The women who inspire me

Oh mother I give you my love with each flower. To give forth sweet fragrance a whole lifetime through. For if I love blossoms and meadows and walking, I learn how to love them, dear Mother, from you.


Mothers Day is an interesting day in most every woman's life. It is a day to reflect on your mother, being a mother and other mothers who touch your life. Sometimes it is a day to reflect on missed opportunities of life. But today has been a day of joy. Much of it due to my thoughtful husband (thanks for the roses and the stuffed french toast and strawberries this morning) and also my wonderful children who give me so much, especially my fabulous grand children. I am so grateful for my beautiful mother, for Lova and for my wonderful daughters. For sweet sisters and sisters in laws and nieces. For good friends who are like my sisters and for animals who give us the opportunity to mother. For the little spirits who our Heavenly Father entrusts to our care for a life time. Some of these sweet sisters are close and some are distant. Some have passed onto other spheres. A few months ago I penned a few thoughts for Rachael that are sacred to me. I have held them close to my heart, but now I want to share them and dedicate them not only to my four daughters and to my mother, but my to all of those women that have touched my life.

January 10, 2009 2 am Milan, Italy
My dear sweet daughter,
As you labor only steps away blocked from me by these hazy glass doors, all of my thoughts, prayers and love surround you with all of the parts of my soul. You so valiantly labored today drawing first on your own powers, then of those around you and then your Supreme Creator. What a gift to be able to give life, To allow it to nurture and grow inside of you. And then to go through the process of allowing that little life to be borne. Now this sweet little spirit represents all of the generations that came before her. Many are gone and some remain. I remember the night of your birth. I labored, then pushed you until your sweet little face appeared. And I fell in love with you immediately. Then an overwhelming love for my own mother filled my heart. I then could understand what it meant to be a mother, to love as a mother and cry as a mother. Many times through your life we have discussed "mothering" How many people have been a mother to you ... and mothered by you. but beyond all of those I am so grateful that I could be YOUR mother. What a gift you have been. And as we have been able to share life also as friends, it is important for me that you know that I love you.