Alabama has always been a special place for my. My family is from Arab, Alabama. It's a tiny little town in the northern part of the state. My maternal grandmother's birthday was May 2, her sister's was May 3, and then my aunt's was May 4! Talk about a series of birthdays (and that's not the only grouping of them in my family!). This year was very special. One great-aunt was turning 70 and another was turning 80! So, my aunt and I made the decision to fly to Alabama for this awesome birthday party/ mini-reunion. The event also fell on Decoration Day. Decoration Day isn't something that's done in Texas, but maybe it should be. This is a mostly Southern event, and allows for families to gather at cemeteries to remember their ancestors and maintain the graves. There's even a cemetery that has a pavilion to encourage family meals or interactions after Decoration. It's a really cool tradition, and this year I was able to participate! 

My family is wonderful. They asked my Aunt and I what we wanted to do - even though we had come just to visit and celebrate our aunts. It's not often that I get to travel to that neck of the woods (the last time I was there was 2012...maybe). One thing that I love about my family, even if the visits are infrequent, when you visit with them they treat you like time hasn't passed. They are always loving and always inviting. I told my aunts, uncles, and cousins that I'd like to go see King's Chapel where a lot of my ancestors are buried. Sent with flowers for Decoration Day, we drove to the cemetery. 

I had been told that the foundation for Andrew King's house was close to the cemetery, so we went hunting for it. It was quite an adventure, let me tell you! I was definitely not wearing the appropriate foot (leopard flats) and was stomping around in the Alabama woods (read: SNAKES! OMG! THERE COULD BE SNAKES IN LEAVES!). Everyone was a really good sport about it - despite the poor footwear choices. 

Unfortunately because of the tornadoes of 2011 there were still a lot of downed trees. Finding Andrew's house proved to be impossible. Luckily my cousin had taken pictures of the foundation when he was there in 2009-2010! He was able to send them to me, so even though we didn't find the exact location of Andrew's house, these pictures softened the blow. And I'm not giving up. I'm planning on finding that site, that place where my 4th great-grandfather made his home. 

There are countless ways to identify a mother. She may be an "Omm", "Madar", "Mama", or even a "Mum". She is that woman that cares for you, loves you, and nurtures you. She is that female parent. She doesn't always have to be a biological figure. Adoptive mother's come in all shapes and sizes. 

I love looking through pictures and finding pictures of mothers and their children, grandmothers, and their grandchildren, or aunts and their nieces or nephews. And so, on this Mother's Day, I want you to think about all of the special ladies in your life. They don't all have to be your mother. They don't even have to be biologically related to you. What memories do you have of them or what stories do you have to tell? 

I think about all of the women in my life who loved me and guided me. Women who were invested in me. I often think of my Nonna - my paternal grandmother. I was her first grandchild (and extra special, if I do say so myself...at least until my little sister was born and then we were two extra special kids). If I were to tell me children (or really anyone about her) I would say that she was the kind of woman that called everyone "Darling." She never swore - she was a real lady - but she would say "Oh my stars!" She always wore high heels, and even her house shoes were wedges. I remember visiting her and trying to be taller than her ( she was maybe 4'11'' or 5'0'') and one day I actually was. She had a pink cake ready every time we saw each other. Once, when my mother was in Dallas on a business trip, Nonna let me have some cake for breakfast. She would let me try on her red lipstick ( I guess it was Cover Girl...the logo seems really familiar) and her heels. 

More than anything I remember her endless patience with me. Her soft, soothing voice. And the thousands of different ways that she let me know that she thought of me and she loved me. I try to remember the was that she and the other women in my life have showed me that their love - especially when it comes to the littles in my life. 

So, call your mother. Call your aunt. Call your friend's mother. And tell the women in your life how important they are to you, and what a difference they've made in your life.