My Mother of the Year

My literary energy has recently been focused elsewhere. My mom was named "Mother of the Year" in her state, and one of the requirements for the national competition is that each of her children write a 200-word recommendation letter.

YIKES. (As in, ONLY 200 words -- YIKES.)

Just so you can all get a taste (a very SHORT taste) of how amazing my mom is, here it is:

As the oldest of (my mother's) nine children, I am thrilled to recommend her to represent American Mothers, Inc. as Mother of the Year. A woman devoted to God and family, her example and friendship sustain me daily with my own five children.

When I was six years old, my family was overwhelmed by my baby sister’s untimely death. Despite her own grieving, my mother gently soothed my pain by reminding me of God’s love for us. Her steady conviction and tender words transformed my devastating loss into a lifelong source of comfort, motivation and hope.

She has a contagious passion for learning and a firm belief that, “with God, nothing is impossible.” With this confidence, she guided me to significant academic accomplishment including spelling bee victories, valedictorian recognition, prestigious full-tuition scholarships, and a four-year National Elks Foundation award.

She sacrificed time, money, sleep and personal pursuits for her children. She helped us weed together, hike together, sing together and laugh together. Even with our large family, she individually trained me in charity as we served together through spontaneous flower arrangements for neighbors, violin performances in nursing homes, and volunteer church assignments and ministries.

She truly personifies the word, “mother.”

Congratulations mom!