This Mother's Day, I would like to honor my children because without them,
I would not be celebrating on Sunday.
Being a mom is not easy, especially currently - I have 3 teenagers! But it has been the most rewarding part of my life; not without trials, tribulations, sadness...but always {JOY}
These four wonderful human beings call me {Mom}{Momma} and even sometimes {Mother Goose}
{Travis}
Where to even start about my oldest son? In 3 weeks, he will be the age I was when I gave birth to him - 20 (WOW, that is startling to me). I always joke with him and tell him, as the oldest, he is my living experiment! He can make me laugh, even when I am crazy mad about something...he will make me crack up. He has a smile that lights up a room and an infectious laugh. He has accomplished so many wonderful things and is talented in so many ways - academically, artistically, physically, athletically...and spiritually. He has a {huge heart} and will give you the shirt off his back, if you needed it. I remember one time in high school, he gave a pair of his shoes to a classmate because his were all torn up and had holes. No one asked him to do it, he just felt blessed to have more than one pair and enough to share with this kid.
Travis does everything 100% - he doesn't take shortcuts or look for the easy way out.
Travis has taught me more than I can ever express in words, after all, we have "grown up" together. Most recently he has taught me that part of building a child's self-esteem means letting them stumble, fail, and fall...and then letting them learn how to get back up and succeed. Travis' strength through battling his addiction - admitting he needed help, getting the help he needed and sticking with it - is truly an example to me of tenacity, strong spirit and resiliency...you can get back up when you fall.
{Andrew}
I love this picture of Andrew! When he was a baby, we used to call him "face" because he had the cutest face...now it is chiseled into that of a young man...what a looker! There is much more to him than meets the eye, however. Andrew is gifted academically - his mind and his {wit} far outweigh most adults I know. He is also very gifted musically and has taught himself to play the guitar, the violin and the ukulele and is learning to play keyboard; he is also a great artist and a great athlete. Andrew has a great sense of humor...very dry and witty. When he was younger he would have us in stitches at the dinner table with his impressions and jokes. Now, as he has gotten older, he knows just when to insert a funny statement that makes us roar. I have always said that Andrew is an "old soul" and I believe that more and more each day.
Andrew has taught me that as human beings, sometimes we think that other people's opinions about us define who we are. Andrew knows better. Grades and awards don’t define you. What someone else thinks about your style or political view or haircut does not define you. What does define us is our thoughts. Our actions. How we treat friends and family. How we treat a stranger. How we handle adversity. What we do with our spare time. How we serve others. The choices we make. These are all things that define us. Andrew somehow learned this...eons before I have understood it myself.
{Bella}
And this girl! I know, right? She is {GORGEOUS} and growing into such a wonderful young woman! When Isabella was born, it was such a relief...I had a difficult pregnancy with her and was on bed rest for most of it, so that I didn't go into labor. I remember being so worried about having a daughter - I had no clue how to "do" hair or how to raise a daughter...I had two boys. Luckily, Bella tolerated some goofy hairdo's as a young girl - even though she had quite the opinion, even at age two! Anyone who knows my Bella, knows what a special person she is - she is smart and one of the kindest, most loyal people you will ever meet. She is {compassionate} and sensitive to the needs of others, without a word ever being said. Some may say she is a "people pleaser," but the truth is, she likes to see others happy. I was so worried about her foray into young womanhood. I am happy to say that, at age 13, she is rarely moody, little or no drama and very low-maintenance. And she has a new-found talent...cake decorating (and has even decorated one for a paying customer!). The older she gets, the closer we become - we like a lot of the same things and I love hanging out with her.
What I have learned from Bella is, that it is okay to laugh, sing and dance, even when your life is totally in the toilet! She has an uncanny knack for knowing when I have had a bad day or am in an emotionally bad place. And she will start in with some funny story or a song I just "have to hear" that immediately picks me up. She reminds me that, as a Mother, my mood sets the tone of our home and it helps me to be at peace with whatever is going on inside of me and focus on my family. And, when we start laughing...oh, watch out (sometimes Handsome gets a little annoyed by this)! The number of "inside family jokes" we have because of her grows everyday...no one else thinks they're funny, but we sure do and they bring back some fun memories! (Bella,...it's a puppy!)
{Paige}
And last, but certainly never least, is the "baby" of our family...only not so much a baby anymore; I'm not quite sure when that happened, but it did. We've always said that Paige is the glue of our family and she has certainly been that. She is also the apple of her daddy's eye and the precious ruby in her mother's heart. She is fun-loving, sensitive and cares so deeply about others, especially her family. Paige is a smarty, too, and has been able to read since she was about two years old and excels in reading and math at school. She loves pets - any pet...she can see the mangiest, ugliest dog and she will think it is the cutest dog she's ever seen. She is {LOVING} to everyone she knows and is a super-talented swimmer. Last summer was her first summer competing and she placed 16th in the City for her age group. Her personality is just really starting to shine and I'm pretty sure she is going to be a lawyer (she just doesn't know it yet), because man, the girl can argue! I love that she is still small enough (and not "too cool") to curl up with me and snuggle...
Paige has taught me to slow down, relax a bit - stay and play awhile...that having a spotless home or running errands can wait...there is life to be lived and savored. I need to slow down and enjoy the ride...not hurry to the destination.
I feel honored and so blessed to be your Mom, to have given you life, to have been part of helping you grow into the awesome kids you are today, and to have you in my life. I am proud of each and everyone of you, for your accomplishments and for your failures ~ for they make you who you are.
"Time flies on the wings of angels" and while I look forward to the future, to see what you will become, I also know that I will miss having you around. I want you each to know that as our family changes, and as each of you moves on, please know that you will always have a place at home, where you will be accepted and loved....and you will always have a place in my heart. There is no gift you could give me on Mother's Day that could compare with the gift of being your Mom everyday.
I love you,
~mom
