Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

For my mom... a movie my brother found and warms my heart. To me it depicts the upbringing and steadfast strength of my mom and her Norwegian heritage. 

My mom is strong in heart and body, has a heart that is solid and will not back down on what she believes is right. You can feel her strength, her worries and her love just by her presence.  When she disapproves you will know it just by the look in her eyes. I've seen that look many times and there is no escaping or denying the truth from her.  She's one strong woman and at 77 yrs she's still working 5 days a week, 10 hour days and rarely if ever complains. 

She's my strength when I'm weak and provides me confidence when I'm in doubt. She believes that everything happens for a reason.  She's the mainstay in a life of chaos and how she does it, I believe, is from her heritage.

So, all that being said this is a scene from a movie called "I Remember Mama" and I dedicate it to my mom this Mother's Day. 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOM.... I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART!

NOTE: a 30 second commercial might play before the video starts)

LIke My Mother Does

If I could only do like my mother does... her strength, her composure, her patience... she has helped me through many a rough time and I am forever grateful to be blessed with her love and guidance.

Poem for my mom

This post may be late but it still holds the same meaning as when I gave it to my mom on Mother's Day this year. I haven't been the easiest child, (I sure wouldn't want to be my mom!) but she taught me so much and even if I haven't quite learned all of her lessons well, they are instilled in my heart. So... this is my poem for my mom..not much really, but its all I got. 

Thank you Mom, for giving me

The important things in life

By being strong and standing tall

For teaching me what's right

You've shown me how to see the light

When everything went dim

You never let me give up hope

When life was dark and grim

Always you've been there for me

At times I wondered why

It couldn't have been easy

To watch your child cry

By doing that you gave to me

A strength that will not die

Things happen for a reason, right?
But only if I try

So this Mother's Day I give to you

The thing I cherish most

A love you placed within my heart

and forever I hold close

Happy Mother's Day!

How do I say "Thank You" to my mom and pay tribute to my son who made me a mother? The only way I can find is through a poem for my mom, and a song for my son.
To my two angels... I love you both with all my heart!

I know I haven't been an easy child,

But love for you lies underneath my whims;

There is no way I could be tame or mild:

I need sometimes to shout and wave my limbs.

You're the wall I need to test my height,

The countervailing force to test my strength,

The chain I hammer at with all my might,

Even though you have increased its length.

It's tough, I know, to be both Mom and Dad,

To raise me all alone, just hit or miss;

To have to play at once good cop and bad,

And give me grief before my goodnight kiss.

But love against the odds is stronger still:

I need your fierce, proud love, and always will.
by Nicholas Gordan

Promise Yourself by Christian D. Larson

Love is a hard feeling to truly express, at least for me. I'm never quite sure if those I love really know how much they are loved... how much they mean to me.

I'm posting this poem again because I neglected to mention the person who gave it to me... my mom.

When I was in my late teens she gave me a little book called, "Keep Your Face to the Sunshine, A Collection of Creeds". There were a couple of poems she had placed a star next to and this was one of them.

Promise Yourself...

Promise yourself to be so strong

that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity

to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything

and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best

and expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others

as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and

press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and

give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself

that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry,

too noble for anger,

too strong for fear and

too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

~Christian D. Larson

I love you, mom

The "F" word - Hank Williams Jr. & Kid Rock

Happy Birthday, Mom!
This is for my mom. It's her birthday today, July 5th, and I have never, ever heard her say the "F" word! (unlike her daughter who can swear like a sailor!)
I love you, Mom... more than words, or a song, can say.
Forever and always!

To Johnny Cash... my belated "Thank You"

A long overdue "Thank You"

The following is a letter I wrote to Johnny Cash to thank him for the picture I have of him and and his wife with my son. Unfortunately, the day I finished and was going to mail the letter, he died.  My mom told me to mail it anyways, but I didn't. I felt so sad and so bad that I didn't send it sooner... way sooner. Lesson learned.
I sent a copy of the letter and picture to Roseanne Cash and she gave me permission to post it. (Thank you, Roseanne!) So, here is my long overdue "Thank You" to a man I will NEVER forget.

September 1, 2003

Dear Mr. Cash,

I have waited much too long to write you this "Thank you" letter. I'm not one to write letters and I am very sorry it took me so long to write this one. It's hard to put into words what I have to say, but I know it's more important to say something than to have said nothing at all.

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for graciously accepting my request for a picture of you and your wife at the Salt Lake City Airport Thanksgiving weekend of 1989. The picture has been on my family's piano ever since. My 18 month old son was upset and crying from a long plane ride and I was scared and surprised when you kindly responded to my request for your picture by saying, "With the baby, of course!" Nervously, I placed him in your lap and immediately he calmed down. Wow! Thank you for that, as well! My son Cody, is now 16 years old and continues to amaze me with his wholesome, admirable character and calm spirituality.

My condolences go out to you and your family for the loss of your beautiful wife. I can only imagine how much you miss her. If it's of any help, I remember the day my close friend, Candy, passed away and what she said to my son, who was only five years old at the time. She said to him, "Please don't be sad. Soon I will have my wings and I will be with you always, watching over you forever."

Mr. Cash, I can not tell you how much your music has carried me through life. I feel honored and blessed for having met you and your wife. Thank you for giving me a memory I will cherish forever.