I used to spend the days leading up to Mother's Day wringing my hands. What on earth could I get for my mother as a gift that would show her how much I appreciated all she had done? My mother would always say, she didn't need anything. "I have too many knick-knacks, and flowers always die," she would say.

Mom was the hardest person to buy a gift for. I usually settled on a couple of movies since she loved to watch them with her "boys," my brother Paul's children. My mother was my biggest critic, it's true but she was also my number 1 fan. The photograph on the right, taken not too long before she got sick reminds me of that sentiment. (My Dad says that it means "See yah up there!")

Although many criticize that Mother's Day is a concoction of the greeting card industry, it still has a lot of effect on this country. The busiest day for the phone company; the millions of dollars the floral industry takes in; the one time of the year when we (Mothers) get to hear the words "I love you" from sons who don't often say those words. Even though we know it, we still love to hear it. But as mother's, it's also the one time when we have the opportunity to let our children know that we may be tough on them. We may push a little too hard. We might seem stubborn and bullheaded. In the end, it's all because we're their number 1 fans.

In honor of Mother's Day, I want to thank all of the moms in our group, for all of your pushing and criticizing. We would not be who were are without all that you do for us! Thank you, Moms!

Love,

April