My Mom{s}

I'm over a week late, but I wanted to pay a tribute to the wonderful mothers in my life.

I'll start with my own.

 She loved me first.  She taught me to teach.  She is the one I call with news, happy, sad, moderately interesting.  She's selfless and supportive.  She really is the sweetest woman.  I'm lucky and blissfully happy that she's my mom.  My little Hazel is her spitting image.  They love one other in a way that tells me they've known each other for a long, long time.  When Hazel is sad or uncomfortable she asks for Gwamma.  My earliest memories of my mom were of brushing her thick, dark, beautiful hair and begging her never to cut it.  Corn fritters.  The little red school.  Feeding the ducks on Sunday.  Going on walks.  And her cute little white peep-toe shoes. 

 His Mom

I don't know what I did to deserve a mother-in-law as wonderful as her.  She showers me with praise (most of the time I don't deserve it).  She gushes and gushes about my kids.  She loves me for loving her son.  I love the man he is because of the mom she is.  She works hard.  She loves hard.  She has faith that could move a mountain.  I talk to her on the phone for hours and hours.  I wish everyone could have Sheri for a Mother-in-Law.  I'll never forget that she cried the first time I met her.  Sheri is loving and caring and slightly crazy (she owns it) but she doesn't cry very often.  I know now how profound it was that she knew (before I did) that Jarom and I were made for each other.  Sometimes I forget that I'm an in-law in Sheri's family.  I am so comfortable and myself around her.  She is the perfect second mom.  And Cannon adores this woman.  He pretends to call her on the phone and asks at least once a day if we can go to California and see Gwamma Sheri.

Grammy

 Grammy is Jarom's Grandmother.  Sheri's mom.  She's just one of those people that people love.  She is truly the most selfless, giving, caring, kind person I know.  She's a true angel.  Her life has been full of service and thinking of others.  Hazel's middle name is Gayle, which is Grammy's first name.  Most of the time we call her Hazel Gayle.  We knew when we had a daughter that her middle name would be Gayle even before we were married.  Grammy loves to make treats.  She's famous for her peanut clusters, peanut butter balls and cakes.  Oh, and her pink lady.  That stuff is good!  She calls often and wants to know what's going on in our lives.  She sends cards for every holiday and loves to be with us.  We sure love our Grammy. 


GG

 My mom's mom.  We call her Lucy even though her name is Marilyn.  She's just cute.  She follows all the latest trends.  Seriously.  She had a toe ring when they first came out.  She is a great cook.  She has dinner every Sunday and feeds us and all the college kids.  Even the ones that aren't her own grandkids.  She makes them feel welcome.  I watched her care for my grandpa when he was sick.  It's hard work and she did it well.  She can't hear very well which leads to some funny conversations.  My favorite was when grandpa was calling for her and she was in the living room with us.  Jarom told her that grandpa needed something and she said "I know, I'm just pretending I don't have my hearing aids in."  I still laugh about that.  She is the matriarch of a huge family.  She had 6 kids and all of them have kids.  I think there are over 60 grand and great grand kids.  What a legacy!  She loves to travel and is always planning the next big trip.  I really hope I can be as much fun as her when I'm 80!  She really is a great example of living life to the fullest. 

Grandma

Last but not least.  My grandma.  My dad's mom.  I loved traveling to California to see her when I was a little girl.  I still remember what their house smelled like - Summer.  I loved swimming in her pool, going to Disneyland and playing Mario on the Nintendo at the house.  She did cute little crafty things when we came.  I remember one time she had blue day.  We had everything blue.  Let's just say that blue chicken noodle soup isn't as appetizing as it sounds.  In a large way, she is the reason I married Jarom.  I had some long talks with her around the time I was "deciding" and she loved him from the start and encouraged me to marry the man that "idolized" me.  I'll never regret that decision.

I'm in awe of these beautiful, loving women.  They are all tremendous examples and have set the bar very high.  Hopefully I'll be able to teach my kids the way they did.

Happy {late} Mother's Day!