Tomorrow is Mother's Day and I want to celebrate my Mom’s life and to thank her for just a few of the many qualities she has imparted to me.  First of all I want to thank my Mom for teaching me how to walk in the woods and enjoy the beauty of nature.  Because of my Mom I have learned to walk many places and have enjoyed the beautiful nature God has given us.  Thanks to my Mom I have hiked to the top of mountains and deep into great canyons and have seen many of God’s wonders.   

I want to thank my Mom for teaching me how to be creative and how to work with my hands.  My Mom taught me how to sew and how to do macrame.  Because of my Mom I started a business with my sister Pat and learned how to do many different arts and crafts and enjoyed a profitable and fulfilling career for many years.  I was able to teach others how to be creative.

I also want to thank my Mom for teaching me how to work and accomplish goals without giving up or getting discouraged.  I want to thank my Mom for teaching me how to give of myself and my time to others.  As a young child I remember taking meals to older persons and helping them with their housework.  I remember my Mom being a Girl Scout leader, an active member in our church and a teacher.  I remember my Mom making making more pies than anyone could count for church functions.  Even when she started forgetting things she still tried to tutor young children and encouraged them to learn.

Finally I want to thank my Mom for teaching me how to grow old gracefully - how to hold on to your independence as long as you can and when it finally becomes necessary to give up that independence; how to do it with grace.  She has shown me that you can be cooperative and cheerful even when you would rather be cranky and irritable.  Spending these last few years with my Mom has taught me that you can still live with dignity and spirit even when you can no longer feed or dress yourself.   Thank you Mom for being my Mom.