My Hero/Role Model

Today I want to tell you about something/someone that I don't talk about often enough - my mother. I am a little biased I guess because I think that I have the most awesome mother in the world. She is always here for me whenever I need her. She probably wishes that I wasn't her daughter because I need her so much!! My mom pretty much raised me by herself. My dad and stepdad have been in the picture but my mom gets nearly all the credit. She was so good to my brother and I when we were young and always made me feel secure and loved even in the midst of a lot of difficult times.

During my teenage years, especially, my mother and I didn't always get along...my brother hated listening to us yell and argue. The reason, I think, is that we are both so independent, stubborn, and HARD HEADED -I got it honest from the Wilson and Jones side of the family! I remember one time when my mom, Michael, and I were talking about the word "dogmatic" and my mom said that I was dogmatic and I very emphatically said, "I AM NOT DOGMATIC!" See, she was right! Even through my 20s, I have to admit, that my mom and I have not always gotten along. I'm not sure why...I just think it's because we are so much alike.

Although we sometimes still disagree, I have to tell you that I am so close to my mother and do not go a day without speaking to her. I don't go more than a couple of days without seeing her. We are so close and I tell my mother almost everything. She has taught me so much throughout the years...usually not by lecturing me or lots of talking or sage advice, but by her example. She is a wise Christian woman who has taught me to be strong and to have faith. (I probably should have learned patience through her too...but I haven't gotten there yet!)

My mom is too good to me and helps me in so many ways. She has been here for me during the days following the births of my boys staying with me during the days and lots of nights. She stayed with me after my knee surgeries. She keeps my boys for me most of the time when my work schedule has crazy hours and I can't tell you how much she helped me during the time that I was in graduate school. My mother handles my crazy whims with great talent. I come up with all kinds of outlandish ideas and plans but she usually doesn't protest or at least let's me figure out the problems on my own. Most recently I wanted to make lavendar brownies for the ladies dinner at church and she could tell by looking at the recipe that they wouldn't be good, but she just suggested we do a trial run. We went to 4 places in search of "dried lavendar flowers" and she made them for us. On Sunday, she served them for dessert at lunch. Nolan tried first and took one bite and said "these are bitter...they taste like soap!" Well...they WERE terrible and we DID NOT serve them, but my mom knew this all along.

Another thing that my mom does to help me is going the long way to work so that she can pick up Elijah and take him to his baby sitter for me so that it doesn't take me so long to make it to work every morning. How many people would do this willingly??

I really don't know how to tell you how awesome my mother is, but she is. She quietly goes about doing things for others and doesn't do it for attention. She is an awesome cook and often cooks for other people (or for some crazy idea that I came up with!)

She also has handled the death of my brother so wonderfully. I know that she is quietly grieving while I am telling everyone I know about my grief. But my mom has taught me so much in the past few months while dealing with his death in her own way. She has, without words, made me realize what a strong faith that she has in God.

Thanks Mom for being so awesome to me. You are the best! My mom and I are going on a trip this weekend with just the 2 of us because we hardly ever get to do anything without my boys. I am so excited to spend this time with her away from the hustle and bustle from life.