My Mom - You taught me so many things....too many to list, but the one thing that really sticks out is how you went back to college later in life, got your accounting degree, passed the CPA exam and had a very successful career. You paved the way to my career and you also taught me that I could do anything....you did. You went back to school with two busy daughters, a husband and a house to care for and did it, successfully.
Bev - You have been my mother-in-law for almost 10 years and I very much admire your willingness to go to the ends of the earth to help, lend an ear, encourage and show your love for your family. I am blessed to have you as a mother-in-law.
Mary - TECHNICALLY, you are my sister-in-law, but I think of you as a sister. I admire how calm and loving you are with Willem and the way you seem to balance everything with ease and grace. I feel truly lucky to have you in my life. I love our talks and our ability to relate to each other's experiences.
Holly - My sister....for someone who way back in the day never wanted kids, you are a wonderful, dedicated stay-at-home mom to Cooper and have another baby (A GIRL!!!!) on the way. Being a stay-at-home mom is sooooooo admirable and you continue to amaze me at how well you do it.
Chaney - You became a single mom when Logan was only 3 years old. For the past 8 years you've been through a lot and you have managed to raise a sweet, kind, loving child. Logan is a JOY and you should be so proud. Your close relationship with Logan is really amazing to watch...it inspires me to strive to have that same relationship with the boys (where they feel comfortable to tell me anything). I love the amazing friendship we have formed and nurtured since we met as 2nd graders at Naches Trail Elementary. We are able to share our experiences and help each other through this crazy life. Logan is the boys' idol....I love that he fills that "big brother" role for them and is such a good example. I know our boys will always be there for each other....forever.....just like us.
Jen - I am in awe of how loving, patient and involved you are with your children. You always put them first....always. Despite us living on opposite coasts for 18 years of our almost 24 years of friendship, we have always kept in touch by phone and have been there for each other through tough pregnancies, and various child-raising issues. I love that we are able to share so much...I look forward to our kids growing up together (hopefully) and I hope they will grow up to be as good a friends as we are. I will always be grateful for meeting across the fence when we became neighbors in Roy when we were 6th graders...our friendship was meant to be.
There are so many other moms I really admire...Lisa, Jenny, Amy, Tina, Debbie, Sara, Linne, Laura, Stacey.......and the newest mom I know, our cousin Jaime, who delivered baby Henry James Graves 8 weeks early - these next 6 weeks will be emotionally draining, I'm sure, but he is a beautiful baby and I have no doubts that he will grow quickly and surprise us all at how strong he is.
I am also constantly inspired by many of my facebook friends...even though we might not see each other on a regular basis, I love being able to share motherhood and other life experiences with them.
I am grateful to my loving husband, Jason, who is an excellent father and gave me the gift of motherhood. I feel so blessed to be the mother of John Adam Drury and Ethan Timothy Drury....here is a photo of the day I became a mother. This was the first picture taken of me with the boys who were less than an hour old.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's Day and takes time to reflect, and be grateful, for our children, our moms, and people to fill the roles of mother in our lives. God bless!
