Mothers Day...

5minutesformom.com is hosting a photo contest for Mothers Day. To be completely honest I couldn't pick just one picture. I have been so blessed to be around so many incredible women in my life that I thought I would use this occasion to honor all of them. Unfortunately two of them were taken from me as a teenager.. but I will never forget how much they meant to me and what they did to make me the woman and mother I am today.

This is my grandma Helen, my mom's mom. I scanned in several pictures of her when she was younger, but her eyes in this one just stood out. It is uncanny just how much she, my mother, and I all look alike. I see so many of the same traits in Hailie.

This is my Grandma Dee, my dad's mom. She is pregnant with my dad in this picture. My dad is the youngest of 9 children. She was an amazing woman. She passed away when I was 15. I miss her a lot. We called her "Mama Dee"

This picture is my parents taken back in 1982. This picture was taken at the Battleship Texas on Nov 10, the day before I was born. They were 18 years old.

This is my mom and I when I was only a few days old.

This is my "Aunt" Billie. When I was born my parents lived in an apartment and she lived across the hall. She adopted us as her family. She did so much for us I can't even begin to say. She moved in with us when I was 15, right after she had a stroke. She would pass away when I was 16. She had a profound effect on me.. and I miss her more than words can say.

I know she's looking down on me and is proud of everything I have accomplished.

Some of my favorite memories were when I was little I would go over to her apt and spent the night every Friday. She would buy me notebooks so I could write my novel and we would watch TGIF.

This is my mother and I right before I got married. She did so much to make my day perfect. She always did that as I was growing up. She was my best friend when I need a friend and a parent when I needed a parent. I knew I could always count on her no matter what. That still applies today. She is my rock - and I thank God she is my mom.

This is Hailie and I when she was just a few days old. She has taught me what it truly means to love someone unconditionally. I never knew I could love someone so much. Nothing brightens my day more than when she runs into my arms to give me a hug. No matter how bad things might be she reminds me everyday just how great God is.

I just have to say writing this post made me tear up.