I was inspired this morning by reading Amelia's mom's blog. What a wonderful way to honor mother's day than remembering the wonderful women that you come from. So here is a little about the wonderful women that made me who I am.
Rose Lee Hamilton -- That is her in the picture, with me in the playpen. This is my mother's mom. I never knew her. She died of bone cancer when I was 18 months old. I really love this picture. You can see the love for me on her face. I would loved to have known her. Everyone always talks about what a generous loving woman she was. She had a really rough time. She spent most of her adult life being emotionally and verbally abused by her husband. My mom cries when she talks about how this abuse never phased her love for other's or her faith. Someday, if I am ever blessed to have a little girl, I will use Rose in her name to honor my grandmother.
Lelma Aline Harp -- My dear sweet Mama Harp, she is the phone holding me in her lap while I was working the fab red hat. There are no words to describe how much I have always loved my grandmother. I grew up in their yard so I saw her and Papa practically every day of my life. Mama Harp was a very plain women, in no way a girly girl. She didn't care about pretty or fancy things. She was fierce, loyal, loving and never ever took crap from anyone. She lived through difficult times in her life too. She raised her children in difficult poverty most of the time. She survived the loss of a baby, my dad's twin sister, but it haunted her the rest of her life. Her mind stayed with her long after her body gave out. She died in 2000 and I miss her all the time. I never see hydrangeas, chicken and dressing or chess pie without thinking about her.
Nora Jean Harp -- Finally I talk about my sweet mommy. That is the two of us in that first picture, on my first Easter. Yes she drives me crazy a lot of the time but that doesn't phase my love for her. I am her only child so I have never had to share her with anyone. She totally loves me unconditionally. I have been through a lot in the last 8 years and done some really stupid things. She has been there for me thru it all, even when I didn't deserve it. I have seen friends that never really knew how their parents felt about them and that has always broke my heart. Everyone deserves to have a mother as longing and supportive as mine. If I am ever bless with children of my own, I know that I have had the world's greatest example to show me the way.
Happy Mother's Day to everyone out there. Take the time to celebrate the wonderful women that you are and the one's that you came from !!
