A) Marsha was inspired to adopt after reading a story on See the Good. B) Amber pauses with her daughter on the day she was deployed. C) Jamie sits with her mother a few months before having to place her in a nursing home.

Happy Mother's Day!

Posted May 4, 2011

WE THINK ABOUT OUR MOMS all the time, but on that one special day in May, they take their rightful place at the center stage of our hearts. In honor of Mother’s Day, we’ve gathered some stories you shared with us that all tie to moms.

Born Into a New Family

Reading about the Ticking Family helped us decide we wanted to adopt someone.

We were able to find my 13-year-old distant cousin in the Department of Human Resources system, and we decided to adopt her and bring her home to be with her family. She’s now living with us permanently, and we are so happy to have her as a part of our home where she really belongs.

So many teens get lost in the foster care system because many who are adopting are looking for newborn babies.

While she’s not a newborn, we feel she’s being born into a new family that deserves her.

--Marsha, Birmingham, Ala.

A Mom, Even When She Was Away

At the age of 20, I joined the U.S. Army Reserves. It was truly an accomplishment and something I was very proud of. The day I completed my training and was finally a soldier in the United States Army was the proudest day of my life until the day I had my daughter.

I became a mother at 22, and at the age of 23, I answered the call of duty to serve my country in Iraq. I served overseas for 13 long and challenging months. The one thing that kept me focused was the fact that I had a very young child, only a little over a year old, who was patiently waiting on her mommy to come home.

I have learned a lot from my experience. I am now so much more grateful than I have ever been in my life for the small things, such as tucking my child into bed, telling her bedtime stories, or even the small disagreements we may have now.

I returned home from Iraq last April. The best part of returning home was my little blue-eyed brunette, at the age of two and a half running down the airport runway to meet me with open arms.

It took a lot of time for her and myself to get adjusted to me being home. And she still has questions almost a year later about my time I spent away from her in a foreign land.

Freedom truly has a new meaning to me these days.

--Amber, Mobile, Ala.

A Blessing for a Daughter

For several years, my siblings and I took care of our mother who was battling Alzheimer's. She really took a turn for the worst this past year. A few months back, as I was leaving her room at the nursing home, I said a silent prayer for her. Let me emphasize “silent.” I asked that her pain be eased, that she not realize her confusion, and that she feel peace and comfort. The disease had already begun to affect her speech and cognizance. She technically was non-communicative and had a hard time eating. After I said my “silent” prayer, I kissed her on the forehead. As plain as the nose on my face, she turned her head and said, “I'm fine.”

When I was praying for her comfort, I was being comforted. It was a blessing.

--Jamie, Hoover, Ala.

Editor’s Note: Moms deserve every ounce of love we give them. But guess what? Dads do, too. Since Father’s Day is coming up next month, we want to hear good stories about your dad. Please submit them (with photos) to editor@seethegood.com.

comments (10)

Yet another story that has my eyes filled with tears. These stories are so wonderful and such a blessing to read. Amber, I can't even look at your picture without losing it. Having 2 young daughters of my own, I can only imagine what is going on in your mind and in your heart as you are hugging your little one, knowing how long it will be before you get to hold her again. Thank you again for sharing such wonderful stories. Happy Mother's Day!!!

Dena Klobe

My mother has taught me all I need to know about being a strong woman. When she was 10 months old she contracted polio. Paralyzed on her right side from the waist down. All she ever wanted to do in life was be a wife and a mother. At a young age she was told that she wouldn't be able to realize that dream of being a mom. At 21 she married the love of her life and started her family. She has 3 biological children and I am the youngest. She has over come more obstacles in her life than most people could image. She does not like to be called disabled. She says she is as able bodied as any one else. From a young age I have been taught to fight for my dreams and don't let anyone stand in my way of being all I want to become. "the only one stopping you is you" is one of her favorite phrases. On this up coming mothers day I'd like to say she is my hero. She is the one person that I strive to be like everyday. Thank you mom for being a perfect role model

Tegra Cannon

I too was brought to tears. Memories flowing so clearly. My mom died Dec 26, 2009. She had dementia and the final few months she went down exponentially. One of the my last visits she held my hand tightly like she was giving me that comfort message of "everything will be okay". And the day I got there just before she died, they had lowered here bed and I commented "They've lowered you where I can reach you". And she smiled. Letting me know that she knew it was me and understood what I had said. Happy Mothers day to all moms. They are so very very special. Jamie may you and your family find strength in your faith and memories in the coming days, months and years.

Ann Chappell

Wonderful Mother's day stories!!!! I am a proud mother of three and although I only have one still living at home, it was with pride that I watched my older two spread their wings and fly out of home. Children of such blessings from Heaven and I have been blessed with the gift of being MOM!!!! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

cyndi sapach

I can really relate to the soldier-mom Amber. My son is a career soldier. It's not just the soldier who serves, it's the entire family. My D-I-L holds it all together whenever my son has to leave the country, or go out to train for weeks at a time. God bless our soldier moms, both at home and away!

Trudy Blair

Being a mom is such a blessing and we need to take the time to think about the responsibilities it entails. Mom is an always word--even when our children are grown, they are still our babies (just larger). The stories on this page just show us how blessed we are in different ways and how we should not take these things for granted. Thanks to all the MOMS for the jobs that they are doing or have done.

Judy Bates

Like Marsha, my sister, who works in the Regions, Clanton branch, also adopted a little boy a few years ago. She and her husband had been foster parents in the previous years and had at least 20 children go through the process, either to be returned to an original family member who had rehabilitated or placed in foster homes. She always wished for children of her own, but the odds never seemed to be in her favor. Then one day, DHR called and told her they had a little boy, whose parents had already given up all legal rights, and basically he was ready for a permanent home, if they wanted him. So, sight unseen, with no prior introduction, they went to meet the boy and bring him home. He was 5 years old. They adopted him and their lives have been blessed ever since. He celebrated his 10th birthday last month. Because my sister and brother-in-law had given so much love and time to all the foster children for so many years, God finally gave them a boy to call their own.

nina.goolsby@regions.com

Dena, it was a very challenging time in my life... a constant struggle in my mind even. it was so life changing. I really do feel honored to be one of the blessed ones to make it back and to be able to tell my story! mothers day is such a rewarding day in my book! thank you for your comment!

Amber Smith

thank you Trudy... and yes it is the whole family who serves not just the individual soldier!

Amber Smith

My mother was killed in a car accident when I was 19 years old. My daughter Tiffany was just one year old at the time; she is now expecting her first child, a little girl. Having a mother when you are young is so important; but don't understimate how important they are to you when you are an adult. The conversations I never got to have with my mom are the hardest. Treasure them all.

Brenda McLaughlin