Wordless Wednesday: School's out for the summer!

Mothers and Daughters

There is nothing like the bond between mother and daughter. It is unbreakable. It is strong. It is fierce. Impermeable. Unique. One-of-a-kind. We come from our mother's womb and as a result we have the invisible connection that continues to bond us to her throughout our lives.


With this being said, I have had the honor to witness such a bond between two of my best friends (REAL best friends) and their mothers. I mean where the daughters have respect, love, admiration, and true friendship with their mothers. And these women are not mothers because they gave birth to my sister-friends, but because they were extraordinary women during their time on this planet, and they touched everyone in their lives. They were role models, they were strong, they fought the illness that reached out to hurt them and which eventually took them away from us. And yet they remained beautiful inside and out throughout their battle.


But the sickness only took them away from us physically. It canNOT take away their spirit, their strength, their LOVE. These women will remain with us forever; they will live within us, reminding us to be good people, as they were. To work hard, to treat people with respect, to love our husbands, and to be fabulous mothers like they were.


Today I honor the memory of, the life of, and the legacy of Virginia Surowka and Barbara Bogart. Two of the most fascinating women in this world. Two of the most wonderful women that have ever entered into my life, and who I will never ever forget.  And I had the blessing of seeing them as second mothers, as aunts, as an additional member in my family. God bless these women for all that they did while on this Earth. My thoughts and prayers go out to their families everyday, and especially today as Mrs. Bogart has left the Earth this morning to ascend to heaven, pain free. I love you ladies, and I love your daughters Stephanie and Kim who would not be the women they are today had they not been born by you and raised by you. Thank you for your gift.

Stephanie & Virgina Surowka

Kimberly & Barbara Bogart

Barbara (Babs) and Virginia (Gemini), may you rest in peace, and be remembered for all of your beauty and all that you accomplished on this Earth. These women are truly, angels in heaven.


With love,

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to the most beautiful and fabulous woman on the planet!

There are a million reasons why my mother is such a fascinating woman and such a perfect mom to my sisters and me. It'd be impossible to find the words and/or even possibly list everything that my mother has done for us and all that she means to me. Nevertheless, I'd still like to honor her by thanking her for all that she's done. 

Therefore, a few reasons why I'm grateful that my mother is who she is....

• My mother is selfless
• She was not only our mother, but was also a "father" to us for many years
• She stressed the importance of an education and good grades
• She has supported me in everything that I do - from travelling abroad alone (for a year) when I was only 17 to choosing my major in college to loving the man that I married as if he were a son
• My mom is a hard worker and has been a great example of what one can accomplish when working diligently
• She is a good listener
• She is fair, honest, and has a kind heart
• My mother has endured suffering without ever complaining and has never shown a sign of weakness, regardless of the situation
• She has taught me so much that I don't even know where to begin with describing all that I've learned from her
• Her love is unconditional
• Her faith is strong and has always been
• She is intelligent and beautiful
• My mother is classy and well spoken
• I am proud to be my mother's daughter
• I can only hope that I will be a tenth of the woman that my mother is
• My mother is a perfect role model
• She makes me whelm with pride to say "that's my mom"
• She has never made excuses for anything
• My mom is proud of the husband that I chose
• She is never, nor has she ever been, pushy
• She knows exactly what to say to me, and how to say it
• My mother is fabulous, gorgeous, and one in a million

I could go on and on and on....but then this post would be pages long and would take hours to read.

Thank you for everything you have ever done, continue to do, and will do for me, and my husband, in the future. My love for you is as limitless as yours has been for me.

With respect, admiration, and unconditional love, your daughter,