Everything I Learned, I Learned From My Mother!

My Mom.  My Friend.  My Confidant.  So many words could describe her.

I didn't appreciate my mom when I was growing up.  I was stubborn.  To be honest, I was a brat.  I thought I knew everything!  Boy, was I wrong!  I definitely never understood what a struggle it was to raise me until I began raising my own daughter.

Scared?  Not my mom.  She braved the rollercoaster at Marineland for me! 

Understanding?  When I stole the baby Jesus out of the manger during the Christmas play at church, she didn't even flinch!

Fun?  Wearing googly glasses she managed to have a party with her sunday school class at the park that I would never forget!  Even has the pictures to prove it!

Silly?  Well if you would call dressing up as a clown for clown day and going to my first grade class, silly.  She even wore the nose and had red hair!

I am glad I got the opportunity to really get to know my mom.  I would have missed out on knowing such an important person in my life.   She is my rock!  She has more strength in her than I have in my pinky finger.
 
I love talking with my mom.  I am not afraid to tell her anything.  And, even if she doesn't like what she is hearing, she lets me finish.  Sometimes she just says, "Oh Vanessa."  But most of the time, she tells me how proud she is.

I never thought my mom would be cool.  But, as she has gotten older something has happened!  She actually acts younger!  She is funny too!  She cracks me up.  She has a great sense of humor!  I suppose this is necessary as life seems to throw her curve balls often.  But, she doesn't complain.  She just goes with the flow!

I love shopping with my mom too.  We always find something that we both like.  If you would have told me that this was going to happen I would have laughed!

I collect things like my mom did when I was a kid.  She collected pigs.  Winifred.  Wilheminia.  Winston..the list went on and on.  But, I really have no room to talk. When I was first married I had a Mickey Mouse kitchen.  Black, White and Red.  And that rat was everywhere!  Yep, learned that from my mom!

I learned so much from my mom.  Of course, because I was so stubborn, some lessons had to be taught over and over.  But she never gave up on me.  She just waited until I was ready.

God was always the center of her life.  She took me to church.  She was involved in all of the activities.  She read her bible, and was truly an example.

She encouraged me to play the piano.  She took me to guild.  She got me the best piano teacher in town.

She encouraged me to write.  She loves to read my writings when I post them.  And, she always tells me how she knew I was good at writing.

When I started my scrapbooking business, she was on board!  She began learning to scrapbook and I found out that I must have gotten my creativity from her.  And, she loves to show everyone the scrapbooks I have made her.  That makes me feel good.

She taught me that when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade.  She taught me right from wrong, although sometimes I was too stubborn to listen. 

But most importantly, she taught me to love.  She taught me to forgive.  She taught me to do my best.  And, when I did screw up, which believe me, I did, she would help me get up and dust myself off.  

I love my mom and I am so glad that God picked her to play that role in my life.  I don't know what I would have turned out like if she hadn't been there.  I want to be just like her when I grow up!