Happy Mother's Day!

.............. My mum .................. Joseph's mom ................. My stepmom ..............

I wish I had a better picture of my mother. I guess we just never pull the camera out when she comes to visit. I was talking to one of my sisters the other day about how spread out our family has become, but how it is held together by my mother, even though she is far away in New York City. When my sister-in-law found out the gender of her baby, I found out from mum. I'm pretty sure my whole family found out about my second pregnancy (and maybe my first) through her before I contacted them. She always stands ready to help when we need it, and my siblings and I all know we can depend on her.
Joseph's mom, Janet is pretty amazing too. She is always in tune with what her family needs and takes care of us all.

I recently read The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and I loved his description of Ma Joad, the mother of a family trying to keep things together during the dust bowl:

"Her full face was not soft, it was controlled, kindly. Her hazel eyes seemed to have experienced all possible tragedy and to have mounted pain and suffering like steps into a high calm and a superhuman understanding. She seemed to know, to accept, to welcome her position, the citadel of the family, the strong place that could not be taken. And since old Tom and the children could not know hurt or fear unless she acknowledged hurt and fear, she had practiced denying them in herself. And since, when a joyful thing happened, they looked to see whether joy was on her, it was her habit to build up laughter out of inadequate materials. But better than joy was calm. Imperturbability could be depended upon. And from her great and humble position in the family she had taken dignity and a clean calm beauty. From her position as healer, her hands had grown sure and cool and quiet; from her position as arbiter she had become as remote and faultless in judgment as a goddess. She seemed to know that if she swayed the family shook, and if she ever really deeply wavered or despaired the family would fall, the family will to function would be gone."

It is easy to take what a mother does for granted. The world certainly does not appreciate her role, and I know I didn't give mothers the credit they deserve until I became a mother myself and learned how difficult it is. I feel lucky to have such great women in my life to emulate and to turn to when I need help. Happy mother's day, Mum, Janet, and Crystal! I love you!