Happy 81st Birthday, Mom

1.31.2008

~ My mom's high school graduation photo, Spring 1944 ~

She's lived through the Great Depression and five wars.

She was a "working girl" for 56 years.

She raised three children over the course of 38 years. She had a son in college and a daughter in kindergarten in 1973.

We all graduated from college, and I think she would say it's a small miracle her daughter has a diploma to hang on her wall. It was touch-and-go more than once.

She has eight grandchildren. The oldest is 29 and the youngest is 2.

She was my role-model as a working mom, and she was a single parent
for most of my formative years. She worked hard and she worked every day. She had a full-time job and two home-based part-time jobs. We never lacked for anything.

I always knew she did the best she could, and it was always more than enough for me.

I stayed out of trouble not because of what I thought might happen to me, but because I didn't want to do anything that would dishonor her.

Her first choice in discipline was the look and a firm, "Because I said so".
If that didn't work, then she got out THE STICK.
There was no need for a third option.

A family friend used to say, "Your mother has an opinion about almost every thing, and she's almost always right, too." I usually didn't appreciate that when I was growing up, but I sure do appreciate it now!

She was always fashionable and pretty. She wore Estee Lauder makeup, black suede boots with high heels, and Clinique Aeromatics Elixir.

One day when she was about 75 she called me on the phone and said, "I think I've finally gotten a wrinkle".

She's still active and busy and sharp and witty! We email almost daily.
(And, she even gets her nails done a couple times a month!)

Oh, how I miss her....
I wish I lived close enough so I could stop over for coffee on Saturday mornings and take little Adam with me so he could sit on her lap and give her a hug.

Once when I was 7 my dad forgot to pick me up from Sunday School and I had to walk home on a cold winter's day. I was crying and she wrapped me in a blanket, gave me a pack of M&Ms and held me on her lap and we had a good talk. I pretended I was cold long after I'd really warmed up because I wished I could sit on her lap forever.

Today I'd bring her an angel food cake and a vase filled with roses for her special day. I'd kiss her on her cheek and then take her out to lunch.

She's been my closest and most cherished sidekick longer than anyone else in my life.

I couldn't possibly ask for a better mother.

And I couldn't possibly love her more.

25 comments:

aniowamom :

Beautiful.

Just simply beautiful.

Tonja :

She is beautiful! Your tribute to her is just lovely, too. I know she is proud of you. She served as a great role model. God has blessed you both.

*carrie* :

What lovely words to honor your mother. Hope she's had a nice day. It's been a little warmer here, and sunny, which definitely helps!

Susan :

What a beautiful, awesome post for your mother. I'm sure she smiled, and if she's like me!! cried when she read it!!!
Susan

Given Grace :

Great post for a great woman! What a blessing you are to each other!

Melene@Sing For Joy :

How beautiful. You are blessed to have a relationship like that with your Mom. I hope my girls will someday say something similar about me.....

Susan :

Awwww...I love that picture and yes, your tribute is beautiful. I'm sure she is a blessing to you.

Many Hugs,

Susan

Lynne :

What a beautiful tribute to your mom. Hope she has a wonderful birthday.

Nadine :

Jill that was simply beautiful and honoring. Your tribute to your mother touched me.

Tracey Kirksey :

What a wonderful tribute to your Mom! She was/is a beautiful woman inside and out---and she raised a wonderful daughter!

Steph :

Great tribute, sounds like an awesome woman!

Sandy :

Ah, Jill, makes me miss my Mama. Any woman that give ya chocolate is alright in my mind! ha ha. That was a sweet story.
Very beautiful - thank you for sharing.

Dianne :

That is SUCH a sweet post. I'm a day late, but I hope she had a fabulous birthday. I'm sure you make her proud.

Sue :

What a touching tribute. How wonderful to have such a close relationship with your Mom. Happy Birthday to her.

Sandy :

Gorgeous photo! What a sweet post about your mom!

Have a great weekend.
Blessings,
Sandy

Momma Roar :

How beautiful Jill!! What a sweet tribute - I hope she had a wonderful day!!

Lyndy :

Jill,

What a lovely tribute to your mother. I hope her birthday was a blessed one. She sounds like a very special lady but I am not surprised because she has a very special daughter.

Hugs, Lyndy

Jody :

Great post. If your mom was close to me I would deliver the goodies (she is in Iowa somewhere, yes?)

Shawna :

How sweet. Your mom is gorgeous, inside and out. I hope she's had a wonderful birthday!!

Tammy :

Jill, this was just wonderful.

I don't think I realized that our moms were almost exactly the same age! Mine will also turn 81 next month.

Your mother sounds like she is such a strong woman, yet tender...I could just picture that scene where she was cuddling you after your cold walk home.

Such a beautiful tribute for a beautiful mother!

kdwhorses :

That was just a wonderful tribute to your mom. Mom's are such blessings and one of a kinds! What a blessing to still have your mom!

Judi :

how precious. she is so lovely. you are very blessed. :)

BlondeMomBlog (Jamie) :

Ohhhh you're making me cry. Happy Belated Birthday to your mom! :)

Lisa @ Take90West :

That was beautiful.
Hope she had a Happy Birthday!

Sonya :

Happy B-Day to your mom! What a sweet tribute. All the things you said about her make me think of my grandmother who will turn 85 this year. How precious they are to us!

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