To Our Angel Mothers

"All that I am or ever hope to be,

I owe to my angel mother."

- Abraham Lincoln

Family Portrait - 1981 (roughly)

Family Portrait - 1984 (roughly)

I blame my parents and the family I was blessed with for the painfulness of my childlessness. It's all their fault that I've always wanted a van full of kids. My childhood memories are too sweet and far too joyful to ever give up that dream. I'm amazed at how my Mom managed a home of eight hungry mouths (nine, if you count my Dad) and 80 dirty fingers, and on top of that provided us with the luxuries of homemade bread and handmade dresses (for the girls, I mean). I don't know how she did it. She is more than an angel.

I know Marc echoes the same sentiments for his Mom, as he grew up under a similar roof with goodly parents, a van full of kids, and the luxuries of homemade bread and Hostess fruit pies (although the pies should probably be attributed to his father, the Dentist). I never would have imagined I'd be blessed to marry into a family so much like my own. From the day I met Marc, I knew he must have an angel for a mother, too.

Happy Mother's Day, to both our Moms. We love you.

I was noticing in both the photos above the rather serious expressions on my face... I have to remember to ask my parents about that.

Was my general demeaner as a child always so serious?