Have You Met My Mother?

Throughout the past five years, I have written a bit about my mother. I sometimes post pictures of her sharing wonderful moments with our family. Yet, I don't know that I have ever actually introduced you to the most amazing woman I have ever known...my mom.

This is my mother.

Isn't she beautiful???

Inside and out.

My mother's name is Margaret.

My dad called her Queenie.

Isn't that the best?

My mom is the most giving person I know.

Seriously.

She finds joy in doing for others.

And she never...never...expects anything in return.

There was a time in her life when my mother cared for four generations of family.

She cared for her mother, who she loved deeply, my father, the love of her life, my sisters and myself, as we gave birth and brought home babies, and her grandchildren, whom she loves more than anything.

When I say she cared for all of us, I mean it. 

She drove my grandma to appointments, fed her in the nursing home, helped my father with his business, made sure he took his medicine and had a good meal every night. She ironed my clothes and mopped my floors...even emptied my cat's litter box when I was pregnant. And she happily stayed with me after the births of all my children...cooking, cleaning, getting kids off to school.

It is not just that she DID these things.

She did them with total love and happiness in her heart.

She is the most selfless person I will ever know.

I have never heard my mom speak badly of anyone.

She has a heart incapable of that.

She is simply a good person.

She tells us that the happiest time of her life was raising her girls.

I have so many wonderful memories of that time.

I remember her piling us into her Jeep and driving us to our summer vacation home.

We had an eight track tape called High Energy we used to listen to the entire way.

She still remembers that!!!

In high school, she welcomed all my friends into our home for hot chocolate after football games, and taco making parties every weekend.

My mom looks beautiful in the color green.

She loves cereal with fruit for breakfast, and sometimes for dinner too.

My mother watches cowboy movies on Sundays, and loves to sit on the beach.

Some of my most favorite memories are of my mom and Madison chasing birds on the beach.

I remember when Madison was little...

Waking up at the beach to find a note in my mom's distinctive handwriting:

Down at the beach with Madison!

Mom!

My mother is eighty years old.

But she is so young in her heart.

She is so in touch with all things new and hip.

She can talk with Madison, Peyton, and Rhett about popular news, and at the same time be sure to practice ballet moves with Flynn in our kitchen.

My mom loves to have her coffee while she watches the news in the morning.

She likes peanut butter toast and plays cards every Thursday.

She is always smiling.

Even when I know her heart is sad.

She misses her soulmate.

But she knows someday, she will see him again.

And that brings her comfort.

Her faith is inspiring.

Unwavering.

Complete.

My mom loves the ones we love.

She and Nicolas have so much fun.

Even washing dishes.

And this cat loving lady even fell for my puppies!

My mother tells me often that I am doing a wonderful job raising my family.

There is nothing in the world that makes me happier than knowing that this woman who I adore and admire and emulate is proud of me.

I tell her that if I can be half the woman she is, I will be glad.

And I mean it.

My mother has a saying...

She tells us all the time and she writes it in every card...

"You are Loved!!!"

YOU are loved, Mom!!!

Thank you for being you.

So now you know my amazing mother, sweet friends.

I am proud to share her with you. : )