Monday, May 5, 2014
Best Mom Essay Contest winners: 1st
place
Submitted
Sandy Westra with her mother Diane Frohwein.
Mom has a great attitude for life
Submitted
Kari Baseman and her grandson.
Mother raised grandson as her own during daughter’s military deployment I have the best mom for many reasons. The biggest one is when she stepped up to take care of my then 9-month-old son when I was getting deployed. She helped me be the best mom I could be even though I was thousands of miles away. I was there for his first birthday party, that I planned and she and my sister executed. The same goes with every other
“I could never thank her enough for this.” — Leslie Willaby
holiday that followed. She had him ready to talk to me every time I called on Skype. I got to see a few of his first steps but not THE first steps. I got to watch my son grow up because of her. I could never thank her enough for this.
Prize: An elegant women’s timepiece from Fisher’s Fine Jewelers Shortly after I got home from my deployment, I was diagnosed with MS. My mom was the first person I called. She didn’t say the “I’m sorry” lines but offered me words of encouragement. She went to every doctors appointment
and asked questions I didn’t even think of asking. In both huge hurdles of my life she told me “WE’VE got this,” meaning I’m not alone in this battle. Leslie Willaby Mother: Kari Baseman
When I think of my mother immediately the words “I can” come to mind. She has taught me those words are real and apply to all of us. I was in kindergarten with two younger siblings when our family changed drastically with the death of my father in a farming accident. As mom struggled to stop the grief overwhelming her, she chose to whisper “I can” and became both mother and father, to we three children, at 25. Several years later mom was struck by a drunk driver and sustained life-threatening injuries. I remember the feelings of uncertainty swirling in my mind as I contemplated being an orphan. Once again she reached deep inside and brought up the “I can” attitude I had witnessed in the past. Mom survived to nurture my baby sister who underwent brain surgery and radiation treatment at Mayo in Rochester. She never hesitated to put others first as she lived the daily “I can.” I remember school beginning while mom
2nd
place was still needed at the hospital. It was her example that gave me the resolve to champion each day no matter what the circumstances. As I visit my mom today, at 84, I see a woman who underwent two surgeries for brain bleeds and lives to spread the “I can” to those her own age. She has been in assisted living for a few years now. Still, mom’s resolve to overcome shines beautifully and clearly. She is the best because she is led by the best: her faith. She walks by faith and not by sight in her typical “I can” fashion. Sandy Westra Mother: Diane Frohwein
Prize: Large sterling silver Mother & Child Pendant from Fisher’s Fine Jewelers
Mother cares with her whole heart, loves her children unconditionally
3rd
place There are a lot of good moms out there, but I believe that I have the most wonderful mom God ever made. Her name is Judy Olson. She is always there for her family — my dad, us
kids, grandkids, greatgrandchildren and the whole family — but she has also been there for many other kids. She was a para in the Albert Lea School District for many years and to this day there are kids (who are now grown) who she worked with who will come up to her and tell her what a positive influence she made on them — which makes me realize even more just how
lucky I am that God made her MY mom. What an amazing and wonderful gift to have a loving, kind, gentle, caring, beautiful mom — and that is exactly what I have. She loves us all unconditionally and is always there for the whole family. She is there in good times and trying times. She speaks the truth — she will tell you how it is and what you need to hear and you know she
is right. She truly cares with her whole heart what happens to you. She makes you want to become the person you are meant to be — she encourages dreams. She brought us up to believe in God and always have faith. What better gift could a person ask for? She taught us to have compassion and help others. She is strength and courage and love and patience and
Prize: Small sterling silver Mother & Child Pendant from Fisher’s Fine Jewelers
Judy Olson
hope and beauty and all things wonderful. She is my mom and to us she is the best mom
and friend ever. And for all these things I love her so much! Thank you, Mom, and I love you! XO Happy Mothers Day! Gina Gullickson Mother: Judy Olson