My mom has always been a strong woman. She divorced my dad when I was one and worked two jobs and went to school so I would have a better life. She lost my stepfather in 2000 to cancer and soon after she was diagnosed with stage 3 colan cancer. The doctors told her she most likely wouldn't survive. She did, and is still with us. For the last five weeks she has been in a rehab center, trying like mad to get back home. Some days are better than others. Yesterday, I was able to get her out of the rehab center for 3 hours for Mothers Day.
The only thing she wanted to do is to come home so she could see her two poodles. So for three hours, she sat and played with her poodles. She let them drink out of her cup, she fed them, and they slept with her. When it was time to go back, she wanted to go eat. I told her we could go anywhere she wanted. She only wanted Wendy's and we got her Wendy's. When we got there, she told us to go through the drive up. I thought she wanted to go in, so I asked her why she wanted the drive up. She said Leslie, her roommate, wanted a Wendy's salad, so she needed to hurry back and because it was lunch time.
Just like my mom, she ALWAYS has put other people before her. Even when she doesn't know what day it is, or who people are some days, she still looks out for others. And I am blessed to have her as my mother, now and always.
Showing posts with label mothers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mothers. Show all posts
Monday, May 12, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
The Inheritance I Got from My Mother
By Christine Thackeray
Today I taught the seniors in YW about heritage. It was a fascinating experience. We talked about inheritances and asked what spiritual gifts each girl felt they had inherited from their mothers. The girls responded with the gospel and then drew a complete blank. I was shocked because each had such incredible traits, values and perspectives that they had received at the hands of their mothers- so I told them what I had seen.
One girl had a mother who taught music for twelve years. April is a wonderful musician and is one of the most cast actresses in our high school. Another girl has a gift for beauty from her mother, not just in her clothing, hair and makeup, but the way she writes a page, expresses herself and in the gifts she gives to others. Everything she does is physically gorgeous. She recently did a modesty fashion show and the decorations down to the refreshments could have been catered by Martha Stewart. It was incredible!
Another girl is quiet and reserved as is her mother. Her tenderness allows her to see things and touch people that the rest of us may forget about. She is thoughtful and gentle in the way she words things. For someone who is boisterous and often unwittingly steps on people's toes, I sometimes wish I had that gift.
Finally the last girl in the class is down to earth and fearless in both social situations and in her choices. She has a confidence that totally detaches her emotionally from the approval of any group, which gives her the power to listen to her own voice. She loves to ride horses and works at a vet clinic, enjoying every moment of life. Her mother is the same way, but spends her time sewing, supporting her children and serving like a crazy lady. I love them both.
I brought a bouquet of flowers and asked each girl to pick the flower that reminded them of their mothers and to enjoy the uniqueness of each one. As they left, I thought of my mother who loved ideas and language. She encouraged open debate on topics of politics and social issues during dinner between the family and stayed current on all the latest Broadway plays and NY times bestsellers. She was a woman of brilliance and accomplishment who raised twelve children which were always her primary focus and enjoyed a strong writing career.
But I also had to admit that as a teenager I didn't quite appreciate her as much as I do now. Yup, I might have been one of those girls that drew a complete blank but now, I thank the Lord for the gift of my incredible mother.
Today I taught the seniors in YW about heritage. It was a fascinating experience. We talked about inheritances and asked what spiritual gifts each girl felt they had inherited from their mothers. The girls responded with the gospel and then drew a complete blank. I was shocked because each had such incredible traits, values and perspectives that they had received at the hands of their mothers- so I told them what I had seen.
One girl had a mother who taught music for twelve years. April is a wonderful musician and is one of the most cast actresses in our high school. Another girl has a gift for beauty from her mother, not just in her clothing, hair and makeup, but the way she writes a page, expresses herself and in the gifts she gives to others. Everything she does is physically gorgeous. She recently did a modesty fashion show and the decorations down to the refreshments could have been catered by Martha Stewart. It was incredible!
Another girl is quiet and reserved as is her mother. Her tenderness allows her to see things and touch people that the rest of us may forget about. She is thoughtful and gentle in the way she words things. For someone who is boisterous and often unwittingly steps on people's toes, I sometimes wish I had that gift.
Finally the last girl in the class is down to earth and fearless in both social situations and in her choices. She has a confidence that totally detaches her emotionally from the approval of any group, which gives her the power to listen to her own voice. She loves to ride horses and works at a vet clinic, enjoying every moment of life. Her mother is the same way, but spends her time sewing, supporting her children and serving like a crazy lady. I love them both.
I brought a bouquet of flowers and asked each girl to pick the flower that reminded them of their mothers and to enjoy the uniqueness of each one. As they left, I thought of my mother who loved ideas and language. She encouraged open debate on topics of politics and social issues during dinner between the family and stayed current on all the latest Broadway plays and NY times bestsellers. She was a woman of brilliance and accomplishment who raised twelve children which were always her primary focus and enjoyed a strong writing career.
But I also had to admit that as a teenager I didn't quite appreciate her as much as I do now. Yup, I might have been one of those girls that drew a complete blank but now, I thank the Lord for the gift of my incredible mother.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Her Sacrifice Has Been My Success
By Marcia Mickelson
Her name is Lidia Corina, but her family and friends call her Cory. She is my mother and her sacrifices have brought to pass my successes.
My mother came to this country in her early 20's, leaving behind her home, her country, her family--her life. Leaving Guatemala was difficult for her, and she missed it. The U.S was a strange land with a language she didn't understand. Her sister and many of her friends came here as well in search of opportunities not found back home. My mother didn't adapt easily and longed for home. However, she stayed to build a life--she got married and had my sister.
Her home still called to her, and she went back to her beloved Guatemala for a time. That's when I was born--in Guatemala. I didn't live there long before she moved back here, this time, leaving her home for good. I wonder if she always thought she'd go back for that is where her heart is, but she didn't. She stayed here for me, for my family because she knew we would have opportunities that may not be found back home.
She made the sacrifice to stay here in the United States to raise her family, and it was a sacrifice for her because she loved her family and country. For that selfless act, I will always be grateful for the U.S. is my home, and I couldn't imagine living anywhere else. She gave up her home so that I could have mine.
Every sacrifice that my mother has made in her life has provided an opportunity of success for me. She never finished school; she gave that up to help provide for our family. She cleaned other people's houses so that one day I could have a home of my own. Where I am today, what I have in my life is all due to her and my father.
It was she who led the way for our family to be baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If it hadn't been for her courageous step into the waters of baptism many years ago with no family by her side in support, I would never have joined this church.
All that I have--an American citizenship, a college degree, a writing career, an eternal family-- would not have been possible without her numerous sacrifices through the years. Those sacrifices, along with her continuous love have made my happiness possible. I know that there is not a possible way that I could ever show her how fortunate and grateful I am that I was born her daughter. And, I can only hope that one day I could be a fraction of the mother she has been and continues to be to me.
Her name is Lidia Corina, but her family and friends call her Cory. She is my mother and her sacrifices have brought to pass my successes.
My mother came to this country in her early 20's, leaving behind her home, her country, her family--her life. Leaving Guatemala was difficult for her, and she missed it. The U.S was a strange land with a language she didn't understand. Her sister and many of her friends came here as well in search of opportunities not found back home. My mother didn't adapt easily and longed for home. However, she stayed to build a life--she got married and had my sister.
Her home still called to her, and she went back to her beloved Guatemala for a time. That's when I was born--in Guatemala. I didn't live there long before she moved back here, this time, leaving her home for good. I wonder if she always thought she'd go back for that is where her heart is, but she didn't. She stayed here for me, for my family because she knew we would have opportunities that may not be found back home.
She made the sacrifice to stay here in the United States to raise her family, and it was a sacrifice for her because she loved her family and country. For that selfless act, I will always be grateful for the U.S. is my home, and I couldn't imagine living anywhere else. She gave up her home so that I could have mine.
Every sacrifice that my mother has made in her life has provided an opportunity of success for me. She never finished school; she gave that up to help provide for our family. She cleaned other people's houses so that one day I could have a home of my own. Where I am today, what I have in my life is all due to her and my father.
It was she who led the way for our family to be baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If it hadn't been for her courageous step into the waters of baptism many years ago with no family by her side in support, I would never have joined this church.
All that I have--an American citizenship, a college degree, a writing career, an eternal family-- would not have been possible without her numerous sacrifices through the years. Those sacrifices, along with her continuous love have made my happiness possible. I know that there is not a possible way that I could ever show her how fortunate and grateful I am that I was born her daughter. And, I can only hope that one day I could be a fraction of the mother she has been and continues to be to me.
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