Friday, May 6, 2011

Our Moms

With Sunday being Mother's Day, we just wanted to say how very blessed we are that both of our moms are still living. They are active, faithful, patient, loving, compassionate women who we admire so much.

My mom, Ginny, enjoyed 18 years with the state of Florida as a secretary/administrative assistant, first at Florida State and later at University of Central Florida. She was the Administrative Assistant to the Vice President/Provost for Academic Affairs before retiring in 1986. She was married to the love of her life, my Dad, for 60 years, faithfully going where his military career led him. That meant moving across the country to Seattle, Washington at 19 years old, with their travels eventually leading them to such exciting places as Alaska, Panama Canal Zone, and Italy! She raised three children and was a single parent for a year while my father served in Vietnam. She is strong and capable, yet kind and gentle. She has 7 grandchildren (4 with spouses), and 8 great grandchildren with another on the way!



We are so happy to have her living with us now, and we smile as she teaches the great grandchildren many of the songs she taught our children when they were little. It is fun sharing a morning cup of cappuchino, cooking together, typing side by side on our computers, and watching many of the evening shows we both enjoy. She is not only my mother, but my best friend, role model, and confidant, and I am so very thankful to have her in my life!


Ernie's mom, Erna, graduated from Women's College in Greensboro, NC and spent many years as a dietician in the public schools. She also worked in the bridal section of a major department store and then eventually opened up her own business; a tailor and alteration shop where she could apply her amazing skills as a seamstress alongside her good friend, Anna. She raised three children, was active in church, and lived many years in New York state and Florida as Ernie's dad worked for General Electric. She has 10 grandchildren (3 with spouses), and 7 great grandchildren with another on the way!


Erna is a dedicated homemaker with a real talent for cooking and sewing. She makes the best sourdough bread and never fails to have some waiting for us when we visit. She will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary this summer and still manages to live up on a mountain in western North Carolina with Ernie's dad and their dog, Charlie. (Our children will forever remember the many Christmases we spent with the whole family up on their 300+ acres.) We always enjoy our time with her, wish we could see her more,  and are so thankful to have her in our life.



WE LOVE OUR MOMS AND WANT TO WISH THEM A VERY HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

(We are also very proud of our two daughters, Tara and Leah, who are amazing mothers, and we want to wish them a Happy Mother's Day!)

3 comments:

  1. Linda writes about me and Ernie's mom, but I would like to say that my daughter is a fantastic mother, as I am sure her three children would attest. I have watched her grow into everything I would ever want in a daughter and more. I am truly blessed with the best daughter and son-in-law anyone could ever ask for. I love you both so much! Mom Stout

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  2. Awwww, your Mom's comment is so sweet and I was going to say in relation to your comment about Tara and Leah that they obviously had a great teacher in you about how to be a Mom. :D

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  3. Ditto on the Awwww. I love this post on Moms. Thank you for the message that is so apparent. It shows in the photos and the message alike. Thank you for showing your readers that families are important; that family time and family ties are important. That family values still exists. That families can and will continue on into the eternities. Thank you.

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