A collection of poems, memories and notes dedicated to our mothers













A collection of poems, memories and notes dedicated to our mothers
I’m so happy to be celebrating you again this year! You’ve endured many challenges these last 6 months and never gave up the fight. With strength and determination, even when things looked bleak, you never lost hope that things would get better. You’re an inspiration to us all. You are truly a warrior.
I am so blessed to have you as my mom and so appreciative of all the time we’ve been spending together.
Thank you for always being there for me, despite the struggles in your own life.
“May the Lord to bless you and keep you; May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace” Numbers 6:24-26.
xoxoxoxo Jenny
A meal out doesn’t require a lot of thought, here are some other ideas.
Mother’s Day is just around the corner, so it’s time to start thinking about ways to celebrate the special day. Traditionally families usually take mom out for a meal to celebrate the day and
to give her a break, but there are other ways to celebrate and surprise the moms in your families. One of the easiest ways to celebrate is to give the mom in your life a card, that indicates she “has the day off.” To accomplish this, first let “mom” sleep in that morning. Then before mom gets up, dad along with the help of the kids if they are old enough should make a nice breakfast for her to start her special day off. At breakfast give mom a card, on that card indicate the breakfast is
just the start of the day and maybe have a little pin or badge for her to wear that says “Mom Is Off On Her Special Day.”
This means that all the chores…and other responsibilities mom usually has on this day are canceled and will be performed by dad and the kids. Who does what that day partly decides on how old the kids are. If they
are old enough to help with the chores, then dad should organize them ahead of time and come up with a chore list. If the kids are too young to handle the chores, then dad will be responsible for doing the standard chores of the day as well as keeping an eye on the kids so mom can relax on this day off. If mom usually doesn’t get a chance to get out of the house on her
Happy Mother’s Day, Mom! Another year has passed, but where did it go? One thing I know is many minutes of many days were spent talking to you, laughing with you and loving you!
Thank you for spending all those minutes with your attention on my needs, my questions, and any other topic you listened to me talk about. I can only hope I fulfilled your needs in those conversations, as well as you fulfilled mine.
own to go shopping, this would be a good day for her to take that opportunity. Or, if she would prefer to stay home and rest, then after the chores are done, dad should take the kids out of the house for the afternoon to give mom time to rest.
After an afternoon of relaxation, surprise mom with one other thing. At that point either take her out to dinner or make dinner for her. If the kids are old enough to help then making her dinner might be a better idea as everyone can help contribute to that special meal. If they are too young, keep in mind that dad will already have been busy keeping up with the chores and entertaining the kids, so maybe going out for a meal would be nice. Choose mom’s favorite restaurant in that case. At dinner, give mom some small presents from dad and the kids that show how much she means to them. This could be something as simple as drawings from the kids, a framed photo of the family together, home made mother’s day cards, or something purchased from a store like a clock or scarf
I love you very much and look forward to many more minutes spent with you again this year!
Love Always, Crystle
with the kids pictures on it. After dinner have the family spend some quality time together. Have the kids share with their mom how much she means to them, and have dad let her know how important she is to him and how much he appreciates
what she does for the family. Maybe also go through family photo albums so the kids can see the family as they grew up, and their mom’s family as well in the photo album. Remember, the day is to celebrate the “mom” of the family, this includes making her feel special through the treatment you give her, and also that you have a true interest in her. That can include her activities, families, or a variety of other subjects.
June Cleaver. Roseanne Conner. Nora Walker. Over the years, there have been some interesting TV moms, and some interesting actresses who played them. Think you know a lot about TV moms and the women who played them? Take this quiz and find out.
1) Barbara Billingsley
played Wally and Beaver’s mother, June Cleaver, on Leave It to Beaver. True or False? Answer: True.
2) Jean Stapleton played Mike’s mother, Edith Bunker, on All in the Family. True or False? Answer: False. Jean Stapleton did play the role of Edith Bunker, but Edith was not Mike’s mother. She was his mother-in-law.
3) Florence Henderson played Lionel’s mother, Louise Jefferson, on The Jeffersons. True or False? Answer: False. Isabel Sanford played Louise Jefferson. Florence Henderson played mom Carol Brady on The Brady Bunch.
4) Roxie Roker played Jenny’s mother, Helen (Continued On Page 4)
(Continued From Page 3)
Willis, on The Jeffersons. True or False? Answer: True.
5) Esther Rolle played J.J., Thelma and Michael’s mother, Florida Evans, on Good Times. True or False. Answer: True.
6) Erin Gray played Kate Summers, who eventually became Ricky’s stepmother on Silver Spoons. True or False? Answer: True.
7) Cloris Leachman played dorm mother Edna Garrett early on in The Facts of Life. True or False?
Answer: False. Charlotte Rae played dorm mother Edna Garrett in the opening season of the show. When Rae left the show years later, Cloris Leachman filled the void, playing Edna’s sister Beverly Ann Stickle.
8) Sada Thompson played Alex, Mallory, Jennifer and Andy’s mother, Elyse Keaton, on Family Ties. True or False? False. Sada Thompson played Kate Lawrence on Family. Meredith Baxter-
This is going to be short and sweet. I got the best mom ever, wouldn’t trade her for anything. Love you, Mom.
Bonnie
Let’s all start something new. Just give your mom a hug, just because, they give up so much for us…
HYM = Hug Your Mama 9
Birney played Elyse Keaton on Family Ties as well as Nancy, Kate’s daughter on Family.
9) Roseanne Barr played Becky, Darlene, D.J., Jerry and Andy’s mother, Roseanne Conner, on Roseanne. True or False? Answer: False. Roseanne Barr did play the role of Roseanne Conner, but Roseanne was not Andy’s mother. She was his aunt.
10) Betty White played Dorothy’s mother, Sophia Petrillo, on The Golden Girls. True or False? Answer: False. Estelle Getty played Sophia Petrillo. Betty White played Dorothy’s roommate and friend Rose Nylund.
MULCH & SOIL
• Cypress
• Colored Black
• Colored Red
• Colored Brown
• Play Trail
• Premium Mulch
• Screened Topsoil
• Mushroom Soil
• Potting Soil
• Pine Straw
11) Suzanne Somers played Mike, Carol, Ben and Chrissie’s mother, Maggie Seaver, on Growing Pains. True or False? Answer: False. Joanna Kerns played Maggie Seaver. Suzanne Somers played mom Carol
Foster on Step by Step.
I’m missing you both, Grandma and Nanny, each and every day. I look at your pictures on my walls and can’t help but miss all the fun times we had together. It’s also fun to look back at older photos and imagine knowing you as younger women.
You were both caring, fun and loving mothers, grandmothers and greatgrandmothers, in your own special ways.
12) Two actresses played Carlton, Hilary, Ashley and Nicky’s mother, Vivian Banks, on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: Janet Hubert-Whitten and Vernee Watson-Johnson. True or False? Answer: False. Janet Hubert-Whitten and Daphne Maxwell Reid played Vivian Banks. Vernee WatsonJohnson played Will’s mother, Viola Smith.
I still wish I could make a phone call and get advice from you when things are hard. You both had clear opinions on many matters. I try to think what each of you would say. I love you both! I miss you both! Happy Mother’s Day from afar…Grandma and Nanny!
Love Always, Crystle
LANDSCAPE & GARDEN SUPPLIES
• Concrete Lawn Ornaments
• Fire Pits
• Firewood
• Railroad Ties
• Grass Seed
• Weed Barrier
• Straw Mats
• Poly Furniture
• Bagged Lime
Straw Bales
Concrete Sand
Mason Sand
Pocono Round Gravel
Maryland River Gravel
Delaware River Gravel
Red Stone
13) Marcia Cross plays Andrew, Danielle and Benjamin’s biological mother, Bree Hodge, on Desperate Housewives. True or False? Answer: False. Marcia Cross does play the role of Bree Hodge, but Bree is not the biological mom of Benjamin. Her daughter Danielle is.
15) Calista Flockhart plays Nora Walker, matriarch of the Walker clan, on Brothers and Sisters. True or False?
Answer: False. Sally Field plays Nora Walker. Calista Flockhart plays her daughter Kitty.
Well, how did you do? If you got most of them right, give yourself a pat on the back. You really do know your TV moms and the actresses who played them.
14) Dixie Carter played Bree’s mother, Gloria, on Desperate Housewives. True or False? Answer: False. Dixie Carter played Gloria Hodge, Bree’s mother-inlaw and her husband Orson’s mother.
Flowers are one of the most popular gifts for moms. According to The Flower Expert, an online floral resource, of fresh cut flowers purchased for Mother’s Day, mixed flowers, roses and carnations are very popular. While flowers can be a heartfelt gift, why not think of the other scent-sational ways you can show Mom you care this year?
An interesting and original gift idea is introducing Mom to aromatherapy. The science of aromatherapy involves using plant extracts and essential oils as natural ways to improve health, fitness and well-being. Different plant compounds and oils produce different effects. Proponents of aromatherapy say that says that it is much more than an “alternative health” practice. There is evidence that inhaling certain scents can trigger the nervous system and produce a variety of results, including bringing about memories or causing bodily reactions. In fact, some people say that the quickest way to evoke a memory is to use a smell.
Aromatherapy is used in many ways. Realtors suggest baking cookies or simmering vanilla to create an inviting and calm environment when selling a home. Certain aromas revive and give a person energy. Others are calming and therapeutic. Depending upon the woman you love, you can choose scented gifts that will inspire, calm or energize this Mother’s Day.
Essential oils and popular aromatherapy scents can be found in many products today. Here’s a look at the aromatherapy benefits of some popular scents.
Orange blossom: This citrus and sweet scent helps one to feel refreshed and relaxed. It is known to have antidepressant capabilities.
Lavender: This scent is very well known for its calming and therapeutic properties. Lavender is often used during baths and in the evening to help a person wind down.
Peony: This scent can produce anti-inflammatory reactions in the body. It has been shown to reduce cramps and other aches and pains.
Lilac: Another mood lifter, lilac evokes happiness and harmony.
We wouldn’t be the people we are without our amazing, hardworking, kind, and selfless mom. Thank you for everything, always. Happy Mother’s Day! We love you! - Jennifer, Vanessa & Nicholas
Mother’s Day is a holiday that is celebrated across the country and around the world. However, have you ever thought about the tradition behind the day?
The earliest Mother’s Day celebrations can be traced to the spring celebrations of ancient Greece in honor of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. During the 1600s, England celebrated a day called “Mothering Sunday,” on the fourth Sunday of Lent (the 40-day period leading up to Easter). “Mothering Sunday” honored the mothers of England.
During this time, many of England’s poor worked as servants for the wealthy. As most jobs were located far from their homes, the servants lived at the houses of their employers. On Mothering Sunday, servants had the day off and were encouraged to return home to spend the day with their mothers. A special cake, called the mothering cake, was often brought along to provide a festive touch.
As Christianity spread throughout Europe, the celebration changed to honor the “Mother Church” -- the spiritual power that gave them life and protected them
Linda Walters
For all this and so much more
from harm. Over time, the church festival blended with the Mothering Sunday celebration. People began honoring their mothers as well as the church.
In the United States, Mother’s Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe (who wrote the words to the “Battle Hymn of the Republic”) as a day
dedicated to peace. Ms. Howe organized Mother’s Day meetings in Boston every year.
In 1907, Anna Jarvis, of Philadelphia, campaigned to establish a national Mother’s Day. Ms. Jarvis persuaded her mother’s church in Grafton, West Virginia, to celebrate Mother’s Day on (Continued On Page 6)
There is nothing like a Mother’s “LOVE” and being blessed from it the way I have been! Words can’t express my gratitude for all you have done and sacrificed for me and my family through the years. For all your hugs, encouragement and faithful support, GREAT meals, I could always count on you to be there in my time of need. I truly don’t know where or what I would be doing right now if I didn’t have a Mom like you who believed in me and saw my potential when I and others couldn’t and for that I will be forever grateful!
You poured your life into your family and always managed to make ends meet.
I want to lift you up in this tribute to let you know your life has impacted so many lives through the years. We all thank God for blessing us through you! Now I want to be here for you and lifting you up in prayer during these trying times in your life. Praying God will give healing, wisdom, provision and a peace that passes understanding. Your life Bible verse, Isaiah 41:10, perfect for such a time as this!
I love you so much and thank God for allowing my life to be blessed by your love!
Happy Mother’s Day!
All my love, Your son Scott
Mom, Thank you for teaching us what it means to love God and put Him first in our lives. Thank you for showing us what it means to serve others and for serving us and our growing families well. Thank you for giving us a childhood filled with adventure,
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the second anniversary of her mother’s death, the second Sunday of May. By
excitement, new experiences and joy. Thank you for loving us unconditionally and supporting our dreams in every way you can. Thank you for always being available when the unexpected comes and saying yes to all the ways we still rely on you. Thank you for being a safe place for our children to laugh and
the next year, Mother’s Day was also celebrated in Philadelphia.
Ms. Jarvis and her supporters wrote to ministers, businessmen and politicians in their quest to establish a national Mother’s Day. It was successful, and by 1911,
play and live their lives. We are beyond blessed to call you Mommy, Mama Crills and Mom over the years and now we are blessed to hear our children call you Nanny.
With all our love, Joscelynn, Jes, Jordan, Jeremy and all your bonus kids too.
Mother’s Day was celebrated in almost every state. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made the official announcement proclaiming Mother’s Day as a national holiday that was to be held each year on the second Sunday of May.
While many countries celebrate their own Mother’s Days at different times throughout the year, some countries, like Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia and Belgium, also celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May.
Why not make Mom a Mother’s Day gift she will cherish for years to come? Don’t have any ideas? Here are a few to choose from.
• #1 Mom Medallion. Items needed: newspaper, pen, juice can lid, scissors , 5-inch white doily , white craft glue , yogurt container, paintbrush, photo of yourself, red marker , 1/4-inch wide red satin ribbon , glue gun, red glitter
1. Cover work surface with newspaper.
2. Using the pen and juice lid, cut out the center of the doily.
3. Pour a small amount of glue into the yogurt container. Take the paintbrush and spread the glue
evenly on top of the juice can lid.
4. Press the doily into the center of the lid. Let dry.
5. Trace the lid around the part of the photo you want to have on the opposite side of the medallion and cut it out.
6. Spread more glue on the bottom of the juice can lid, press the photo into place and let dry.
7. Using the red marker, write #1 Mom on the doily side of the medallion.
8. Cut a piece of ribbon that will fit around Mom’s neck and knot it at the end.
9. Use the glue gun to apply a drop of glue to the back of the juice can lid above the edge of the photo. Press the knot of the ribbon into the hot glue and hold in place until secure.
10. Squeeze a thin line of glue around the edge of the doily and completely cover it with red glitter. Let dry and shake off the excess.
tangles from cardstock.
2. Practice pressing your thumb on the stamp pad and creating two overlapping prints in the form of a V on scrap paper.
3. When ready, make the same berry mark on the cardstock and let dry.
4. Use the colored markers to draw stems and seeds on the berry, create a border and write a message to Mom.
5. Punch a hole in the bookmark and tie a ribbon through it.
• Door Hanger. Items needed: purple foam door hanger, foam hearts in Mom’s favorite color, tacky glue, scissors, teal and black craft foam, paint marker
1. Arrange the foam hearts into the shape of a flower and glue into place on the door hanger.
2. Cut out a small circle of black foam and glue it into the center of the flower.
• Bookmark. Items needed: light-colored cardstock, scissors, scrap paper, nontoxic red stamp pad , colored markers , hole punch , ribbon
1. Cut two 8-inch rec-
3. Cut out leaves from the teal foam and glue them to the flower.
4. Let the hanger dry.
5. Write “Time Out for Mom” or “Mom’s Quiet Time” on the hanger.
The child stood sadly looking down, Staring at something on the ground. Her mother’s words were harsh and sharp; She felt them tearing her apart.
The silent tears rolled down her cheek, But still she stood, mute and meek. She knew somehow she was rejected, Although physically, she was not neglected.
She wasn’t yet in her teens, Just a tomboy, in blue jeans. She had learned to live with pain; Throughout her days, it would remain.
Again her mind wondered, “Why?” Perhaps she’d know, by and by. There must be something awfully wrong, She guessed she’d known it all along.
Maybe it was her own plain looks, She’d read of it in some books. How to a mother of unusual beauty, Her plain child might be an unwanted duty.
But her mother was so fair, If there was any trouble there, The fault must surely be her own, Oh, how she wished that she was grown.
Then she would go away and hide, While her heart just ached and cried. Finally the hurting words had ceased, From their cruel blows she was released. So she turned and walked away, She knew better than to stay. In her room she closed her door, And cried ‘til she could cry no more.
Then she prepared herself for bed, Washed her face, with eyes so red. She wished her Mom would hug her tight. And, just once, kiss her goodnight.
At last she crawled into her bed; Silently, her prayers were said. “Please, Lord, just let Mom love me, And, oh, so good I’ll always be.”
The years have passed, the scene has changed, Mother and daughter still remain. The mother now is growing old, The child, once warm, has grown so cold.
Somehow, the roles are now reversed, The mother’s last, The daughter’s first, The beauty, too, has been exchanged. It seems that nature rearranged.
The child, now grown, has beauty fair, There is none other to compare, While the mother has grown old and gray, Her loveliness has passed away.
The mother looks up at her now grown child, And tries to please her, with a smile. But the daughter coldly turns away, She’s much too busy to stop today.
Let the old lady sit awhile, She’s not about to change her style. She walks out, with no good-bye, And the old mother starts to cry.
Oh, if she could only just erase, The coldness from her daughter’s face. If she’d just come and hug her tight, And kiss her withered face goodnight.
If those lost years she could recall, She’d live them over, one and all. She’d give the love, she now so longs to get, And then be rid of this regret.
But she knows, this can’t be so. Years don’t come back, once they go.
So she must live with being spurned, The things she taught, were so well learned.
So I leave you, with this thought: Please take heed, lest you get caught. Live long enough and you will see, As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.
~Connie Eppes 9
A mother
And while she held him, she sang: I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, As long as I’m living my baby you’ll be.
The baby grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was two years old, and he ran all around the house. He pulled all the books off the shelves. He pulled all the food out of the refrigerator and he took his mother’s watch and flushed it down the toilet. Sometimes his mother would say, “This kid is driving me CRAZY!” But at night time,
when that two-year-old was quiet, she opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor, looked up over the side of his bed; and if he was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang: I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, As long as I’m living my baby you’ll be.
The little boy grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was nine years old. And he never wanted to come in for dinner, he never wanted to take a bath, and when grandma visited he always said bad words. Sometimes his mother wanted to sell him to the zoo! But at night time, when he was asleep, the mother quietly opened
the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep, she picked up that nine-year-old boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she rocked him she sang: I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, As long as I’m living my baby you’ll be. The boy grew. He grew
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and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was a teenager. He had strange friends and he wore strange clothes and he listened to strange music. Sometimes the mother felt like she was in a zoo! But at night time, when that teenager was asleep, the mother opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep she picked up that great big boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang: I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, As long as I’m living my baby you’ll be. That teenager grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was a grown-up man. He left home and got a house across town. But sometimes on dark nights the mother got into her car and drove across town. If all the lights in her son’s house were out, she opened his bedroom window, crawled across the floor, and looked up over the side of his bed. If that great big man was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she rocked him she sang: I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, As long as I’m living my baby you’ll be. Well, that mother, she got older. She got older and older and older. One day she called up her son and said, “You better come see me because I’m very old and sick.” So her son came to see her. When he came in the door she tried to sing the song. She sang: I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always…But she couldn’t finish because she was too old and sick.
By Wilson Casey
The son went to his mother. He picked her up and rocked her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And he sang this song: I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, As long as I’m living my Mom you’ll be.
When the son came home that night, he stood for a long time at the top of the stairs. Then he went into the room where his very new baby daughter was sleeping. He picked her up in his arms and very slowly rocked her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while he rocked her he sang: I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, As long as I’m living my baby you’ll be.
~ Robert Munsch