**UPDATE**
Congratulations to the winners of the birthday drawing! Your names are posted below. Watch your inbox for an email from Living Proof later today so that we can get you your gift!
BONUS: The wonderful people at AMG Publishers have extended a 50% discount to any of you who would like to order a Key Word Study Bible! Click here to get more information, or to order your Bible. AMG Publishers
Winners:
#523 – Carole Germain #4348 – Karen Quinn
#2282 – Merissa G. #4399 – Anna Bunch
#2321 – Marilyn Riley #4430 – Nancy Beeey
#2756 – Merissa Ury #4813 – Myrlene Darnell
#2876 – Beth Longar #5648 – Nan Smith
#3937 – Dani Turner #5798 – Rachel C.
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A few nights ago I walked my buck wild new puppy around my neighborhood, watched the sun sink deep down into the horizon, and then settled in back at home. I flipped on my favorite season of the West Wing and I ate an entire bag of tortilla chips and ¾ a jar of my favorite salsa for dinner. What is it they say again? The apple does not fall far from the tree. Or something like that?
You see when we were growing up Mom would throw us kids in the back of Brontosaurus the station wagon and haul us halfway across the city to her old favorite Tex-Mex joint. She ordered a pint of salsa and a gigantic grease-stained brown paper bag of tortilla chips for take-out and she would eat all of this and only this for her dinner. Her own dinner. I can’t remember what we kids even ate, or if she fed us at all. I’m only kidding about that last part.
My mom was born at high noon in a fierce thunderstorm, my grandfather said. Her presence still shifts the atmosphere. A few weeks ago Mom left for a week in the hill country for a time of writing and solitude. The second she got back home, I loaded up my stuff and headed out to spend a night with she and my Dad. You see, for me, going to hang out with my parents isn’t really like going to hang out with the parents. Far from duty, it’s one of my favorite things to do. We caught up on all the life stuff that night. And then in the morning we drank our coffee in our pajamas and by 8:30 a.m. at the latest we had already covered topics such as the theology in Ephesians, the New Testament canon, the Holy Spirit’s role in the interpretation of Scripture, and the Festal Letter of Athanasius.
I have to say, this woman utterly dazzles me. She is the sweetest in the land. She is gracious and sanguine and loving and kind, no doubt, but she is serious and intense and focused and courageous. She has opinions and perspective and boldness and wisdom from the ground like no other. For all her awesomeness she is not self-righteous or squeamish, and God knows I have pushed her limits.
Mom is deeply committed to our family and I’ve always known that full well but I’ve also seen that she’s preoccupied with something a whole lot bigger than us. Probably the most important thing I have learned from her is that being caught up in Jesus and what He is doing in the world is everything. It is the ultimate priority and a family committed to His work in the world will get the privilege of making sacrifices together.
Over the past few years in my own journey I found myself in an unknown place, a place where a heart could break deeper and wider and in more directions than I could have imagined possible. Mom has walked alongside me on this road further than any human could be expected to walk with another. She would have had good reasons to just sit out a while and catch her breath. But she never left my side. The road has been bumpy but also tedious and repetitive. When the landscape didn’t seem to change for a long, long time, she kept plodding along with me, carrying my burdens and helping me shoulder the grief that felt too much to bear.
Mom is tender and she is strong and she is not afraid to look pain and grief and loss dead in the eye. Even more, she is daring enough to hope against hope. To see in others, even me, the beginnings of life and growth and health and wholeness where others might only see brokenness and death. She has shined the light of Jesus on me more times than I can count.
She can fry a chicken and whip up mashed potatoes and gravy with the best of the Southern cooks. Her pleasures are simple: the reading of books, sitting on the front porch, walking her dogs in the woods, eating dinner with my Dad, playing games on the floor with her grandkids, and drinking tea with Amanda and me. But make no mistake she is wicked smart and complex and multifaceted. She is so much more than even the best caricature of her could ever hope to be.
I love her.
Yes, I love her. If one photo could capture the light and color she brings to my world, this is it:
It is my joy and honor to be her daughter and also to work for her at Living Proof. This blog giveaway is just one of many ways I celebrate her beautiful life today. The first three gifts are from Living Proof and the last two gifts are personal gifts from me.
First and foremost, we are giving away eight Key Word Study Bibles. My mom gave me one of these Bibles many years ago. It was one of the first Bibles I ever really remember being excited about. It helped me become familiar with various Greek and Hebrew words before I ever took a Greek or Hebrew reading class. Every time I read it I was reminded that the Scriptures we hold in our hands in English are a translation. Remembering this often is a good thing and will take a person a long way in the study of the Bible, I think.
![IMG_2993[4]](https://blog.lproof.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/IMG_29934.jpg)
Second, we are giving away an assortment of several pounds of favorite Houston coffee beans. My mom is a serious coffee drinker, so this is just an obvious addition. This package will include but not be limited to one of my current favorites:
Third, we are giving away an arrangement of fresh flowers Mom loves. And, really, who wouldn’t like these?
Fourth, we are giving away a crossbody saddlebag. Mom and I both carry versions of this crossbody bag over and over again until one breaks and we have to buy another one.
Fifth and finally, we are giving away a small bottle of Flowerbomb. Mom wears lots of different perfumes, but she most often travels with this one.
So, if you’re interested in our giveaway please do pop on and say “Happy Birthday” and show Mom some love. Your comment becomes your entry into our random drawing. Comments will officially close 24 hours after the post is published, and please only one comment per person. The names of our winners will be posted at the top of this post at some point on Thursday.
I hope you all are happy and well.
And, Mom, I love you!
The best is yet to come,
Melissa
Happy Birthday, Siesta Mama! You are so loved!
Happy, Happy Birthday Beth. May your life be blessed far beyond how much you bless our lives. You are truly one of God’s precious daughters and so faithful to Him. Thank you for being who you are.
Happy Birthday, Beth!! May this day be full of all your favorite things, including a big bag of fresh tortilla chips!
Precious post. Big lump in my throat.
Blessed birthday, Miss Beth.
Dear Beth, have a wonderful birthday. You are such an inspiration to us all.
Dearest Siesta Mamma: Happy Birthday just ain’t enough! But, we just finished homeschooling, and my brain refuses to engage! So HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Praying happiness, love, joy, laughter, and LOTS of cake and coffee!!
Happy Birthday Beth! Thank you for making the scirptures come alive in my life over the last 10 years of doing your studies! You are such a blessing to women!
Happiest of birthdays, Beth. About twenty years ago, when you were still personally answering your mail I wrote and requested a copy of a poem you had written and used in one of your Bible studies. A couple of years later, at Ridgecrest, I was privileged to sing that poem that I had set to music. That poem still speaks to me almost 20 years later.
Thank you for your sweet obedience to our Lord.
Happy Birthday! God bless you!!!
Wishing you a day filled with showers of blessings from the Good Lord above! Happy, Happy Birthday Beth! I love you!
Kim
Happy birthday, dear Beth! God has used you mightily in my walk with him!
Happy Birthday Beth! God has blessed all of us with you. To be able to watch your videos and read your books bring a smile to my heart. Thank you for letting God use you to bless many! I hope you have a wonderful birthday! Sister loved by God :-)!
Marlene
Happy Birthday sweet Beth!! May you be blessed beyond measure today and in the year to come.
Happy Birthday Beth! I pray for many more years for you to continue the amazing work God has set before you. Cheers!
Beth, I got to sing “Happy Birthday” to you in Tampa this past weekend with 7,000 other ladies. SO FUN! So, Happy Birthday, again! It took everything I had to stay seated on the floor during the Siesta meeting and not jump up and give you a big hug! Wishing you the happiest of birthdays filled with the people you love, the blessing of our great God, and lots of delicious coffee. Drinking a cup for you, friend. 🙂 Love you!!!
Happy birthday Beth! May your birthday be filled with as many blessings as you have been to the world!
Happy birthday Beth! Have a beautiful day☀️
Happy, Happy Birthday, Miz Beth!! You are our favorite Siesta! You and your writing are a constant blessing. Hope your day is awesome! 🙂
Oh happy birthday to Beth…the woman. the myth. the legend 🙂
Happy Birthday Beth…I know reading that beautiful commentary on your life by your own daughter has to be the best gift of all. God bless you…
Happy Birthday Beth! Thank you for being a reflection of God’s grace and God’s love.
What a beautiful tribute!!! Happy birthday!!!!
Well, now that Miss Melissa’s post has got me all teary-eyed, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MS. BETH!! It was such a joy attending LPL-Tampa and singing Happy Birthday to you with thousands of other women. You and your studies have been such a blessing in my life, and it’s beautiful to see your daughter rise up and call you blessed. I hope you just have the best day and all the fun and love!
Celebrating your birthday! You look great for 29!;-) May God continue to bless you and keep you under His wing. Happy birthday!
Blessings and blessings being sent your way Beth! Happy, happy birthday and many thanks for being so real in front of all of us. You have helped so many of us grow stronger in our daily walks with our amazing LORD!
Ginger
Wetumpka, AL
Happiest of birthdays Miss Beth!!! We love you so much!
Happy Happy Birthday Ms. Beth … oh how you are appreciated !
Happy Birthday Beth! God bless you!
Happy Birthday, Beth! We love you! Thank you so much for your ministry!
Happiest of birthdays! Your family is a blessing! 🙂
Her children arise and call her blessed! Proverbs 31:28 (ESV)
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
Thank you Melissa for this wonderful tribute and gift to your mom and all of us! You may have just given her one of the best gifts of life: LOVE and RESPECT and HONOR before our LORD and the world! True Communion and True Love lived out for the world to see and believe ! John is reality for those who seek to Live Jesus!
Thank you so very much. ALL JOY and BLESSING OF THE LIVING KING TO YOU AND YOURS! MAY YOURS BE A HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY of HAPPY BIRTHDAYS that each year builds with joy and satisfaction in our LORD with the family He gave you individually and HIs Body! All Glory to the King Eternal. Thank you for who you are on and off the stage! Thank you Jesus! Jude Doxology
24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
I pray this for you, bc of your long ago request. He has you and how grateful we all are for you. Happy Days to you all!
What a beautiful post to honor your mom! Happiest of birthdays Beth!! You are an inspiration to those that love the Lord! Thank you for all you do for so many of us!!
Happy Birthday – God has blessed you with wisdom and you use it wisely – have enjoyed your work and videos and will continue to utilize your work! Thank you!
Beautifully written post. Happy birthday!
Oh Mama Beth – happy happy birthday to you. You are loved and cherished and so much more. Thank you for investing in all of our lives and hearts and eternities. You are a treasure! Love you!!!!Oh mama bath happy happy birthday to you. You are loved and cherished and so much more. Thank you for investing in all of our lives and hearts and eternities. You are a treasure!
Happy Birthday Beth, you have no idea how you have affected my life. May you have many many more Birthdays!!!
Happy Birthday Beth! May today be filled with lots of love!
Happiest of Birthdays! May it be wonderful!
Happy Birthday Beth!! Have a blessed day!
Happy Birthday! You are a beautiful gift from the Lord!!! I hope you have a blast on your birthday with plenty of smiles and laughter!
Have a FABULOUS Happy Birthday!!
Happy Birthday Beth! Thank you for being a blessing to so many women!!
Happiest of birthdays to you!! We’ll continue the celebration when you are here in Greenville, SC next month!!
Happy Birthday, to one of my favorite godly women! Thanks for letting God lead you to compose all your wonderful studies!! Many blessings on your year ahead!!!!
Happy Birthday!!! Many blessings wished for you on this very special day!! Many God continue to richly bless you as you have blessed me! <3
Happy Birthday Beth!
Happy Birthday Beth ~ You’ve been a blessing in my walk with Jesus and I wish you many years of blessings.
Happ, Happy Birthday, dear Beth!! Thank you for pouring your heart into ministering more Jesus to us! I pray you feel Him singing over you today!!
Happy Birthday, Beth!
Thank you for your faithful work for God’s kingdom. Your teaching has blessed me so many times. I pray you have a wonderful day!
Happy Birthday Ms.Beth!! I praise God for your life!!
Happy birthday to Beth! And what a wonderful post, Melissa. So lovely.