麻豆视频

Wonderful women

By Kelly Running

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听听听听听听听听听听听 This week Lynne and I decided to do something a little bit different. We're not writing a pro/con column for this edition, but instead with Mother's Day having just passed we decided to honour the ladies in our lives who have made us into who we are today.

听听听听听听听听听听听 My mom is a very loving woman and always puts my sister and me first, she would do anything for us and she has taught me a lot along with my dad.

听听听听听听听听听听听 Lessons were learned growing up as she always encouraged us to read before bed when we were little. Whether she was reading to me or when I learned to read and would read to her, it was something that she encouraged in me. Although English or Language Arts was my least liked subject in school, I absolutely loved to read and I think the reason I did so well in school was because of this encouragement. In fact I've been trying to think about how I came to be a reporter and I would have to say it would be traced back to this.

听听听听听听听听听听听 Both my parents are extremely hard working and have passed this down to me as well. When a job needs to be done, do it. Whether it was planting the garden or cutting the grass for hours in our farmyard, when it was time to do something you did it.

听听听听听听听听听听听 Though I laugh at my mom when she cries in commercials, her compassion and love are unparalleled. She always puts other people first and enjoys spoiling the people she cares about.

听听听听听听听听听听听 About a month ago I smiled as I remembered a small lesson she taught me. If you are given a container filled with goodies, when you return the container you can't return it empty. I had been at a volleyball tournament and one of the parents allowed Eric and me to take some berries and snacks from the cooler as the day wound down. Taking the container home, I washed it, but didn't have time to make anything to place in it to return to her. So, taking a page from my mom's book I tried to think about something to fill it with. In the end I wrote a note to the parent about how fantastic her family is and the awesome young lady she has who played for us this past year.

听听听听听听听听听听听 Both of my grandmothers also had a lot to do with who I am today.

听听听听听听听听听听听 Oma, my mom's mom, is from Holland. She is an amazing woman who came to Canada as a young woman with her husband. They lived in a boxcar that had been converted into a home near Elbow for awhile before moving on. She had grown up during World War II in Europe and her inner strength is amazing.

听听听听听听听听听听听 She's not afraid to say what's on her mind and simply tell it like it is. She says once you reach a certain point in your life you've earned this right.

听听听听听听听听听听听 Oma is a very giving lady, you'll be over visiting with her at her house and if you comment on something she just bought it's placed into your hand and you're told to take it home with you. She is the most generous woman.

听听听听听听听听听听听 Granny was also an amazing lady. Last November she passed away, grandmas are very special people, so it's been difficult thinking you'll never see them again. I learned how to make rosettes and every time at Christmas I'd bring her some; she was always so proud when I brought them and the conversation followed while we ate a few were always of how patient you have to be when making rosettes because it literally takes forever to make a batch.

听听听听听听听听听听听 She never had anything bad to say about anyone.

听听听听听听听听听听听 When I went home for her funeral my parents showed me some of her writings. She wrote about everything in her life even writing that she sometimes has trouble expressing herself out loud, but that when she wrote everything flowed out of her. Although I don't write a journal like she did, I do find I'm able to express myself more clearly through writing.

听听听听听听听听听听听 These women have all influenced who I am today. They are the kindest, most generous ladies I know and I couldn't be more proud to call them my family.

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Moms Rule!

Lynne Bell

听听听听 Each week, Kelly and I usually pick a topic and debate the issue from opposing points of view. This time, we have declared a temporary truce in honour of Mother's Day, because we both agree (and really, who can disagree?) that moms-especially our moms- rule.

听听听听 Mother's Day is an occasion that can be both happy and heartrending. I am blessed beyond measure to have my darling mama in my life, but I have friends who aren't so fortunate. However, I believe with all my heart that motherly love lives on as a very real force in all of our lives and the important lessons and examples that our mothers give us live on in ourselves and in the generations that follow.

听听听听 I tease my mom that I will miss her desperately when her real daughter lays claim to her (after that pesky hospital baby switch is finally resolved, all of these decades later...), because frankly, it seems that I am incapable of absorbing so many of her valuable skills and lessons. The one (!) Christmas turkey I cooked was prepared under her direct supervision, and I insisted on capturing photographic proof of this unprecedented event, because I suspect this may be a one-time only occurrence.

听听听听 I could go on about the many little things I'll never do as well as she does (or even do at all), but I hope the big lessons took, and she's still teaching me by example to be a better human. And yes, I know she's got her work cut out for her!

听听听听 She's a lady who is loyal, loving, and kind. She loves her entire family and she's there for us all, again and again.

听听听听 When we were growing up, one little lesson I remember was her absolute insistence that my brother and I give a Valentine to every kid in our class. She didn't want to see anyone left out, and she told us everyone deserved our respect and courtesy. My brother and I still talk about that one, and if we have any empathy, that's where it came from.

听听听听 Right now, my mom is still teaching us by her unimpeachable example. During a time of life where the ideal is to slow down a bit and enjoy the fruits of her considerable labour, my mom is currently dealing with a pretty heartbreaking challenge of her own, but she's carrying on with courage and fortitude.

听听听听 My mom has given her family an example of grit, grace under pressure, and great love.

听听听听 These words aren't enough and one day isn't enough, but thank you, Mom-and Happy Mother's Day!

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