Happy Mother's Day*

CAROL WELCH

My mom was born the youngest of 8 in St Joseph, Il. Her family wasn't well off, so my mom never got the opportunity to purse an education past high school. I know my mom too of work when I was born, but I cannot remember a time when she didn't work.

My mom started in banking as a teller. I saw her work hard and slowly ascend the corporate ladder becoming Vice President. She was part of a core group of people that opened a new bank in Champaign, Il.

I never had any negative feelings about my mom working. In fact, I cannot imagine my mom not working. It is part of who she is. I don't know if she will ever retire.

In my life my mom has taught me a lot. She has taught me practical things like how to cook or do my own laundry, she wanted to raise a son that could be independent. Through her life she also taught me the value of a honest days work, of perseverance and the importance of education, both in and out of the classroom. She taught me that a strong, working woman can also be a great mom.

I am thankful for my mother. For everything my mom taught me. But most of all I am thankful she is my mom.

VALERIE WELCH

My wife is an amazing woman. She is beautiful and smart and loving and funny and my best friend. I cannot imagine any one else I would rather travel through this life with.

She is a wonderful mother. The way our life has played out she has been the bread winner for our family. I am thankful for the sacrifices she makes everyday for me and the kids.

She is a wonderful doctor, loved by her patients. I cannot tell you how many times someone found out I was her husband and told me how much they love her. The truth is she would also be a great stay at home mom. Some days I feel guilty that I cannot give her the same opportunity to experience what she had provided for me.

So on this Mother's Day I am thankful for my bride, my partner, my best friend and above all, the wonderful mother to our two boys.

*Yes, this is a day late. Monday is my blog update day, and while I had this written on paper I was too busy enjoying Mother's Day with my family to get it online.

Photo Credits: Cooper Welch

Noah built an arky, arky, later he got drunky, drunky

If you haven't heard Noah's Ark has been in the news

Whether you are a Christian or not, whether you've ever stepped foot in church or not, you probably know the basics of the Noah story. And you've likely seen pictures of a happy, smiling Noah pained in church nurseries and kids rooms.



But let's look at the story of Noah. It only takes 6 chapters in Genesis to get creation from "It was good" to God being sorry he had ever made anything.


"So the LORD said, "'I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.'" - Genesis 6:7

So God has Noah build a big boat, take his family and a bunch of animals and it starts to rain. Now imagine not only having to live in a floating zoo for a month and a half, but everyone you ever knew is drowning outside. I mean really imagine that. Everyone you ever said "Hi" to on the street. The kid you saw playing with a stick. The mother nursing her newborn. All of them drowning outside your door. After a week or so these bodies would likely start floating to the surface. Besides the stink of living in a zoo a sea of dead bodies floats around you.

And what does Noah do once the waters recede? He plants a vineyard. He makes wine. He gets drunk and naked. (Genesis 9:20-21)

While being a flood victim obviously sucks, maybe being a flood survivor kinds sucks as well.

So the next time you are considering decorating your kids room, think about Noah, but maybe don't make him look quite so happy.