Honoring Mom

Community Events

Mother's Day is observed in different ways throughout the world. In the United States, Mother's Day 2022 will occur on Sunday, May 8. The American incarnation of Mother's Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 and became an official U.S. holiday in 1914.

Americans are expected to invest more than $23.6 billion celebrating Mother's Day this year. The National Retail Federation is predicting the average American will spend $186 on flowers, cards, and other gifts. But there are many meaningful yet inexpensive gifts you can give your mom for Mother's Day that she will value and appreciate. Here are several ideas to get your creative juices flowing: • Relieve her of her duties. Nothing says, "I love you," like walking into the house and finding someone has already cleaned it. Kids, you might decide to do your chores before being asked. • Surprise her with a meal you made yourself. Cook her breakfast or dinner. • Treat her to a movie she has wanted to see. • Print photos you have on your phone. Put them in a collage or create a coffee table book of treasured times.

Another way fourteen members of our community chose to honor their wives and mothers this year was to send her photo to the Gazette and tell us why she is so special. We hope you enjoy reading them as much as we enjoyed posting them.

Alma R. Strong is the epitome of selfless service to her family, church, and others. She has been the "hands and feet" of Jesus all her life. This beautiful woman always puts others' needs before her own. As a wife, she demonstrated the true meaning of being a "helpmate" to her husband. In her role as Virgil Strong's wife, they depicted the true meaning of love. Her amazing love has taught her children and grandchildren how to love and give of themselves selflessly.

Alma not only mothered her children with intense love, but she also has mothered her grandchildren with the same devoted love -- helping each child know their value and true worth. She has served on many committees in the church, including Communion, Deaconess, Feeding the Homeless, and Church Stewardship. Without a doubt, Alma Ruth Strong is one of the most loving and giving persons who has ever walked this earth. Submitted by her daughter-in-law, Carol Strong.

Ashley Hughes is mom to our four boys (Caleb, David, Ethan, and Ford), and she is a wonderful mom who is kind, sweet, sincere, thoughtful, creative, and loving, who daily spends nearly every waking moment serving our family and teaching our boys how to become young men. Submitted by Bryan Hughes

We want to honor our mom, Candice Smith, because she always puts my brother and me first. She takes care of everything in our house and makes sure every night we have a family dinner together. Our mother has had a tough year, but she's always laughing, having us play outside, taking us on adventures, and making us our favorite dinners during the week. We love our Mommy to the moon and back, and we love her more than all the toilet paper in the world! Colin and Caden

Thank you for the pleasure of acknowledging three of my favorite moms: Diane, my wife, and my two daughters, Jennifer and Melinda. What a pleasure it has been seeing Diane raise our daughters. Her loving, nurturing guidance has resulted in the development of women who have grown into loving nurturing moms themselves.

This blessing continues as I can enjoy time with all three great moms daily since we all live within three blocks of each other. Happy Mother's Day to you all, and thank you, Jennifer and Melinda, for giving us six beautiful grandchildren. Submitted by Jay Copyright © 2022 Peel, Inc. Gavitt, husband, father, and grandfather. My Mom, Gloria Godfrey, is an outstanding mother and human being. Ever since I was a kid, my Mom has always been there, whether it was being a cookie mom when I was in Girl Scouts, my room mother in elementary school, or wiping off the blood from my skinned knees (I had lots of those). She encouraged me to reach for the stars and believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. She came to all of my school athletics games, even the ones that were far away, and when she wasn't sure the truck would make it, most times, she found a way. She wasn't only a mom to my siblings and me. She was a mom to all of the kids in the neighborhood. She was a mom to all of our friends in school. She was even a mom to high school acquaintances. And when I say "acquaintances," I mean she was invited to weddings to which I wasn't even invited! And she went, of course! My mom is one of the kindest people you would ever meet. She would give you the shirt off of her back if you asked for it or if she thought you needed it. She was also a fierce protector of all of us. It didn't matter if you were her kid or not. Mama is turning 80 in April and still mows the yard! She doesn't let things hold her back or get in her way and is an inspiration to me. I am truly blessed to have my mom live with me now, so maybe, just maybe, I will be able to give back just a little tiny bit of what she has given me over the years. I love you with all of my heart, Mom! Happy Mother's Day! (I'm not crying... you're crying…) Submitted by Sally Aleman, daughter. Jackie Johnson is the sweetest Mom, friend, and grandmother (Nana) for whom you could ever wish. She is such an amazing person. She and Dad moved here to Cypress (Fairfield) from Oklahoma in 2004 to help with the grandkid(s). She took care of Dad for several years before his passing in 2019, all while dealing with her own health challenges, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), a type of cancer of the blood with which she was diagnosed in 2015. She came out of remission in 2021, and she is doing fantastic now with it retreating back into remission. Nana/Mom always has time to attend her grandkids' theatre performances at Bridgeland High School. She also makes time to bowl in two local bowling leagues with her daughter and dance with the Silver Liners on occasion (bowling with her daughter has taken over all of her free time). She is also active in the Traveling Seniors group in Fairfield and attends church and Bible study weekly. She is so lucky to have and be a part of such a wonderful community here in the neighborhood, an amazing support system, and a group of friends she calls family. They travel, meet for lunches, and play cards together weekly. She has traveled with those friends a few times to volunteer to serve others (before COVID) and hopes to travel more again soon in that capacity. She is such a positive role model, a quiet inspiration. Actions speak louder than words, and we are so blessed and grateful to have such a wonderful woman, Mom, and Nana, in our lives. We love you! The Fulks' (Christy, Russell, Paris, and Skyler)

I want to honor my mom, Jo Ann Lambert, this Mother's Day. My mom is the most caring, selfless, generous, funniest person I know. She lives her best life through her travels and spending time with her family and friends. Whether she's playing cards in the afternoon, gardening, or sewing, she's having fun. She is always there to help one in need. My mom serves the Fairfield community by organizing and spending countless hours arranging monthly outings for the Traveling Seniors of Fairfield and senior trips for Good Shepherd United Methodist Church. She is a Fairfield Women's Club and TriCounty Quilt Guild member. As I was growing up, my Mom worked hard to be able to put me through college, and even though we butted heads many times, my mom remained my number one fan and biggest supporter in everything I've done. She is my best friend and best running buddy. I love you, Mom, and thank you for everything you've done for me. Submitted by Lisa Blanchard, daughter. My mother, Joan Vallance, is very special in so many ways. There are so many words that describe her: strong, selfless, caring, loving, Catholic, friend, great company, teacher, helpful, and fun are only some of them. Throughout Mom's life, she has demonstrated selfless care of her kids and grandkids. Family is the most important thing to her, being there for her kids and grandkids whenever they need someone with whom to talk. She cares deeply for others. She especially loves being around children. Mom was also a teacher and daycare provider. Her love of children had her working as a daycare provider until she turned 80 years old. My mother has helped me personally through some major events in my life, and I am so thankful for her. She lives with me now and I feel very lucky to have her in my life every day. Submitted by Karen Peterson, daughter.

My wife is the most amazing woman that I have ever met. She always puts everyone ahead of herself. She honestly has the biggest heart and just loves life. She is a flight attendant for Delta Air Lines and has been with them for 32 years now. I can say, without a doubt, that she is my rock, and I don't know where my son and I would be without her!!! Kari, we love you with all of our heart! Submitted by Thomas Coffman, husband. My mother, Meredith Owen, is a beautiful, kind-hearted, hard-working, all-around superhero! Her first mission in life has always been to ensure our family is healthy and happy. When my brother and I were young, she cared for us when we were sick, taught us how to live independently, allowed us to explore ourselves, and contributed to beautiful memories we will never forget. Although my brother and I are older now, she still plays a major role in our lives. She is there to lend an ear when we need to talk to someone, preaches to us the importance of having goals and working towards them, and encourages us to explore the world. I could not have a better example than my mother. A long time ago, she set two goals. She wanted to help people in the education system as well as walk into Macy's having the ability to buy up all the makeup regardless of the price. After working for many years, she has achieved both of these goals. Today, she runs a preschool lab program at a high school which starts high schoolers on their path to becoming teachers. Additionally, she keeps teen moms in school by ensuring they have access to everything they need to be successful. She also has taken me on many shopping trips to Macy's.

Mom, thank you! And I hope, one day, I'll be half as good of a mother as you. Submitted by daughter, Danielle.

My Mom is 94 years old and still inspires me to this day. She battles dementia, and other age-related distresses, but teaches me moments of selflessness, patience, kindness, and understanding. This great woman of many accomplishments never failed to be steadfast for her family. She was my daughter's co-parent, and I'll forever be grateful for the love and tender care she showered upon Ashlynn. It is a bond that even illness can't dissolve. Momma volunteered thousands of hours serving our local Cy-Fair school district, and, while age forced her to resign at 86 years old, her heart will forever be a Wildcat, and those kids will always have a little ol' lady they can call Grandma. I love you Momma Mooney. Your faithful daughter, Metta

Happy Mother's Day to Sofia Epstein – an awesome mom, grandma, aunt, sister, and wife. Always thinking of others. Rosemary is a living and breathing example of sheer determination, wit, and perseverance. With the odds stacked against her in life, she fought tooth and nail not to be another statistic. She understood the value of education and how it could change your life for the good. As a single mother raising six children alone, she impressed upon each of her children the importance of getting college degrees. Rosemary had the wisdom to know that a college education would change the trajectory of her children's lives. Modeling the importance of a college education, Rosemary achieved her college degree at the age of 44. All of her six children went to college, with four receiving Bachelor of Science degrees and two receiving Master of Science degrees. Many of her grandchildren also are pursuing degrees in higher education. Always a member of a local church where she has lived, Rosemary has served on many boards and committees. She is extremely social and often is a welcoming face to many in her community. She is quick to establish friendships and frequently helps others by giving her time and talents to her community and her family. Rosemary always has been an inspiration to many in her family and her community. Submitted by Carol Strong, Rosemary's daughter. Stacey Hendricks is the most caring mom ever. She is funny, always ready for an adventure, and full of surprises. Even after working hard all day teaching school and coming home tired, she always takes time to fix a wonderful meal and ask me how my day went. She makes sure that I have everything I need to be happy and do well in school. Plus, she makes sure that whatever hobby I choose, she supports it in every way. I am a very lucky boy that God chose her to be my mom! Submitted by Robbie Hendricks, son.

A Mother’s love is something that no one can explain, It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain, It is endless and unselfish

and enduring come what may, For nothing can destroy it or take that love away, It is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking, And it never fails or falters

A MOTHER'S LOVE

HELEN STEINER RICE