2. My Mom

(Many apologies for my tardiness in posting this. I'll try to be better on the rest of my list!)

Here are some adjectives to get us started on this one : athletic. beautiful. caring. determined. educator. friend. gifted. helpful. intelligent. joyous. kindhearted. loving. mama k. nicknamer. oleta's daughter. patient. quality time. realistic. sarcastic. thoughtful. unifying. verbalist. wise. youthful.

Athletic:

(#50 is my mom!)

Beautiful: While my mom is indeed beautiful on the outside, the most beautiful part of who she is lies beneath the surface. Her servant heart, genuine consideration for everyone she meets, and patience with me over the past 30 years makes her truly beautiful.

Caring:

(We LOVE the Care Bears!)

Determined: One of my favorite things about my mom is her determination to help me see situations in life from every possible angle. Her determination to teach me how to solve my own problems, resolve my own conflicts, and live out what I claim to believe. While I know she is always there to help me up when the crutches of life are being kicked out from under me, she has helped me develop a strength that I never knew I'd need, the ability to think for myself, and how to look at life with open eyes and an open heart knowing everything happens for a reason.

Educator:

(So true, especially in the eyes of a 9th grade English teacher! I don't know how she does it!)

Friend: In my life I have realized that not many people can consider their mom to be one of their best friends. What a blessing it is to be able to say that about the most influential, strongest, faithful prayer warrior that I know. I love that even when I don't know what to say, she knows what I'm thinking. I love that as soon as I walk in the room, she knows if something is wrong. I love that she sees far more potential in me than I have ever seen in myself. I love that I have been called a carbon copy of the most important woman in my life. My mom. My friend.

Gifted:

(One of my favorite things to do is listen to her play the piano!)

Helpful: From helping me with projects when I was young, to editing papers for me through high school and college, to refining resumes for me as an adult I certainly would not be where I am today without her help!

Intelligent:

(I get my love for books and reading from my mom!)

Joyful: The house is clean. The fridge and pantry are full. All of the beds have clean sheets. Why? The kids and grand kids are coming home. This is the time I see my mom with the biggest smile on her face. Nothing feels better than pulling up to the house and seeing her on the front step waiting. Big hug. Bags carried into the house. Let the conversations begin. Pure joy.

Kindhearted:

(Friendly and generous by nature!)

Lucky: For one very obvious reason... I'm her daughter! :)

Mama K:

(She loves her Kaycin and Madilyn!)

Nicknamer: I love hearing stories about students in my mom's classes. Teaching English for the past 30 years means she has some pretty good ones to share. One of my favorite things that she does when a new school year begins is she makes up nicknames for some of her kids. I remember her telling me one time that she remembers what it was like to be the shy, quiet kid in the classroom that never really got noticed because she wasn't a troublemaker. I can definitely relate to this. So she makes up nicknames for the ones who seem like outcasts or that no one seems to notice. The reason is because she wants them to know that she sees them, she notices them, and she cares enough about them to make up a silly nickname. I can't even imagine how it makes those students feel, even if they won't admit it. They are teenagers, after all.

Oleta's Daughter:

(Two beautiful, amazing, women of God - my mom and my Gran!)

Prayerful: No one on this earth prays for me more than my mom does. She has helped me see that there is power in prayer and reminds me that the Bible tells us that we should pray about everything, pray without ceasing. I know that I have made it through countless, seemingly hopeless situations in my life because my mom was praying for me. Nothing means more than knowing that.

Quality Time:

(She loves her grand babies!)

Realistic: Over the past 5 or so years I have become a dreamer, a visionary. I love that I have developed the ability to see beyond my current situations and dream of what things could be like or envision life done this way or that. While I wouldn't say that my mom lacks the ability to dream or visualize, she is oftentimes the little dose of reality I need before I jump too far into the "what if" category. She brings me back to earth. Never hindering me from being a visionary, but helping me keep things right where they need to be. Focused.

Sarcastic:

(Definitely got my sarcasm from my mom. Oh, and we love Friends!)

Thoughtful: From birthdays to Christmas to exam weeks to Valentine's Day. For as long as I can remember my mom has always thought to send a card or a box of goodies to me whether in college or to my office at work. She doesn't forget anything! My first day at work at ETBU, she sent me a plant. The plant didn't last very long, as I don't think I ever watered it, but it's the thought that counts. Always thinking ahead. Always thinking about others more than herself.

Unifying:

(She's the glue that holds us all together!)

Verbalist: One skilled in the use of words. I love having conversations with my mom because I feel like I learn new words each time we talk. She is great with words - perhaps being an English teacher for 30 years is the reason why - and I know that I get my love for words from her. We both love to read and write, which is something I am so glad we share.

Wise:

(Growing up, this hung on the wall in my bathroom. I used to read it every morning and now, as an adult, it's something that comes to mind often. The wisdom that pours out of my mom's mouth astounds me. I pray I have even a fraction of her wisdom to share with my children.)

Youthful: Teaching 9th grade Engligh. Teaching 4th grade Sunday School. Getting on the floor, playground, or in and out of bounce houses with Kaycin and Madi. Helping with youth activities. Faithfully serving at Vacation Bible School every summer. Always willing to do whatever she can for the success of the program or organization. Always focused on reaching kids, students, adults with the love and grace of Christ.

I know I skipped 2 letters but they are "x" and "z" so I'm going to ask you to go ahead and get over that. Haha.

There are so many things I could say about my mom. Wife. Mother. Grandmother. Daughter. Sister. Aunt. Teacher. Friend. Pages and pages of paragraph after paragraph, but I tried to go with a format that might be a little bit more pleasing to the reader. My mom and I have definitely been through our ups and downs, as all moms and daughters do, but I love the fact that I can adequately describe her as the strongest person I know, the woman with more wisdom than anyone else I know, and one of my very best friends.

I LOVE YOU, MOM!! :)