Mom

Spring is here finally. throw out the old dark colors of winter and try on the bright new colors of spring. Mother's day is coming; I was blessed with an exceptional mother and want to pay tribute to her.

She was raised in the Appalachians of West Virgina during WWll by her widowed grandmother, who had children of her own to raise. Her life was hard, compounded by Psoriasis, a skin disease that is unsightly as well as itchy and painful, that covered her entire body. She was smart and imaginative and with the help of her church and teachers she was able to go away to college. She was the first in her family to do anything like that.

As with many women of her generation she married without finishing her degree and promptly began having children. She had no experience in childcare or housekeeping so she learned everything the hard way. Pregnancy was very hard for her as she was sick most of the time, yet she brought five children into the world. She lost her first daughter at the age of two. Her third child, a son, was born with many physical problems. It is by the grace of God and her care as a mother that he is alive, working as a nurse, with a beautiful wife and family of his own.

Always plagued with financial stress during her life, she decided to go back to school. She wanted to help those that are the most needy, children, and chose to prepare for a career in Social work. She got her Bachelor's degree, then her Master's degree while I was in high school. This was not the norm for women of her time so she broke the mold and followed her heart. She again was the first in her family to get a college degree. From her example, her children have 5 Associate Degrees or equivalent, 2 Bachelor's degrees and 1 Master's Degree. Her children are all honest, good people, raising good children, who pay their own way and serve in their church and community. Not bad for a dirty little appalachian girl whose parents were alchohalics and was an unwanted burden on her grandmother.

I love you mom and thank you for your love and support.

Don't forget the women who raised you and influenced you for good. Check out AVON'S beautiful gifts for Mother Day on my website:
www.youravon.com/mbeach
The Sterling Silver Fire Topaz Ring is gorgeous and is very affordable at $49.99. Give her Diamonds with a Diamond Accent watch by Gruen for $9.99.