To my mother. Donna Patricia Jean Morris (nee Newton)

Today, January 16, 2014, is my Mom's 70th birthday.  I am thinking of her life and all she has accomplished, mastered and endured.  She and my dad have been married for almost 50 years and has raised 3 boys and me, the only girl.  

My mom grew up in Dauphin, Manitoba (I wonder if Jenna will get to go to Dauphin while on her mission!?).  My Grandpa Newton owned a grocery store and my mom worked there growing up.  My mom plays the piano by ear and would sit and play all night for my grandparents' dinner parties.  She did housework in a dress and heals (because that's what proper women did back then! lol), and was loved and adored by many.  She grew up with aunts, uncles and cousins just around the corner, and spent time nurturing those relationships.  She would deliver groceries to the elderly customers of my Grandfather's store when they were unable to leave their homes due to illness or age.  She went fishing with my Grandpa often.  My Grandma taught her to cook, clean, can preserves, sew, and how to be a proper lady.  I love listening to the stories of her childhood and youth.  I picture an old movie, like the Shirley Temple movies, when she is speaking.  She can sing, too!

Besides all that, she is one of the most beautiful women I know.  I have many people say to me, "wow, your mother is beautiful!"  A friend from Russia announced when seeing this picture on my wall, "your mother is like the model Miss America...but Canadian of course."

After high school, she went to Commercial Alternate Education and while working in the courthouse, met my father, a member of the RCMP. 

They were married in 1964 and on their way to making their dreams come true.  With life, comes ups and downs and I look to my mother as an amazing example of strength and courage as she took every turn in the road, good or bad, with poise and self-control.  To maintain a sense of humour throughout life is a talent and gift.  She has done this.  Laughter is necessary in our world.  It just is.  My mother is funny, incredibly intelligent AND smart (which are 2 very different things in my opinion).  She is kind, thoughtful and insightful.  She is an excellent communicator...which, of you who know me well...can now rest easy knowing where I get my chattiness from.  Never a dull moment for sure.

I remember, as the only girl, being left to figure out how to have girly fun on my own many times as my brothers were always doing all they boy stuff (although, I was pro at playing with dinky cars--especially 'picking with your eyes closed').  My mom would make me tea and put it in my little toy teapot and I would have tea with bologna and mustard sandwiches in my room with my dollies.  I even remember dropping one of the said sandwiches on the white rug in my room (seriously...a new home in the 70's with white carpet in the bedroom?) and desperately trying to get that mustard stain out!  Obviously mom came to the rescue and I don't remember being chastised for it...what probably happened was that mom took that opportunity to teach me how to get mustard out of carpet!

I remember the yellow, silky quilt and matching curtains she bought me when I was young.  The kind that had layers flowing down the sides.  It was as though I became a princess for real!   And then there was the time I saved all those Scotties Little Softy plush toy tissue box coupons to finally send away for this:

I remember the day it arrived...Mom surprised me after school. It was very exciting.

She took the time to put curlers in my hair and dressed me as the trends dictated.

My brother David was born first, then Robby and me (only 11 months later!) and then my youngest brother Brent.

 This would be mom and Robby and I was born in November of 1968

Dad and David...I think...Mom?

Robby...the month I was born.

Dad and David

Me and Robby

 Mom and David

Kelly, David and Robby in Kelowna

Robby, Mom and Brent

Brent, Robby and David

 

Me, Auntie Heather, Mom and Grandma

I am proud to be a part of a line of beautiful, strong women.

I adored my Grandma.  This is her and Mom

 ...and me and Grandma...no hair comments please!!!! lol

First formal portrait of Mom and Dad with grand kids...Taylor is the youngest there on Mom's lap so this was taken in 1993.

 When Alyssa was born

This was taken around 1985 or 1986

I love you Mom and thank you for a life of love and support.  Here's to many more years on this earth...maybe a little more relaxing than the past 50 or so!?