Wherein Bry talks about her Mama.

My Mom is now, and always has been, an amazing woman. If I end up half as awesome as her, I will be quite all right in this big bad world.

Not many ladies could raise three hellions such as JH, MH and myself without needing (and seeking) extensive therapy. But she did it with kindness, love, support and, surprisingly, without using the back of her hand to slap the smirky sass out of us.

Growing up, we spent many a Mother's Day going to Earth and Wood to pick out a tree and then planted the tree in the yard in celebration of the day. Sometimes we had BBQs, sometimes just cake. But no matter what, it was never enough to express the gratitude I now feel for having such a mother.

It has been many years since I was able to spend a Sunday in May with her, and this year is no different. Many of the readers of this blog have never met my mom so I figure I should share a few things.

My mom sacrificed a lot to make sure we had every opportunity and her biggest sacrifice, where I am concerned, is the amount of money she spent making sure I made it through college. A debt she is still paying today. Aside from the monetary obligation of sending me to college, I know she suffered an emotional toll in seeing me so far away. Mom has always felt the same emotions as her children, but tenfold. When we are happy, she is happy. When we are sad and hurt, she would gladly take those pains upon herself. But I don't think many are aware of my own mom's educational successes.

When she was in her 30s, with no money and three children, Mom put herself through college and earned a 4.0, graduating with a nursing degree. She was in a strenuous program but still managed to come to our school events and make us dinner. Just last year, she told me that she would stay up until 4am studying. I am very proud of her and she is one of the best nurses in Montana, even winning a Montana Healthcare Association Nurse of the Year award.

When we were kids, a big treat was going to the Ole's to get a soda and 3 hot dogs for $1. And then to the river for swimming, though it had to be boring for Mom who didn't swim in the river because "fish poop in there."

When we were older, Mom gave us a lot of latitude in our curfews and was pretty lenient on most things. "I'm going to town," we would yell as we slammed the back door. "Wear your seat belt!" she would yell back. One rainy night, as I laced up my shoes, I said "I'm going to get the mail." She yelled back, "Wear you seatbelt!"

"I'm walking!"

"Well then don't fall down!"

My mom instilled a great love of the outdoors. We hiked and camped year round. She loves the birds that come into the yard and has many bird feeders. Always on the lookout for wildlife, Mom drives through the refuge on an almost daily basis. I love when she tells me about the growth of the birds and deer that she watches grow through the seasons.

She constantly took in strays, both animals and humans, and mothered more children than just my brothers and I. There were always extra mouths to feed, even when she couldn't afford to feed the three she was required to feed. But she never complained and always welcomed each person with the same warmth and compassion as family. She even bribed MD to finish high school by promising cash if he graduated.

I am glad to call her Mom, Mama, Momzy, Mom-a-roo any day of the year.