Happy Mother's Day

This is my beautiful mother. I can't do justice with words to say what she means to me, but I want to tell her that I admire her...that I respect her...and that she has made my life so much sweeter with the kind of woman she is. I know there are alot of rocky mother/daughter relationships out there, but we have never had that kind of relationship. And that's not credit to me...that's purely her and the work and love she has poured in to my sisters and I.

She has lived her life in the ministry, supporting my dad, tirelessly and without alot of compensation...to be honest, they lived on very little throughout their ministry. When my dad retired, she took on the huge role of starting a business (IN HER 60's...yeah, did I mention she was strong too?). And this is no stationery business, or selling trinkets in a posh boutique...this is all heart and soul ministry to the elderly. She is a caregiver...and the best one I've seen.

She began that ministry years ago when she helped care for her daddy as he was dying, and then again with my dad's mother. She is now caring for not only her own mother, Mamaw, but 3 other people as well. These are people whom she only met months ago...but she loves them like they're part of her family and she takes care of them with all the dignity and respect that she affords her own mother. She has loved and carried three different families through the death of their loved ones who lived at her house...tenderly caring for them through their last breaths. Not everyone can do this...as I said...she's strong. I think that's where I get my strength from. We Sparkses don't wallow in stuff...we are hard workers and doers. I credit both my parents for that...but who are we kidding...moms set the tone for families.

So thank you mom...for too much to post here...thank you for raising me to love unconditionally...and to love and live for Jesus. Thank you for loving and caring for Mamaw even when she doesn't know you anymore. Thank you for loving Steve and accepting him as a son...even though he likes to have fun at your expense sometimes. And thank you for loving my boys as only a true Grammy can. You make life sweet...and fun...and you give way more than you could ever get back. I love you...to the moon and back.