Throughout my childhood my mom was a single mother sometimes and other times she was married, either way my grandma or another family member would help me get her a present. There was a big emphasis on Mother's day and how I should celebrate how amazing she was because she gave birth to me, raised me/was raising me and just in general how great she was. Those are more her words and thoughts than mine, but that is how I thought of the day. I went to the banquets and I even sang or said a poem a few times. I got her a card, or made her one and I celebrated Mother's day every year.
It wasn't until I became a mom that I started to really get that Mother's day was one day I could be celebrated or I could celebrate the mom's in my life, but it wasn't necessary to have one specific day to do that when we should thank our mothers and care about them daily. Same goes for my thoughts on Father's day and Thanksgiving too. I love the mom's in mine and my families lives and I am glad to get them a card (and present when I remember on time) and call them and see them when possible, but I hope that they feel loved always.
Moving on to the mother's in our lives.
My mom, Susan. She had me when she was 24 and was single. We moved when I was 5, to Carl Junction, where I lived until I was 18 and she still lives there. She taught me how to be independent, how to stand up for myself and how to argue! She helped to make my arguing skills even better when she made, er, forced me to sign up for debate my freshmen year of HS. She is the reason I count down the days to my birthday and other holidays (and she still does as my whole family knows). We argue and fight and people think we are rude to each other, not that we aren't, but we have our own way of talking and communicating, which usually involves me talking, her interrupting and then me trying to get her attention. Without her I would be a different person than I am today. She wasn't perfect and still isn't (despite what she says), but she always will be my mom. I learned from her mistakes, do things a little different than she did and I do have things about my childhood that I would change, but she isn't perfect, none of us are, and she did what she could do. All in all I love her.
Matt's mom, Lori aka Lolli. Obviously I love her and I am so grateful for her because she is the reason that my husband, her son, is in this world. Without her, there would be no Matthew (well, our Matthew). She is a beautiful woman and I am so blessed to be apart of her family. She raised Matt (along with his dad of course) and made him the man that I fell in love with. Matt can cook, do laundry, sweep and do the household chores, although he chooses not to, and he lets me know his mom is the reason why he can do those things. They lived all over the place because they were a military family also. I look up to her and know that she has our backs. We love when they come and visit or we go and visit them. She has taught me new ways to cook, among other things! The love that she shows our family is so deep and I hope that I can one day be half of the mother in law to my future daughters in law that she has been to me! 
My grandma, who was always like a second mom to me! She was there for me when I needed somebody and sometimes when my own mom couldn't be or wasn't there. She helped me make my valentines boxes for school, spoiled me with Velveeta mac and cheese and always had gum in her purse! I talk to her so much now and still consider her as one of my closest family members.
My Aunt Sharon. I was in family pictures with her kids, I am the one who made her an aunt and she was always there for me. I stayed with her while my mom needed someone to help take care of me, and I lived with her when I needed a place to stay when I was 19. I am so grateful for her and always remember everything she did for me, including being the girl scout leader!
My Aunt Shirley. I remember getting french fries with her, for some reason that sticks out! I also remember her telling me like it was, when I was mouthy she would let me know. She bought me a dictionary, coached me in tball and always shared her pepsi with me! When you were neighbors with your family you get chance to get close with all of them!
My Aunt Sandra. She let me stay with them in the summer one year and that was really great! She also moved to Kansas before I was fully grown and moved myself, so I remember taking trips to her house and camping on her lawn! I remember her being the funny and cooler aunt (sorry aunt Sharon and aunt Shirley, you guys weren't too bad yourselves either).
Lacey, my sister in law, Matt's sister. I am so blessed to have Lacey in my life as another example of a great mother. Although she isn't a mother to me personally, she is a mother and one that I am proud to know! She is raising our two nephews and is the aunt to our 2 boys! We don't live by each other, but the times that our families get to spend together are always great!
I also want to mention Matt, Bruce and Levi. They aren't not mother's, but they are the reason that I am a mother! Without these 3 I wouldn't be me. Bruce and Levi are great boys (even when they are misbehaving) and Matt is a great husband who does so much for us!
I also wanted to add that I am incredibly blessed with so many great moms in my life. My friends, Matt's aunts and grandma's, cousins of mine who are now Mom's too and mother's of my friends. I couldn't name everyone by name because I didn't want to leave anyone out or forget anybody, so just know that if you are a mom and I know you, I am thankful for you too!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY EVERYONE!
