9-13-04: My dear mom passed away early this morning very tragically. I am so blessed to have had her in my life for 48 years. I will always love you, mama!!!!!

5-23-99: Mom is back home now, by the way -- nearly a year now. I created this page in May 1997!!!!

5-17-98: Every day is mother's day to me, so I am leaving this page up in honor of my mom!!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

To all of you moms out there, whether you are a mom-mom, a godmother-mom, a grandmother-mom, an aunt-mom, or a friend-mom, I wish you the happiest of Mother's Days and all the best in years to come!

This page is dedicated to my mom, Ellen, and all of my pseudomoms (Aunt Jean, Nanny Linda, Dorothy, and Margaret) and my children's pseudomoms (Betty, Mildred, Belle, Ann, and Donna), and in loving memory of my mawmaw, (Camilla)!

Just what is a mother? One can always look up the definition in a dictionary, but to me, being a mom means so many different things. Being an adopted child, my mom did not give birth to me. So, needless to say, giving birth does not a mother make. I firmly believe this title is one that is earned and not just given. A mom is a friend -- a best friend, your caretaker and caregiver, your sounding board, the one person who will always be there for you and always love you no matter what. Through thick or thin, mom will be right by you and will never fail you.

I have been quite blessed in my lifetime -- I have the best mom in the whole wide world :-) I also had the wonderful pleasure of having the best "mawmaw" in the whole wide world -- regretfully, she passed away over 20 years ago. If those two weren't enough, I've been extremely blessed to have a great godmother, a wonderful aunt (my godmother's mom) who is so much like my mom (her sister), and two wonderful older friends who have been like moms to me :-)

My own mother is my right arm, per se. She's my strength and yet she's my weakness. I'm glued to her :-) With her being so far away this Mother's Day, it's painful for me; but I know she's in my heart and I am in hers. I came so close to losing her a few years ago when we found out she had breast cancer; and I thank God every minute of every day that I can pick up the phone and call her, despite her having moved so far away from here.

Since I have become a mother, I see so much of my mom in me. It's funny to think that when I was younger I thought my mom didn't know what was best for me and now I am teaching my kids the same values she taught me. I only hope that my kids will treasure me as much as I treasure my mom :-)

FLOWER OF LOVE...for my mom

Someone might receive a bouquet of lovely flowers to brighten one's day.

I received one beautiful flower to brighten my life.

My flower was given to me early in life.

As I grew, she stood beside me.

My flower was always with me.

When I learned to walk, she walked along with me.

Even when I would fall, her petals were ready to lift me.

My flower helped me to make the right choices.

My flower showed me the Christian path she tread for me to follow along.

When I would cause my flower to wilt,

She always was filled with a scent of forgiveness.

When I was weak, my flower always kept her petals open with a strong stem to lean on.

My flower has always been and will be forever a living part of me,

because I came from her petals and she stays in my heart.

My mother is truly a flower of love!!!

(author unknown)

MAMA IS HER NAME..for my mom

Who bore the pain to raise us right?

Who pulled us close and held us tight?

Who rocked us fast to sleep at night?

Mama is her name!

Who had a sweet and loving way?

Who nurtured us from day to day?

Who taught us how to kneel and pray?

Mama is her name!

Who worried most when we were gone?

Who waited for us all night long?

Mama is her name!

Who has a young and pretty face?

Who has a soft and warm embrace?

Who can never be replaced?

Mama is her name!

(author unknown)