Let’s Congratulate Elena!

Posted by enchante on 05/09 at 04:08 PM

Congratulations, Elena, the winner of our Mother’s Day Contest!  Her daughter Lacey submitted a beautiful letter about why her mom deserved to win a Spa Pedicure or Spa Manicure, and Elena chose the pedicure. (Who can blame her?)  I have the pleasure of sharing with all of you what her precious daughter thinks of her momma.  Grab your tissues because it’s a tear jerker (in a good way).  Enjoy!  And congratulations again, Elena.

“My mother has been a tireless force in my life, always encouraging me to become a woman of integrity, class, and kindness. She raised four kids on her own, and never had the attitude that it was a burden. As a family, we’ve faced a lot of hardship: abuse, homelessness, hunger. My mother never failed to make sure we came out the other end as quickly as possible, often putting her own interests and needs aside to be sure that her children never felt the effects of our problems. We were always her primary concern, and nothing would stand in the way of her making sure we were safe and well.
 
She always taught us that even in the face of adversity, we were not victims and that we had the power to better our own situation. She never allowed us to use our circumstances as an excuse for laziness or self-defeat. Even though she worked full time, my mother made an effort to attend as many of our sporting events, school plays, and special occasions as possible. Birthdays and Christmas were always huge celebrations, and we never lacked the love and support we needed to pursue our dreams. Consequently, both my brother and I graduated from prestigious colleges having obtained extensive scholarships, and soon my younger twin sisters will also graduate from high school. My mother, too, in the midst of it all, managed to get her Bachelors Degree, attending community college at night and then taking online courses.
 
When my mother battled breast cancer when I was in high school, she did so with grace. She never pitied herself or acted like it was the end of her life. Rather, she faced cancer with laughter and hope, just as she’s faced all of her problems. She even wore Mardi Gras beads to her lumpectomy, just to show the nurses that they ought to feel priviledged for the free show My mother battled hard, and she won. She has been cancer free for almost six years.
 
Though we are far better off financially now than before, I know my mother still is always doing things to make our lives easier. When I graduated college but could not find a job because of the tough economy, my mom allowed me to live at home, and even helped me buy a car so that I would have more job opportunities. She never makes me feel bad about living at home, and is always there to give a pep talk when the job offers don’t come in. She’s constantly reminding me not to give up, because life always rewards our hard work with something better.
 
I know that my mom will always be my biggest cheerleader, and all I want for her in life now that she’s married to a good man who respects her the way she deserves is for her to be able to sit back, relax, and be pampered. I hope you can make this happen for her!”