Description
Book SynopsisIf you are a mom, want to be a mom, know a mom, or have a mom, this inspirational book is for you! With humor and candidness, Ann Van De Water shares her personal experiences of motherhood by giving glimpses of her journey in the form of short read-and-run anecdotes that will have you laughing out loud one minute and tearing up the next!
Ann takes you step-by-step through her own adventures, from realizing her ob-gyn went to her church and finding out she was pregnant with her first to her hysterectomy, launching her youngest off to college, and facing the dreaded empty nest with bucket list in hand—and everything in between—she leaves few stones unturned.
Her transparency gives you permission to admit to your own imperfections and laugh with her as you recognize yourself in the tales she tells. Learn from her mistakes and rejoice with her as she sees God’s hand of blessing in her life as a wife and mother!
You will appreciate the short stories that can be devoured quickly and the humor she brings to each situation in turn. You will come away with the reminder to take yourself less seriously and enjoy a good laugh every day. However, have a box of tissues on hand as well.
Many of us have “been there and done that.” Enjoy Ann’s memories of her mommy moments! Come be reminded of what an honor and privilege it is to partner with God in the best career out there—being a mom!
Trade Review""Reading Ann’s book was like dipping my cup into a well of stories filled with the authentic trials and triumphs of motherhood. Thank you, Ann, for allowing the reader to peek beyond the veil of your experience so we can better appreciate our own. What an encouragement!""
-Jill Kelly, Mom, Speaker, Author of
Without a Word ""Ann Van De Water is an exceptional woman of God. Her outgoing and bubbly personality is infectious. She has a unique ability to relate to women of all ages. Her book is full of real-life anecdotes that will have you laughing one minute and tearing up the next. Ann knows what it is like to be a “real” mom and her audience will be blessed by her honesty and wisdom.""
-Michelle Borrello, Current Director of Preschool, Wesleyan Church of Hamburg
""There is nobody quite like Ann Van De Water. Her wonderful blend of humor, common sense and spiritual insight have made her beloved by many. No woman has loved her husband or children better. Her priorities of God, family and others have yielded beautiful fruit--in her own family and in many other couples and families. In these vignettes of her mothering experiences, she relates real life “in the trenches,” and she faces it all with teachability, tenderness, practicality and joy. She’s the real deal---with wisdom to share.""
-Sue McClain, Former Teacher/Pastor’s Wife
""What a refreshing view of motherhood! From the early season of diapers and drooling to the process of sending her young men off to their own adventures with a purpose and prayer, Ann Van De Water has captured the essence of motherhood. Enjoy walking through her world with stories that illustrate that armed with a sense of humor and the wisdom of scripture, motherhood is a true joy for those who are brave enough to embark on the journey. Ann’s humor is reminiscent of Erma Bombeck and her attitude demonstrates that Christ is the solid rock on which she stands.""
-Krista Schwartzott, MOPS Coordinator
""Ann’s book is a “LOL” book! The sincerity about her hectic life as a mother of three boys shows us that it is okay to laugh at ourselves, admit to our imperfections and learn from them...all with God’s help. Ann is a role model for other mothers to look up to because she allows Jesus’ light to shine through her.""
-Karen H., MOPS Coordinator
Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION: “I Want to be the Perfect Mom”
1 My OB-Gyn. Goes To My Church
2 Braxton Hicks: Is That A Department Store?
3 Cabbage Rolls and Comedies
4 Look At The Mess You Made
5 What, No Instruction Manual?
6 He Is So A Newborn
7 Bawling With The Baby
8 Afternoon Delight Or Not
9 Smack Him Again And Put Him Back
10 I Have A Hegg-ache!
11 A Forehead Embedded With Broccoli
12 A Light Snack And Ipecac
13 The Cousins And The Cornmeal
14 You Haven’t Lived Until You’ve Experienced Projectile Vomiting
15 Marky Ate It (Proof Of The Existence Of Original Sin)
16 Do Worms Have Tonsils? And Other Earth Shattering Questions
17 “Letting Down” In Public
18 Pink Gorillas And The Fountain Of Youth
19 Creamed Herring, Gun Cleaning Solvent And An Easter Lily
20 A Broken Ankle And Humble Pie
21 Another Dangly: God Is In Control
22 The Vacation From Hell
23 A Book, A Bowl, A Wooden Spoon And A Tape Deck
24 Leftovers For Hubby
25 My Little Spaceman
26 Your Boss Saw My Dirty Underwear
27 Fake Teeth And Eyeball Divots
28 Remaking The Bed
29 I Love You This Much And Even More
30 I Know What You Did
31 Boys Will Be Boys
32 The Daddy Toll Booth
33 A No-Thank-You Helping And Clean Bread
34 I’m Going to Kill You And Other Words You Can’t Take Back
35 I Want To Change My Name (Time Out For Mommy)
36 The Farm In Pennsylvania
37 There Was A Forest On Our Lawn And Now A Fireman Is In Our Den
38 Marshmallow Wars (The Soft Side Of Healthy Aggression)
39 String Bean Battles (The Art Of Not Taking Yourself Too Seriously)
40 Sundaes For Dinner On Tuesday?
41 A Ringside Seat At The Van De Water-RK Boxing Match
42 Spider Webs And Alka Seltzers
43 That Didn’t Hurt! (The Fine Line Between Discipline And Abuse)
44 That Hurt (The Trials Of Being A Sports Mom)
45 Deer Hearts For Science Smarts
46 The LEGO Prince And His Mom
47 Hockey Shots Before The Bus Stops
48 My Mother, My Mentor
49 I Wanna Be Like My Daddy
50 I’m Cold So Put On A Coat
51 My Face Behind The Sponge And My Butt In A Shopping Cart
52 They’re Called Chores For A Reason
53 What Part Of “NO” Don’t You Understand?
54 The Front Of The Bus, The Top Of The Class
55 A Race Around The Pond To Make The Bus
56 Momma Bear And The Shifty Chaperone
57 Too Little Time To Just Be A Kid
58 Just Wait Until They Hit High School
59 Please Don’t “Woo-Hoo” At My Concert
60 Your Mother’s Wearing A Banana On Her Head
61 No One Can Fill Your Shoes Or Find Them
62 Ben-Meister: The Trouble With Nicknames
63 All I Want Is Loving You And Music, Music, Music
64 Full Circle In Colorado Springs
65 The Food Inspector General
66 Passing The Baton
67 Leaving His Mark
68 A Tearful Farewell
69 Hamburg Honey From Ben’s Bees
70 A Long Overdue Note Of Thanks
71 The Three Musketeers (The Importance Of Brother Bonds)
72 Advice From The Bros: Never Drive With Mom
73 Measuring Up
74 No Thank You TV
75 The Supermarket Flyer Ad In Song And Spanglish To Make Us Cringe
76 Take It All In Before They’re All Gone
77 Fear Factor In Real Life
78 Sometimes The NO Is As Important As The YES
79 Hugs At The Kitchen Sink
80 A Ring Bouquet At Sunrise And I Love You Because
81 In Three Weeks, In California, Go Buy a Dress
82 All I Want Is Loving You and Music, Music, Music (The Reprise)
83 Uterus-less In Buffalo (The Finality Of It All)
84 CONCLUSION: Nobody’s Perfect
A MOTHER’S MEMORIES, Precious Pictures
About The Author
