MOTHERS DAY 2011

We spent Mother's Day weekend

with our darling 94 year old Mom

 All 7 of her Daughters were with her

and a niece or two

our Mother's 94 year old brain is a little tired.

She kept wondering where Dad was,

and he's been gone for 12 years now

she wanders some nights -

doesn't always know where she is

and she asked me who I was - twice this last visit

my sisters and I travel to see her more often, now

 and the visits are bittersweet

At 94 (and 1/2) I think I'd be a little confused, too.

But she remains to us the most amazing woman

we have ever known.

Married at 16 - she had 9 children - 2 boys and 7 girls

Seven of them by age 30

(about the same age I was having my first and only)

All but 3 of her 9 children were born at home

She made their clothing

Put their hair in pincurls

and sometimes administered home perms

She entered her beautiful needlework in the County Fair

Baked her own bread

canned her own fruit and vegetables

made delicious jams

and amazing pies
and occasionally shot a pheasant from the back porch

In the early years, she did it without dishwasher,

washing machine or dryer

and no refrigerator

I wasn't part of that early family

I'm child #8

by the time I was born Daddy was building our new house

with all the modern conveniences

but she still canned, baked and sewed

and travelled

... and taught school

She's my hero and my role model

Everyday I strive to be more like her

We love you, Mom - you are amazing

See you soon!