he had growing up. She is my hero!

This song also makes me think of my own mother, who I celebrate on this day and who I dedicate this song to. She is the best wife and mother one could hope to have! I feel I don't deserve all that she (and my dad) have done for me. What they still do for me. The older I get the more I look back and marvel at how she did it all! How she maintained the energy and strength to care for so many young children and, like my grandmother, always have a homecooked meal on the table. Always be able to give us the best birthday parties (although they were nothing extravagant like you'd see on Pinterest these days - but we loved them!), how she made (and still makes) every Christmas so memorable and fun. She cried with and for me when we lost our dog. I felt her love in that excruciating moment, I knew she felt my pain. I am forever grateful because she never wanted a dog but she allowed us to get one because she knew it would make me happy! She has no idea how that generous, selfless act forever changed my life! She came to love him and did so much for him, especially in the past few years of his worsening health. All the vet appointments she went to with me, grooming appointments, comforting me when he had surgery a few years ago, she was always there and my biggest support and comfort! She would do anything for her family! Her love is truly evergreen. I also think about my mother's mother, my grandma, who passed almost 20 years ago. It was the first death of a close loved one I'd ever experienced, although I was so young it's hard to remember now. I know it's a pain my mom and her sisters still feel to this day. It's one you never really get over. She was also a strong, wonderful, beautiful woman who battled many health challenges her entire life but was still able to do so much for her family, her church and her community!

And of course I have to shout-out my step-grandmother who came into our lives and loved us as her own right away. Who takes such good care of my aging grandpa. Who's faith has sustained a difficult upbringing and challenging life. She is a gem! 

I have been so blessed to have such strong women in my family! I feel overwhelmed sometimes, like I will never be able to measure up to them, they've all set the bar so dang high! This song is dedicated to all of them, but especially my mom! I hope to be even half the woman she is one day. To have half the courage, love, humility, patience, faith and strength! My mother's love has truly given me everything that matters in life. 💛💛💛 I hit the jack-pot when it comes to mothers and families!

There is a box in the attic

We take it down each year

And pass through generations, lights and souvenirs

From the ones who came before us

The reason why we're here

Singing all these carols and spreading all this cheer

Don't forget, never lose

All the joy that's made for you

So come on, girl, let's sit by the fire

I want to tell you a story about my mother

How she would give up everything for her daughter's dreams

Yeah, a mother's love is evergreen

For all the weight she carried, she ain't tired

I spend my whole life trying to be more like her

So on every Christmas Eve

I thank my family tree

Yeah, a mother's love gave us everything

Oh, a mother's love is evergreen

There were hard times we struggled

She'd never let me see

Kept food on the table, and gifts under the tree

Now that I'm a little older, it isn't lost on me

The magic of tradition, and the memories we keep

So don't forget, as time goes on

All the joy is never gone

So come on, boy, let's sit by the fire

I want to tell you a story about my mother

How she would give up everything

For her little boy's dreams

Yeah, a mother's love is evergreen

For all the weight she carried, she ain't tired

I spend my whole life trying to be more like her

So on every Christmas Eve

I thank my family tree

Yeah, a mother's love gave us everything

Oh, a mother's love is evergreen

For all the weight she carried, she ain't tired

I spend my whole life trying to be more like her

So on every Christmas Eve

We gather round the family tree

Yeah, a mother's love gave us everything

Oh, a mother's love is evergreen

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA!! 

I LOVE YOU FOREVER! 💛

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!