papier mache: mama...i love you!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mamas, baby mamas, future baby mamas, and grandmamas!

Especially to my amazing and beautiful mother!

I am the youngest out of all her kids...her baby girl. So yes you can guess, I was spoiled..still am:)

Growing up I never really knew my life was any different than the average person and that was all because of her. Through all the adversity we experienced. Lack of things and people in our lives, she never made us feel like we didn't have a fulfilling childhood.

She tried her hardest to take ALL the burdens that are so apparent to me now as an adult on her own shoulders so that we could be happy kids, have the things we wanted (most of the time), while teaching us how to be responsible, loving, and just good people.

I can't say that my brothers and I gave her the easiest time. We saw the holes...we felt it. The missing pieces that were obvious to the world of the things we didn't have...even though my mother tried her hardest...working 2-3 jobs after coming to America while raising 4 kids (3 boys and 1 girl) all on her own.

Emotionally we felt we were missing. We saw kids with two parents. Steady incomes. Material things. Fancy vacations. They were normal. So she tried. She gave us what she could. Spread her arms as wide as possible to fill that void. Let her protection go for a bit so we could be normal. But it turns out, she was all we ever EVER needed.

The material things fade. Our income was everything we needed. We were blessed to have an amazing family that covered us with unconditional LOVE and support. We had it all.

And that was because of her.

Her strong shoulders carried our hurts. Her hands were always there to wipe away our tears. Her mind taught us the lessons of our life...love God, love people, and DO good. Her huge heart enveloped us with unbelievable and forgiving love. ..even though we put her through hell and back.

She never pretended to be perfect. But she always did everything for us with our best intentions at heart.

So celebrating Mother's day once a year isn't even enough. Celebrating it everyday for the rest of the years won't be enough. The sacrifices she made...the abuse she endured....the long hours she worked...is a debt I will never be able to pay back. And the most amazing thing is, she doesn't expect me to which makes her one of the best mothers ever.

When people told me I was fat, she told me I was gorgeous. When people doubted my success, she was already planning my graduation party. When people didn't understand my "outspoken-ness", she told me I was strong.

Let's face it. Getting two doctorates isn't an accomplishment I can take full credit for. Her faith in me...pushing me everyday to be the best I can be...is why I never settled for less. The man I married is an example of that same thing.

As I sit here writing this dedication, I can feel the wiggles and kicks of my baby girl that will be here in just months.

It scares me that I will get to try to fill those shoes for my daughter. Be the example my mother was to me. Be the woman my daughter will be proud of one day just like I am of my mom.

She took her position as "mommy" seriously and I plan to do the same thing. I am so blessed to have my family support especially a strong and amazing man by my side that will be the best dad ever.

I only hope I can be at least half as amazing as my mother was to my brothers and I.