A Mother's Day Story

Once there was a young, beautiful mom named Margaret, who lived in West Virginia, and she had a daughter, her oldest child, named Helen.

Helen was joined by a brother (on the pony with her here), and then a sister, and then another brother, and then another sister. As the big sister, Helen got some good practice taking care of her younger brothers and sisters, which gave her some preparation for eventually being a mom.

First, though, she married Ted.

Helen and Ted had a darling (if I do say so myself) and smart daughter named Annette (in the picture to the right), who could apparently read when she was about two. Then they had a boy named Tim, who clearly loved having his big sister read to him. This was good practice for the daughter, who would one day read to her own children. Seriously, Helen supported Annette in her love for books, and she taught Annette how to read before she went to kindergarten. This was one of the best things anyone ever taught Annette to do. Thanks!

After awhile, they had Kristi. And then Helen, the mom, had three children. She made sure that they went to the doctor, dentist, and got glasses when they needed them.

Annette, Tim, and Kristi grew up, and their mom loved and helped them all the way. This is Helen at Annette's high school graduation with her mom, Margaret. Three generations of women, all of whom at some point, became moms.

And if Helen was excellent at being a mom (she was and is), she was and is just as excellent at being a grandma, when Annette became a mom. This is Katie, the baby, the first grandchild. Eventually there were Jonathan, Elizabeth, and Garrett, all of whom love their grandma very much.

And this is that baby Katie, with her grandma, Helen, and her grandpa, Ted, at her high school graduation a couple of years ago. And while Helen doesn't hold Katie on her lap anymore, Katie does know where to go when she can count on being loved and metaphorically held on a lap.

And I think we'll just say, "Happy Mother's Day, Mom!" You are loved! (This story is starting to make me feel old, and there always will be more to add to it, so I think we'll stop here.)