Happy Mother's Day

A mother's love is one of a kind. It begins before her child is born and continues for a lifetime and beyond. The bond we share with her is the first and, in many ways, the most important relationship we will ever experience with anyone. She is the foundation of life and family. We have the beginning with her; nurtured by the warmth of her caring, we thrive and grow in the knowledge that there is someone who loves us unconditionally. Whatever our age or place in her life, her voice is the one we want to hear when we face difficult decisions. When we need comforting, a part of us always longs to run back into the security of her loving embrace. When something wonderful happens, the first person we want to share it with ... is Mom.

Through the years, a mother's heart becomes like a photo album, capturing all the "firsts" in our lives - from our very first smile, first tooth, and first step to all of the major and minor milestones we experience on our way to becoming independent adults. In her eyes, everything that we do is special and unique; she can make even the smallest events seem like great achievements. Whether it's a spelling test that received a gold star, a construction-paper valentine, or a work of art that decorated her refrigerator, she holds on to vacations, holidays, and birthdays that she could always somehow transform into a perfect occasion. Most of all, she is the source of a wisdom that seems to blossom in the hearts as we mature and learn more about life.

In her own remarkable way, a mothers anchors us in our lives and gives us our truest sense of self. Her heart holds a range of emotions that can only grow through a lifetime of caring; the deepest love, the strongest devotion, an occasional frustration and disappointment. Above all, there is within her a profound understanding and acceptance of who we are. She believes we can achieve any dream; she will forgive us almost anything. For all she does, she never asks for anything in return (though sometimes she receives a hug or a dandelion bouquet). But the best way to thank her is just to say... I LOVE YOU MOM.