Karen Ann Stephens

Well, since it's Mother's Day, it really is only appropriate to talk about my mom! I feel like sometimes I become angry that I don't communicate well with her all the time, probably because I am a lot like her so there is often conflict(created on my end of course =)).

My mom is an AMAZING mother, daughter, wife, sister, and friend. I really have never met a more kind-hearted, considerate person. She has without a doubt always supported each of her kids and her husband and has never asked anything in return.

I know growing up I often judged her because she didn't "work"....BAD IDEA, she and my father too would be the first to tell you that being a stay at home mom is by far the most difficult and exhausting job you could apply for, but even after all the hell us kids put her through, she was still roaring and ready to go at the end of the day.

I find that I often look at her and all of her accomplishments and compare it to my life. I would be proud if by the time I am her age if I could accomplish as much as she has. It truly would be a miracle.

She's a phenomenal wife. Everything I do when serving Chris as my soon to be husband, is just a mimic of how she is to my father. In any given day she could get us kids off and ready for school, clean the house, run her errands, take care of her BEAUTIFUL yard, and still have dinner ready by the end of the night! (I now looking back wish I would have ate more of those meals!!)

She's an outstanding mom. I think of her and what she went through with us kids and I think dedication. She always, ALWAYS listened to my crazy ideas about what I was going to save up for and buy in 7 months, and why I got a bad grade in math, or what happened between me and my best friend, and why the boys at school were so mean. She has a plethora of knowledge that I still learn from daily. She always knew how to handle the fight Jack and I would have, or how to take care of a scrape on a knee.

One of my favorite memories where she was there for me, was after my first heart break. I dated the guy for a whole 9 months and I was sure I was in love. After being dumped on the phone I zombie walked into the kitchen absolutely bawling. She hugged me. There is something amazing about a mom's hug, just makes the world seem at peace. She talked to me about it, and of course told me how much she hated the guy =). And for the next few weeks was really there for me. I know this is by law, what a mom is supposed to do, but it really made me appreciate her.

She recently has become a new Grandma, and it's amazing to see her interact with this baby. Obviously I can't remember how good of a mom she was when I was a newborn, but being able to see her with that baby just proves what an amazing person she is. She might even love that baby more than she loves us kids ;).

She admits when she's wrong, although it is not often. That is something I could manage to learn a little more of! I truly would feel blessed if I could become half the woman she is. I regretfully am not very patient around her, yet again because I am a lot like her and we tend to butt heads. But I also realize that she's truly a gift from God for our family and I shouldn't let her forget that. I wouldn't be who I am today without her and my dad both there for me for anything I ever needed.

I love you mom, happy Mother's day.


P.S. I know it's sappy, you don't have to tell me, just be jealous that my mom kicks butt!!