I was raised in a strong matriarchal family. My grandmother's father died when she was around five years old, and her mother was left to care for her and her two older sisters during the Great Depression and World War II. The sisters were quite a few years older than my grandmother and they made sure that she was taken care of. When I was born into the family, the three sisters were very close. My grandmother lived next door to her older sister, my Aunt Bonnie and my Aunt Mary lived just a few blocks away in the same city.

My grandmother was close to her sisters and I was babysat by my Aunt Bonnie over the years, and I especially remember that she would watch us when my mom was caring for terminally ill grandfather. She was a gifted pianist and organist, and she read me stories and took us for long walks during the day. My Aunt Mary threw pool parties every year, and told the most fascinating stories about her travels around the world. She has been nearly everywhere, and she was a gifted story teller bringing the things she saw to life with her attention to detail and her funny experiences.

These are the women I grew up learning from. Family was stressed as being the most important thing, and you could see the bond these three sisters had shared through the most difficult of times and through the joyous ones as well. Just as my aunts cared for my Nana when she was young, she has been there to care and visit them as they each passed on in the last few years. Nana is growing older and she still shines as an example to me, reaching out to help those around her, and understanding the importance of family.

I've been blessed to have a mother who truly loves her family and who wants to help everyone around her. She sees the good in people and with all her hearts wants others to be happy. My dad's mom was a great example of how a true lady is and taught me how to make pumpkin pie. She always made me feel loved and welcome no matter what. Now I'm blessed with a a mother-in-law a s well that loves her children and her grandchildern and who works tirelessly to help others.

Today as we celebrate the mother's I also want to celebrate all the women in my life who have taught me through example and love. I also want to thank my friends and sisters who have helped me through the difficult times and laughed with me through the great. It is a grand blessing to be a woman. I love you all.