Well, it is now getting into May... completely blew through April! Mother's day is this weekend and I can't help but stop and reflect on how truly blessed I am. I had the best mother in the world growing up and she helped to shape me into the woman that I have become. (Her lovely picture here above.) I have everything that I ever dreamed of as a little girl... a wonderful and loving husband, healthy and happy children, and a beautiful home to live in. I thank my Lord and Savior every day for everything I have been blessed with. My sister-in-law, Abby, Gene and I created a Heritage Makers book for Gene's mom together. Going through Abby and Gene's answers to my interview questions gave me insight into the upbringing that Gene received growing up. It was very similar to mine. Its true that behind every great man you can find a fantastic woman--and Gene is living proof! Because of her, I now have a wonderful man to share my life with and I owe it all to his mom and dad. I hope that I am doing as well with my children. I have some big shoes to fill...my mother's and her mother's before her! I never understood the depth of a mother's love until I myself became one. I would do anything within my power for these 4 little ones that depend on me... I do however take the time to care for myself because I know that by taking care of me, I'm taking good care of my children's mother. On that note, I'm looking forward to spending the day with my mom tomorrow. We're going to a gardening class together in the morning and then we're going to a watercolor class in the afternoon, with a mother/daughter lunch together in between. Simply a perfect day to look forward to. On Sunday after church my children and their dad are taking me out for another lunch to celebrate moms near and far. (Guess I'd better get out the workout DVDs with all the eating I'm planning on doing!) Hope this little note finds all you moms out there happy and well and let us all remember with love and pride all the moms who came before us... they are dearly missed!