To my mother

Mom,

There are no words to express my deep love and respect for you. On this Mother's Day I hope you have a great day!

Your lot in life was not easy. Your have faced more challenges and struggles, you still face many. A poor inner city Mexican girl. You have faced racism, sexism, being raised without a mother, being shunned by your extended family and more. You had limited or no access to education. You were a young mother, a single mother and a struggling mother. I have seen you try to hold down jobs and try to get an education. Being a mother to ten children, we didn't make it easy. But You never gave up trying. First getting a degree in finance, then in your 60s getting a degree in social work. Now at 72 you still work full time and are busier than ever. Keeping your life full and your mind working. 

 I always say "don't live with regrets; at the time you did the best you could with what you had". You have been a prime example of that. You have done the best you could, given what you had. Hind sight is always 20/20. Have you always made the right decisions? Nope, none of us can say we have. Some decisions were good ones, some were not, some where completely wrong. But since you can't go back and change them, you have to learn from it and move forward. 

You have always stood tall and kept moving forward. 

You had 10 children and lost 2 of them too soon. You wanted and want so much for us, your kids to be happy, healthy and good people. You have fought fiercely to keep your family together and close. As a family we have faced many challenges and struggles, we still do. As much as you want to fix everything, you can't. We have to live your example of learning growing and fighting to keep family together. You can't do it for us, unfortunately. 

Things I have learned from you; 

#There is nothing, nothing that this world can throw at me that with my faith in God and my family,

 I can't get through.

#Keep trying to improve your life, never give up trying to make your life better.

#There is great joy and love in this world, no matter who, where you are or how much money you have.

#Fight fiercely for your family, keep family together.

This is but a brief list of all you have shown me.

Every time I sit and talk with you about your life I am amazed at your story. I wish you would write a novel for the world to know the strength of your human spirit.

I know that Christ has heard your prayers. I know from the depths of my heart that Our Lady has interceded on your behalf. She has taken your prayers to her son. They are preparing a special place for you with them. But not yet, you are not done here yet, we need you for a few more years. A lot more years!!

I love you Mom!!