You see, I don't
feel that my mom is your 'typical' mom. I feel she has surpassed the normal duties of a mom in a child's lifetime. I have heard over the years from kids
I went to school with, up to adults in my everyday life, say they wish their mom was like mine. We as human beings are always looking for that "unconditional" love. I know if everyone found a mate in life, that loved them with "unconditional" love, there would be less divorces. Of course, in
the beginning most say that is what they feel but, as months and years go by, and the newness wears off and age begins to show, you find they forgot what "unconditional" love means. Believe me, I know.

I can honestly say 100%,
my mom loves her kids with "unconditional" love. If she didn't she wouldn't tolerate some of the things we have pulled in our life. No matter what, she
has always been there with open arms. Many times I have seen her down on her knees in prayer for us.

I feel, of us three
kids, I probably have given her the most grief.
My sister has beat my record for this. Needless to say, I have spent 28 years looking for that special someone who would love me unconditionally as I would him. Well, it's been five marriages
later, and still no knight in shining armor. Is it because I am too picky? Nope. I am not saying I was perfect in the marriage, but it was like after
awhile, they didn't realize I existed anymore. In my place was a maid, accountant, chauffeur, babysitter, dry cleaners, taxi cab, cook, and door
mat. There is of course more to it than that, so don't say, "well, that's what we become when we marry and have kids"

Anyway, after each
failed marriage, my mom was always there to lend support and a shoulder to cry on if I needed it. Her door was always open, and if we needed a place to
stay or live, there were no questions asked. As you know, if you have searched my site, I have three children, Jeremy, Derek, and Crystal. And you
should also know each one has had their own burdens and grief's to bear. And as their mom, I was there to bear it with them. When I went on this last adventure that took me clear around the world to Australia, my then 18 year old handicapped daughter didn't want to go with me and Jeremy, so she talked it over with grandma and decided to stay with her. That was Dec. 2000, and Crystal has been with her since then. Mom could have put her in a group home but she didn't she took care of her by herself. And for those of you who haven't read all of my site, Crystal isn't able to do anything on her own. She is totally dependent on others for her needs.

For me, it didn't work
out in Australia, and 16 months later, my mom sent me the money to come home on because I was being abused by the man I left America to be with. I am now living with my mom, dad and Crystal. I am no longer looking for someone to share my life with. I am perfectly content being with my family.

My mom has many many
many times been there for my brother Willard and his family, my son Derek and his family when they needed anything, such as money, food, whatever it
might be, and she never blinked an eye in doing so. I can honestly say, mom has dedicated her entire life to loving, nurturing, and guiding not only us
kids but her grandkids as well. I am sure she has felt like she's been taken for granted by dad and us kids at times, but she never let on.

When
we lived in Texas, she was very active in the church as well. She started up a food pantry for the needy, and was overseer of it. Not to mention the job
she took on of keeping the church clean and pretty. Alot of times during the holidays when she'd make up special care packages for certain families so
they'd have a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, if the boxes ran short of things because some of the people in the church didn't donate like they
should, she'd take it out of her own pocket, buy what was needed. She'd would organize a small Christmas play each year with what children we had in the church, all by herself. Her heart was so full of unselfish love and care for others, she couldn't do
enough. Giving of herself for others brought her pleasure. I could go on and on and on about her kindness and generosity when it not only came to her family but to whomever she came across that needed help.

Dear Mom,
Words cannot express the love and appreciation I have for you. You are my hero, and the wind beneath my wings. You are my dearest and best friend. I cannot ever imagine life without you, that's why I want to die first. Thank you for always standing beside me even when I was in the wrong, and never giving up on me. I am sorry if I have ever hurt you or made you cry. Thank you for the many prayers I know you have said for me. Thank you for all the worry lines that are on your face, for I know they were made by me. I know you worried about me because you love me. I will spend the rest of my life doing my best to make you happy. I am not perfect and I have made alot of mistakes, but you seen past all that, and knew I was your child and I was hurting. I could not have survived this world if you had not been there for me when I fell. I know God will one day call you home, but only because He knows you will be a wonderful angel. In my heart I will know you will be up there at the gate waiting for me. And the vision of that in my mind will allow me to continue on here on earth until I can be reunited with you again. I love you.

My mom in the 80's