Happy Mother's Day to mothers everywhere!!

Mom and me out to dinner in DC (circa 2012)

It’s been a pretty great week in my world, so I wanted to make sure to spread some of that love and give a big shout out to all of the women and mothers and aunts and “aunts” and “ma banks'" and whatevers out there…..Happy Mother’s Day to you all!!!  I know so many beautiful, natural, selfless, caring, amazing, nurturing, loving role-models of mama bears and am so grateful to have all of you in my life!

Me and mom enjoying some wine and smiles
at Aunt Alice's (circa 2012)

To mom: Your name was so perfectly given to you...Bonita.  You've lived up to that name in so many ways throughout all the years of your life.  You've never ceased to amaze me at how beautiful (bonita) of a person you are, both inside and out.  And you have always been so much more than a mom to me…you’ve been a best friend (always wanting to know the boy stories!), a confidant (knowing some of my secrets before I even tell them to you!), a cheerleader, #1 fan, girl scout troop leader...the list goes on an on.  You’ve been an amazing person to look up to and try to emulate...you've set the bar high for being both a mother and a human being, that's for sure!  You’ve been an example of what it is to be brave, courageous, giving and unendingly loving.  You’ve laughed with me and cried with me, held me and hugged me (some of the best hugs I know!).  You’ve shared the moon with me and used it to send me love in so many different places.  You’ve taught me, guided me, disciplined me and you've let me go and all of those things have helped me to become who I am today.  You've given me some of my most favorite and cherished life memories (picnics in the desert, road trips to Buxton, Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas cookie baking, laughs over a game of cards...).  You’re one of the very best people I will ever know in this life of mine and I feel nothing short of lucky to have made out with you!  Your laugh and smile fill not only the room, but also my heart, and I’ll always be carrying you with me every step I take on this journey of mine. You’ve always believed in me and my dreams and you’ve always helped me to fly, even when my wings weren’t sure if they could…you’ve always lifted me up and reminded me that I can!  And for all of that, I am forever grateful.  You are one of my most favorite people in the whole world and one of the most important people in my world. Thank you so very much for being my rock and for being the most amazingly wonderful and gorgeous mom that anyone could be. 

To my sisters: I feel so lucky to have had these last eight years to practice being a mom with your little loves!!!  I cherish being an aunt and have loved the opportunity you’ve both given me to love your children as I hope and believe I will love my own one day.  What a beautiful gift!!  But almost as much as I have loved being an aunt, I have loved watching you both become mothers even more.  Having the chance to watch as you so naturally slipped into your roles as moms and primary care-givers…it’s just a beautiful thing to witness.  To watch someone you love immediately become such an all-loving and self-less person in the blink of an eye…it’s just such a special thing to see.  To see how you both light up because of the love in your hearts as mothers and to have been able to share so many moments with you and your families....it’s all part of one of my favorite parts of life so far: knowing you both as the mothers that you are today and the mothers that I know you will continue to be and become!  Thank you for including me in your journeys of motherhood!!!

Shannon, me, Maeve and Luke for Maeve's birthday celebration
These two lil ones gave me my first moments and years as an aunt!!
(February 2012)

Mary, my goddaughter, and Meagan sharing some love
(March 2012)

Me, Luke, Maeve and Shan paddle boating on the lake
(August 2012)

Meagan, Mary and me for our triple birthday (March 2013)

Luke, Maeve and Shannon early morning sleeping
(August 2012)

To all of my other mothers throughout my life and spread around the globe…my aunts, my grandmothers, my “aunts”, my neighborhood moms, my host mothers, friends’ moms, etc: Thank you for helping me in my life and being a part of my journey. Thank you for all of your love and support and encouragement.  Even when you aren't even sure where I could be at any given time or what crazy thing I might think of doing next.  Thank you for always giving me the greatest hugs and sharing such wonderful smiles and hearts with me and telling me, even today, to keep shooting for the stars and following my heart.  Thank you for loving me for me and for being such a great example of what a mother or aunt or human being, in general, should be.  Thank you for being you and for making me a better person for having had you in my life!

Shannon, Mom, Me, Aunt Alice and Aunt Margie (Dec 2012)

Aunt Peggy and Me
(August 1998, photo taken by a young Christa!)

Grandma Varley and Me (August 1998)

Me and Mami Maria (Ecuador, 1998)

Me and la abuelita (Ecuador, 1999)

Mami Lourdes, Mariele and Paulito, my godson
(Ecuador, 1999)

Birthday smacks (with a bottle!!)
Nicolas, me and Mami Lourdes (March 1999)

Birthday cake smash! Nicolas, Me, Lourdes and Meagan
(Ecuador, March 1999)

To my dear gal pals who have become mothers sometime in the last eight years or so and Mariele and Lisa Rose and a few others who may have become mothers when I was a bit younger: Although I don’t get to see you as much as I wish I could…and as much as I wish I could spend more time with you and your lil loves, please always know that I’m sending lots of love to you and always wishing you lots of happy moments with your sons and daughters.  I have loved getting to know the children that I’ve gotten to know….and I hope to be able to meet more soon...but even from afar, I'm so happy to know your lil ones.  And always know that every day you are rocking it out and helping to make the world a little bit better of a place because of all of the love you’re filling the hearts of your lil ones with.  So thank you to you for being such wonderful examples of love and motherhood, as well :)

Much love to the women in my life everywhere…so many of you are such important inspiration to me in my life.  You know who you are……thank you for all that you do and all that you are.  I love you!