HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO MY MOM!

I am truly blessed beyond words to be born to my mother! She is a gift that keeps on giving. My purpose in life is to be a mother and grandmother to my children as my mother has been to me.

Mother and me at my wedding in 1976.

She gives of herself to her family and friends. She is the most beautiful lady, inside and out. This is my favorite picture of mother. John has the picture at his house.

She gave so much of herself to her students. She was the "National Adult Education Teacher of the Year" and received her award in Canada. In this picture, then Governor Clinton of Arkansas, is recognizing her for her award.  Her mother, my 2-mama, was also at her side. Jack is behind 2-mama and Linda Pinkus is to the right side.

On any beautiful or dreary day you will find her at a grandson's ballgame. My family lives five hours away from her but she did not miss many of my son's' ballgames. I can remember more times than I want to count the Thursday's or Friday's she drove five hours to watch Brent or Shane play and then many times she had to drive right back home on the same day. That's the kind of sacrifices my mother makes.

 Mother has travelled the world with her family. She and Brent climbed the Great Wall of China in 1999. She has never met a stranger and on this trip it was no different. She became friends with our guides and they fell in love with her. Especially when she preferred to just go shopping instead of touring "another temple because if you've seen one, you've seen them all."

 When William was little he wanted to go horse back riding in Colorado. I am scared of horses so I told him "no." Mother isn't fond of animals either but she didn't want her grandson to miss out on an opportunity so she went with him. This is one of my favorite pictures because it shows how giving mother is. This was strictly for her grandson.

 There are not many grandmothers who will bake bread for 15 months and mail to Iraq. Mother was known in Shane's group as "Nana" and his fellow troops still talk several years later of "Nana's bread." I joke with her that she fed an Army, which she did! She attended Shane's basic training graduation at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Nana has been baking bread now for a year and mailing to Afghanistan.

Mother is the ultimate mother to John, Sancy, and me.   

I love you, Mother. I hope I am half the mother and grandmother that you are. Words can not express what you mean to me. I have learned how to live life with no regrets and understand the importance of family. Most of all, you have taught me faith, value, honesty and integrity. When I do something and without thinking and say "Oh my gosh, I've turned into my Mom" my next thought is "Thank you, Lord."

Thank you Mother.