Loving Mom

     This coming Sunday is Mother's Day, a blessing to some and a day of sadness for others.  It is a day when some are able to show their mom how much they are loved and appreciated and it is a day for others to mourn the loss of their parent and review fond memories of her love.  Whatever meaning this day may have for you, my prayer is that you take time to enjoy the moment, to laugh over silly happenings, to cry over hurtful moments and to love with all your heart the wonderful person you call 'mom'.  My mom is 86 years old and is fighting cancer for the third time in her life.  She is doing an awesome job!!  Her tumor has shrunk over 50% and is responding well to chemo.  Mom is frail, unsteady and becoming forgetful, but she is still my momma.  I will not post her picture here because she has lost all her hair, only weighs 98 lbs and I know it would embarass her, so I will describe her to you: 
- she is a small women, reaching only 5ft tall (she use to be 5ft 2in)
- her hair was a snowy white but now she wears a white turban to cover her bald head
- she loved to dress in very nice, fashionable suits when she went to church, but now she wears her robe most times and church is viewed on TV
- she was one of the sharpest people I've ever known.  My sisters and I always accused her of taking a dictionary to the bathroom!  Now, she has trouble remembering words and peoples names
- and, even though I am 56 yrs old and have been on my own for 20 yrs, raised 3-children by myself and purchased a home of my own,  my mom still introduces me as 'her baby'and asks me all the time if I need any money!
     My mom is a strong woman, enduring many hardships in her life---loosing a first husband to an industrial fire, raising 2-young girls by herself for a while and loosing my daddy to cancer over 20 yrs ago. 
She is hard-headed (I get that from her!) stubborn (I also get that from her) and loves my 2-sisters and me with all her heart. It is her strong influence that has helped to make me who I am today.
     I must work on Mother's Day and will not be able to be with her, but I will call her and let her know how much she is loved and appreciated.  Not just for all she's done for me, but also because she is one of the most remarkable women I have ever known and I have the great honor to call her:  MOM
I love you momma,
Pat