13 months ago I became a mother for the first time. It wasn't until that moment I held my daughter in my arms alone that I new what a mother was! It was that moment that I picked up the phone and cried my eyes out to my own mother and told her that I totally understood the unconditional love she had for me. Being a parent isn't something that you know or understand until you actually become one yourself. My mother and I bonded in a way we never had before on November 8, 2004. I would never had made it through the first six months of Paige's life without her support, love, understanding, direction and shoulder to cry on.

Mom wasn't the type of person who gave you hugs and kisses everyday and certainly not the kind to tell you that she loved you first. She was the type of person whose actions spoke those words and a thousand more. You hear to often people say they love you and I am sorry without any true meaning or feeling behind it. It wasn't until my twenties that I realized what my mom was really doing. She taught me that you could say that you love someone or that your sorry everyday, but instead she showed me the right way to be a Christian, do with your heart first then follow with the words. That is how she lived her life. Maryanne, was an old fashion mom (as someone would call it). She stayed home and raised her children and took care of her husband and home. She gave us wonderful morals and values and taught us right from wrong. Both her and dad gave us the best memories and traditions that I will pass down to my own children. You see if you were blessed to have known her you were a lucky person. I can go on forever about my mom and all of the things that she did, but I must keep some to myself for bragging to much might make her mad at me. I miss her everyday and I promised her I would keep her love of Christmas alive. Thanks to her guidance and Brandon's support I will continue on her tradition and the Christmas Trunk. Thank you for loving my mom and visiting her site. God Bless you.