Mom, thank you for teaching all of us the most important lessons we've learned in life: how to love your family, how to care for your friends and neighbors, how to take care of a headache or stomachache (or, in my case, an earache), how to be involved in your community, how to put things in perspective and not sweat the small stuff, how to be stick to your guns if need be, how to tell your children they are spoiled brats when they need to hear it, but also how to go on spoiling them anyway. :)
It's impossible to say how much it has meant to me to have you present in a positive, loving way all throughout my life. I know that these days that is becoming quite rare, but you always approached motherhood as a responsibility as well as a privilege. I know you learned that from Grandma, and I hope that we can learn it for our children too (Heather and Ben are off to a really good start).
You're great parenting has done a lot for our health. I was thinking the other day about how important having family meals were for all kinds of things: communication, relationship, building of self-esteem. So thank you for working hard to make our family dinners the norm, even when you were juggling work and other responsibilities at the same time. You and Dad also always showed us how much you cared by showing up to our sporting events, ballet performances, synchronized swimming meets, mathcounts competitions, etc. Again, I know you probably didn't think twice about doing that, and I know I always took it for granted, but it did and still does mean so much to me that you care about our lives so deeply and that you go above and beyond to show us that. And that's not to mention all the behind the scenes stuff you've done for us with Moms In Touch, prayer groups, etc. I think it's because of all that support that all of us now feel capable of running our races this summer.
You have been a source of strength and wisdom for me my whole life, but especially since Dad died. I've had to make several major life choices (going to graduate school, moving to California, getting married, leaving graduate school for another graduate school, leaving that graduate school for law school), and I wouldn't have been able to do any of them without knowing that you supported my choices. And now I know that you want me to come back to Montana for law school, but I am so grateful knowing that I have your support even if I do not. You have a very flexible love, one that can put up with children in all their forms: liberal and conservative, Catholic and confused, ballers and ballerinas, guitarists and drummers, tall children and a short one. Thank you for loving us through all our differences, through all of our changes, and through all these years.
I love you more than I can express. I am just one lucky guy to have such a great Mom. Thanks for promoting our health all throughout our lives, and for supporting us on all our new adventures. Stay around for a long, long time!
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2 comments:
Kathy Webster James is the greatest.
I remember the first time I met Kathy in Anaheim 2005. I remember her coming out to greet us at the hotel and her being so incredibly happy to see her son. But in the typical Kathy Webster fashion, she was so friendly and excited to meet me.
Caleb and I had only been dating a few weeks, but from the instant, she made me feel like I was part of the Webster family. I couldn't have asked for a better family.
You have the best family in the world, which I'm sure you already knew, but I give you so much credit for providing such a loving and caring environment for your children and grandchildren to thrive in.
You are a woman with such balance. You care for those around you in such a loving way. But you also challenge and encourage those same people in a mindful way too. But just as you love, care, challenge and encourage others, you personally, seek to grow and push yourself in similar ways.
Thank you for all that you do for this family.
We love you!
What to say about the woman who raised you? I guess I could say she must be pretty stinking great because look at who she raised.
I appreciate Mom for a variety of reasons, but nothing has awed me more than watching her love me unconditionally. She is always wanting what is best for me and does whatever she can to help me. She also will always listen to me and hear me even when I am criticizing her, which I think is highly impressive.
Whenever I tell people that Kathy Webster James is my mom they are always full of praise and everyone knows her. I love that she is social and knows everyone.
I also appreciate her honesty, I always know what Mom thinks about what I am doing and I appreciate that. Also, I appreciate how even if she doesn't like it, she supports me while I am doing it.
I feel so lucky to have had parents who loved each other and stayed married and provided that example to me. So way to pick em' Mom and Dad.
I have very good memories of my childhood and for that I will always be very grateful. I hope to someday be a mother like you, and be so accepting of my children's friends and make everyone feel welcome in my home.
I love you Mom.
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