What are you getting your mothers for Mother's Day?

Friends,

I have great news! Mother will be returning this weekend from a nearly two months of isolation at the family's estate in Mississippi. To celebrate, Uncle is taking us on what he called, "A mystery weekend vacation somewhere in the South." I'm so excited, and perhaps, like Jesse, so scared, at the same time. Normally these trips include flying, precluding the need to cross bridges. Mother, however, has said she does not feel safe flying yet, so this will be a road trip.

Mother's Day is perhaps the most important day in the calendar after Easter and Christmas. In a top ten list of best holidays, it would jostle with Mardi Gras, Maundy Thursday, and Tom Fitzmorris' birthday, which sometimes falls on Mardi Gras, but usually does not. In our house, holidays are great celebrations, and Mother's Day is perhaps the biggest celebration of them all, after Christmas.

I wish I had more time to write, my dear friends, but I am preparing and packing. The excitement is intense. I haven't felt this excited since Kate Upton confessed her love to me in a Twitter tweet in 2010 or 2011. Old timers here can verify if you doubt.

Most of you will be expecting a top ten, so I am hastily composing this one, just as bounce from wall to wall waiting for them to arrive so that we can leave. They are on the road now! Here are just ten suggestions for Mother's Day gifts. I hope you will make your own list and share them with us.

TulaneLSU's Top 10 Mother's Day gift ideas:

10. Deep cleaning of the house

9. Flowers from Walmart. I prefer the type you can plant, so that your gift continues beyond the week of Mother's Day.

8. Jewerly from Aucoin Hart or Adler's.

7. A copy of TulaneLSU's Advent Journey, which will be available to keen adventurers in late November/early December during our annual Advent scavenger hunt before the Christmas caroling and hot chocolate party.

6. A new Bible

5. A new copy of the 1928 edition of The Book of Common Prayer

4. Compose a poem for your mother. fr33manator perhaps would be available for commissioned poems. If you are a musician, perhaps composing a piece of music for her or in her honor this weekend.

3. Christopher Radko Christmas ornaments

2. A commissioned family or dog portrait. Reed Chappell and Camille Barnes do sturdy work in New Orleans. For those on a tighter budget, there are websites that offer this service. Your window for getting one this year is closed, but now is the time to plan for next year.

1. A story book. If you have today and tomorrow free, you could compose a book of all the good and wonderful stories you have of your mother in your life. This would be priceless to her and could serve, in part, as a family history. Although it would probably take about a month to get it to publication through self-publishing, a first draft of loose papers would still mean so much to your mother.


God's grace and blessings be upon you, my dear friends! May all of your mothers know your gratitude and love this weekend and always. Give her your time, attention, and kindness.

Faith, Hope, and Love,
TulaneLSU