I call her mom.

The indians on the reservation just west of Safford call her "Yellow Hair". The people of Graham County now call her the County Assessor (Whoo-hoo!!) I call her mom.

She did it. She stepped out of her comfort zone and took a chance and I couldn't be more proud to call her my mom. Not because she was just elected Graham County Assessor, but because she did it. She faced her insecurities, held her head high through the thralls of an ugly race, spent endless hours campaigning, working and meeting new people and it payed off. And, it was her birthday on election day! Happy, happy!!

So call her yellow hair, call her county assessor, call her whatever she is to you, here's what she is to me, my mom.

She embodies everything I want to be.
She has more inner strength and courage than any other woman I know.
She has such a zest and zeal for life.
She has an incredibly big heart. She loves everyone.
She has taught me to laugh. Laugh hard, laugh often, and above all, laugh at yourself!

She has fun. When my mom is around, everyone has fun. She lights up a room and puts a smile on everyone's face. You just can't help but smile when you're around her.

She loves her family, her god and her country with incredible passion.

Touching Stories....

It had been a long day at school and turned into a long night of studying and homework. It was close to midnight when I heard a tapping noise coming from outside my window. I drew up the blinds, cautiously to see what it was and then almost wet my pants to see someone standing there with their face pressed to the window and nylon stockings over their head, pulled tight.
My mom. Of course, why wouldn't it be? She was up late doing laundry and found a pair of her pantyhose with a run in it. She thought, "Hmm, such a waste to just throw it away....." So she put it oh her head and snuck outside, around to my window where the light was still on.

My younger sister was a great tennis player in high school (still is) but hated people coming to watch her. She told my mom to quit coming to her matches because when she saw her in the bleachers, it made her nervous. Brooke tells about a particular match she was playing when kids started laughing and pointing to the stands. She looked over to see a woman waving frantically at her, with a paper bag over her head, two holes cutout for eyes. My mom. Her thoughts? "This way you don't have to "see me" and I can still watch you! Your choice, either way I'm going to watch."

I am so grateful for a mom who found (and continues to find) joy in the journey and lives life to the fullest!