My Moms

I'm blessed to have lots of women in my life who have acted as mother figures in my times of need--especially in young women's organizations at Church.  But only three special ladies get to claim the word mother in the official title (as they are related to me): my step-mother, my mother-in-law, and my mother.

I'm so blessed to have each of them in my life!  Where would we be without mothers?

A shout-out to Carri, my step-mother, who tries her hardest to teach us what is right.  Her protectiveness doesn't just extend to our family; she has given more than 20 years of military service to our country, which has come at no small price to her, personally.  She is my example in all things crafty, and she fills her life with things that give it purpose and meaning.

Another shout-out to Paulette, my mother-in-law.  While I've only had her as a "mom" for a short time, she has really made me feel at home in our family.  She is the most generous person I know, and she passes it off as a cultural thing but I know better--it's just what's in her heart.  She is STILL helping us, financially and otherwise, and just genuinely loves being around and serving other people.  She is a healer.  She is fiery and funny.  She raised the man I fell in love with and has lots of great advice to give me about everything in life.  She also raised my sister-in-law, who I adore.  You can't raise people like them and be bad.  :)

A special shout-out to my mother-who-birthed-and-raised me.  I was a difficult child to raise--I didn't think it then, because I didn't get into a lot of trouble or anything, but now I know better.  I had an insatiable curiosity and a steep learning curve, not to mention a fiercely independent streak.  I wasn't a terribly social kid, and I was a depressed teenager.  It couldn't have been easy to raise a child who thought they knew everything.  Or to see her grow up, thinking she didn't need you, and yet also seeing her be too afraid to take any real chances.  Mom has always been on my side, which is what I've needed most.  She always encouraged me to love learning, not only in words and the toys she bought me (I had my own microscope, telescope, and chemistry set by the time I was 10) but also by example.  I know of no one who exemplifies honest living and a charitable heart more than my mother.  She loves the Earth we live on and has a very Native spirit to her.  She is quick to forgive, always ready to help anyone, and beautiful inside and out.  Her biggest flaw (one all of us inherited) is that she is so self-deprecating that she can't see how much good she brings into the world.  I would be lost without her!

Happy Mother's Day, to all women everywhere (for we are all mothers of children), but especially to my moms.  I hope I can take the best parts of you and pass them along to the future generations of our family.