Mother's Day

This blog is dedicated to our mothers. AJ and I each took the time to write up a little something about each of our moms. We want them to know just how much they mean to us - even though words can hardly describe it. We love you!

Trish Reedstrom, Mother of Liz for 25 and half years... 

Mom. I'm not even sure where to start. You've made me the person I am today. I am the way I am, because of you. You've taught me everything I know. Even when you didn't think you were teaching me lessons about life or love, you were. Because I was always watching, always listening. Always wondering if I would ever grow up to be half the amazing person you are. Your faith in God is the number one thing I love most about you. Because that faith shapes every other part of who you are. Your faith, to me, is so unwavering, so strong, so sure. Your faith makes you a loving individual who cares for everyone. It makes you passionate about what you believe in. It makes you want to be involved in a number of things so that you can share your faith and your love.
You are an incredibly talented person - whether it's quilting, cross-stitching, cooking, gardening, playing the piano or singing, scrap-booking or studying to go back to school. You've taught me that no matter what - if you want to do something, you can do it. You were always there to help me up when I fall, to hold me when I needed a hug, to tell me it was going to be okay when I wasn't sure. You were always there celebrating along with me whether it was high school or college graduation, my first real job or getting married. And although I joke about you always crying at these events, it's just proof of how much your love shines through for us kids. You are the person I look to for everything. You are the person I've never wanted to disappoint. You are the person I want to be proud of who I've become and know that I've become who I am because of you. You are the person I strive to be like - in all ways of life. You are the type of mom I pray I can be to my kids someday. 
You always give me the help I need - even when I'm too proud to ask for it and at the same time you're never overbearing. You always give the best advice and somehow always know the right answer. You've always been the best mom a girl can ask for. You were always there for all the friend drama, all the boyfriend drama, all the homework problems, all the big life decisions. You were always there for when it mattered most.
There are so many memories I'll never forget... the late nights at the dinner tables, trying to learn my spelling words, our sing-along's around the piano, going for bike rides on the Red Jacket Trail, taking meals out to Dad and Mark during harvest, traveling to Guatemala for the youth trip, making you clean my earrings after I pierced my ears because I was too scared, the bedtime stories, letting us play dress up in your old clothes, the singing of "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as you're living, my best friend you'll be.", the summer vacations and always making sure we learned something along the way, holding me as I cried over love lost, crying when I found my wedding dress, and pulling me aside at my wedding to give me some additional wisdom. And so much more.
Every day I've been blessed with an amazing mom. And every day I thank God for that. Every day I thank God for you. I will love you until the sky ends. And I'll love you forever. I'll like you for always. As long as you're living, my best friend you'll be. I love you Mom. Happy Mother's Day.

Lora Zaruba, Mother of Austin for 24 years...

There are days when my head is swimming with too many details: the school schedules, the bills, the laundry, and the phone calls to return and don’t even get me started on the amount of emails that have stacked up.  Perhaps Mom, you feel the same way.  Your list may be a little different, but your brain is swirling with stuff just the same. I wish I could give you a hug and let you know that everything is going to be fine but then I remember that I learned to deal with these things from you! You’re the master! I can hear your voice in my head and it says, “Simply make a list of what needs to get done and then do it.” Or “Take it one day at a time!” and even my favorite and most often used- “Just breathe.” It really is a pretty amazing mental phenomenon, the sound of your Mother’s voice; it is quite possibly the most unexplainable comfort. Whenever I feel down, I start to think about the influence you have had on me- I remember the hugs, the tears, the laughs and the conversations that make me who I am today.

Mom, let me be honest. When I talk to Jesus, I think about the times we used to pray. Prayers at night before bed or prayers at church/Sunday school, and when I was young I didn’t quite understand. I am grown now, I talk to Jesus from time to time and I admit- you have come up.

I tell Him how much I love you.

I told Him how I wanted him to give you strength through Grandpa’s passing

I ask Him for forgiveness for all the mean and unfair things I did to you when I was young.

I admit to him that I miss being young sometimes because of how close we were

Most importantly…

I thank him- for you.

 

Thank you Mom for being there my whole life
Thank you Mom for being there when I was feeling down
Thank you Mom for giving me a peace of mind
Thank you Mom for buying me things even if I didn’t need them
Thank you Mom for walking the miles and guiding me through the path to success
Thank you Mom for your laughter at the stupid stuff I did
Thank you Mom for being all that you could be and even more
Thank you Mom for your gratitude and understanding
Thank you Mom for believing in me
Thank you Mom for being you

But most of all?

Thank you Mom for showing me how to love unconditionally

Happy Mother’s Day!