Happy Mothers Day

My mother is a very special woman. Some how she managed to raise four children separated by seven years. She's the most loving person I know. 

She's helped her four children always work towards realizing their dreams without ever forcing her decisions upon us. Now she's got children ages 25 (almost) to 18 and a house that might be empty of children - finally - come August. 

One of my favorite stories about my mother comes from my days at CUA. My friends and I would gather to play Madden a few times a week. During those games we'd eat whatever treats my mom had sent along. (She sent a lot of boxes.) I don't like chocolate, but when my mom realized my friends were eating all the food along with me, she started adding chocolate chip brownies and cookies just for them.

Many of my best memories of my mother revolve around food. I learned to cook by watching her. (It's my one example of how osmosis learning might pay off. You couldn't not learn while standing in her kitchen.) If I ever can't figure out how to cook something, I call my mother. 

But I've learned more than cooking from my mom. I've also learned a certain joie de vivre. I really admire the way she lives her life. She finds time to go to work and get things done around the house. She also finds time for the things that make her happy - like going to the beach. 

I hope someday my mother takes the love of cooking and love of life an extra step further. For what seemed like a decade, she won the bake off in a variety of categories at our town's celebration. Her cakes, pies, brownies and cookies are absolutely delicious. She's talked about starting a catering business or restaurant. It obviously would be really difficult at this moment, but I hope eventually she gives it a try. She's helped so many people pursue their dreams, my mother should get the chance to live hers.

Happy Mother's Day mom. I love you.