LivingLife: A tribute to my mom

When I think about my mom, I think of three things ... she was beautiful, she was a strong woman and she was brave.

She grew up as an only child, sometimes suffering the loneliness that goes along with it, especially having a father who was away from the home a lot of the time. But despite that, she grew up to be a loving, caring wife, often putting others' needs before her own and working full-time employment until late in life in order to help the family make ends meet.

All that I am I owe to my mom. We didn't have a bad relationship, but we weren't as close as I believe a mother/daughter relationship should be. I think that the key is to not repeat the patterns of the past and, when I eventually had a daughter of my own, I vowed that she would never feel that same longing after I am gone.

I still find myself doing things just as my mom taught me, for instance, preparing a meal the way she would do and, when teaching my daughter about certain life skills, I often find myself saying "you do it like this, because that's how my mom taught me". We, as daughters, often say that we never want to grow up like our moms, and yet, as the saying goes "whenever I open my mouth, my mother comes out". That's really funny, but so true! I guess, not all of those memories can be great ones, but despite everything, I know that my mother loved us with everything that she had within her ... her family was her life and she moved from this earth to eternity knowing that her family respected, honoured and loved her.

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.

When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.

She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.

Her children stand and bless her.

Her husband praises her:

"There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!"

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;

but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.

(Proverbs 31:25-30)

I absolutely LOVE this picture of my mom, taken (I think) when she was in her early 20's. To me she looks like a Hollywood movie star of that era and happiness is evident in her smile.

When I recently saw this Dina Wakeley stencil, I knew that I had to have it because, to me, it reminded me so much of my mom.

I used Finnabair Paper Texture Paste with it which created a rough texture on the page. Once it was dry, I edged it with Tim Holtz Distress crayon, blending it with some water. I rubbed some of the Finnabair Metallique wax onto the paste at the end.

The resins used on the page were sprayed with inks, left to dry and then wax rubbed onto them. I love how the waxes bring out the tiny details that you might otherwise miss.