As I sit here sipping coffee in my Miami apartment, I look around and feel an overwhelming sense of thankfulness. A child-like peace. I realize God has had His hand in every moment of my life to guide me where I am today and has strategically placed certain individuals along the road to help guide the course of events in my life.  Whether those persons had a positive or negative impact, their presence shaped my thoughts, motivations, and inclinations to certain decisions that have led me to where I am. If you asked me a short time ago where I would be living in a year, I’d never fathom that it would be Miami. As a small-town girl, I seemed to be fixated to the rolling hills of Pennsylvania. While I always dreamed of living somewhere that was perpetually sunny, it seemed like a far off dream… something out of question.  Yet, even though it seemed like a joke, God found a way to answer my prayers.  I was offered a position as a flight attendant soon after college and having few base options to choose from in training, I soon found myself in Miami with 5 days to find accommodations.

When contemplating whose presence in my life are a blessing, one person stands out from the rest: and that is my mother.  I never could have found a place in time or pursue this lifestyle without her love, help, and support.  She reassures me every time I feel like giving up that everything will be ok, and if the flight attendant thing doesn’t work out, I am always welcome back home in Pennsylvania.  Her gentle words and attitude mirror that of the blessed mother… Like the blessed mother, she possesses an unconditional welcome and continual loving support for a child with big plans.  

I thank God everyday for her.  She is a great role model to live by, and I hope to someday be half the mother she is! From her, I learned the value that spending time with your child and supporting his or her dreams has.  I admire how she maintains peace in our household…how she loves hot fudge brownie sundae+movie nights…how she has a small obsession with collecting Longaberger baskets, Princess House, and other dish sets and uses them to decorate our table and counters for every holiday…how she loves to color…how she is fond of jumping in the car and taking mini vacays and is not afraid of putting the world away for a minute…how she is the hardest, most dedicated worker I’ve ever met… and lastly, how she is always there for her children.  With her, there is never a dull moment and that is a great quality to have when there’s not much to do living in a small town! 

Just yesterday I called her crying because I was lonely and bored in Miami and she was so calm in saying, “Well, just fly home tomorrow night and I’ll pick you up from Philly (a two hour drive).  It doesn’t matter what time.   I’ll just get a coffee to stay awake.”  How many people would say that?  😂  Either she is slightly crazy, or the best mother anyone could ever ask for!

God has definitely blessed me with an angel on earth, and I am proud to call her my mother.   I can’t wait until the day when we can arrange our schedules to spontaneously hop on planes and go on vacations together…when I finally figure out a healthier hot fudge brownie sundae recipe that won’t leave me feeling guilty afterwards 😂, and when we have the time to extavagantly decorate the table and have home-cooked meals and tea parties together again. 

Words can’t describe how thankful to God  I am for my mother’s presence in my life.  May He bless her each and everyday for her kindness and example.  If there’s someone who has had a positive impact on your life, reflect on that today and let them know how much they mean to you!