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Mother's Day. What a great day of celebrating where we all began. Regardless if our mothers are still alive (I am blessed to have mine, as is Rick) or if your mother has passed on, there are some memories that will remain forever in our minds surrounding this most important person.

For me, I feel especially fortunate since my mother was diagnosed with liver cancer more than three years ago. Today she is still around and feeling fine, although undergoing chemo on a bi-monthly basis. And even better, she moved to Ohio last spring after living in Florida for some 25 years. During that time, our long-distance relationship was more phone calls than hugs. But now we schedule days to spend together with her two sisters and myself as we shop and go sight seeing together. It is time that I enjoy more than I can say.

My grandmother is also quite active, despite the almost 92 years she carries with her. (In fact, I borrowed her walker when I had my knee replacement surgery!) Rick's mother is very close to us, too, and we enjoy including her in most of the things we do. When I am with them all, not only am I the youngest, but also much appreciated for knowing where to go and what to do. Just being in the presence of their infinite wisdom makes me realize how little I know. They are the ultimate mothers—years and years of combined experience all in one room.

Since our daughter-in-law Jill made us grandparents some four years ago, I entered a new phase of my "motherhood" that takes my breath away. The kisses and hugs, tears and slobbers, messy faces and sticky hands they bring to me make me remember a time when our children were 2 and 3 years old.

And now daughter-in-law Nyki will be presenting us with a new granddaughter in June. It is hard to believe but so true, that our love never runs out or ends, it only expands with each new family member. We are already anxious to see and hold, kiss and smell, cuddle and sing to this new bundle of love. The essence of motherhood is displayed best in the company of a new born baby. It is true that a tiny baby is God's confirmation the world should continue. And it is through this wonderful feeling called a mother's love.

Certainly fathers play an important role, but they get their attention in June. For now, it is a mother that we remember with tear-rimmed eyes, or vibrant flowers. We can all go through the phases of our lives, recalling a time when our mother mended our skinned knees, or applied lotion to our sun burned cheeks. It was my mother that generally tucked us in at night and took time to listen to our prayers. It was my mother that fixed the best grilled cheese sandwiches (and she still does), and made cakes from scratch and topped it with caramel icing.

It was to my mother than I poured out my heart of each defeat or excited victory. My mother was and still is, my teacher, my confidant, my sounding-board, my nurse, my example, my banker, my cook and every other role she played in my life.

But now, I also call her my friend.

Happy Mother's Day to all the important women in my life! We celebrate YOU!

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