MOTHER'S DAY GIFT BASKET WINNERS
The PJ girls had a wonderful time reading stories that made us laugh, cry & stories that warmed our hearts.
It was a pleasure to get to know the authors, as well as the mother's that played a lead role in not only those stories, but in the lives of the authors.
Your stories were inspirational and encouraging!
So here are the three contest winners!
There are pictures of the award winning mothers, the stories that were submitted, and the baskets that each mother won!
Michelle
A lot of moms are good, a lot of them are great, but there is only one “best mom.” This mom, is our mom, Michelle. Over this past year, my mom was wonderful because she pours out her heart and soul into other people, not just her family, but people in need. She starts every day thinking of how she can help someone else. She is a great mom, who does those little things. For example, she will take us out to breakfast, lunch, and dinner, even ice cream. Just out of the goodness in her heart, she’ll arrange for a friend to come over. She also packs us healthy lunches. She takes us on interesting trips, to places like Disneyland, Flagstaff, San Diego, San Francisco, Boston, and New Orleans. She will always tell us bedtime stories, and will come to class projects. She also comes to sports games and even plays with us, and barely has any time to do anything for herself, but she is still happy giving to us, and to others.
But two things changed her, and our entire family’s, life. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. She lost her hair from chemotherapy, had trouble moving around, and was laid up in bed from sheer fatigue ninety percent of the time. Then, the day of before a chemo treatment, my little brother was diagnosed with type one diabetes. She didn’t know what to do and had nobody to help. For our entire family, it seemed like the world was coming to an end. But our mom stood up, during cancer treatment, and brought our family back together. She did this by showing her mother’s love and grace. When our family was united again, she started working a job, traveling to California every two weeks, just to support us and the things we enjoy. She also started a foundation, called A Mother’s Grace, (facebook page = mothers grace) which helps moms around the world that are trying to unite communities such as hurricane Katrina relief in New Orleans or African refugees here in Arizona or Moms with horrible illness. One of the many reasons she pours out her heart to families like this is because she wants to help mothers that are trying to unite a community, small or big, like she did with our family. Our mom is, by far the most amazing mom in the world.
By Jackson (13) Brooks (10) Griffin (7)
PS she loves to shop at your store but we don’t mind because she lets us go downstairs and eat at Big Foot BBQ.
Michelle's family won a Thymes Eucalyptus gift basket for their mom!
Jennifer
During the past year, my mom has been wonderful because she has given me more strength then I could ever ask for. I love her so much. My sophomore year of high school she was diagnosed with breast cancer. I felt my world crashing all around me. Slowly, she recovered. My freshman year was hard leaving her and the fear of cancer returning while I was gone. One day when I walked downtown, taking a break from studying, I walked into P.J. Chilcottage and loved that they had breast cancer items. I bought my mom like three things including a shirt that she wears when we go on our dates back home. It showed me that other people care too. Then beginning of my sophomore year of college, my worst fear came... her breast cancer came back and with a friend, ovary cancer. I felt like I couldn't go to school, I needed to be with all 24-7. She made me come back to school. She said that she was too stubborn for them to take her yet. Everyday I was worried, everyday I feared that I would get a call that God had sent for my mom. Going to Rely for Life this year made me really grateful that she is still here and seeing other students who lost a parent. It made me see that I need to cherish the time I have with her because one day when those people stand up for honoring their parents, I could be standing there with them. For now however, she is here and is here for me.
Another thing that makes my mom wonderful is that she is always there for me. It’s weird to hear people say that they are friends with their parents, but I can truthfully say my mom has become on of my closest friends. I would say that we have become even closer in the past two years with me being away at college then we ever were. I tell her everything. From boy problems to school to parties to sorority stuff, she hears it all. My mom always seems to know what to say when I am down. I remember when I was feeling down and she sent me a package filled with chocolate, sour patch, gummy bears, etc. In the package she wrote a note that said: "Pooh Bear, sometimes you just need to veg out and forget about the world. Hope you feel better soon. Remember, this will just make you stronger! When you get home we will go on a coffee date. Love mom." I love my mom so much, I can't put words to how much I do. She has always been there for me and she always will be until God needs her. I am hoping that is not for a very long time because I don't know what I would do without her. she truly is a special, one of a kind mom and I'm thankful to have her as my mom :) I know if others knew our relationship that we share, they would be jealous.
By now, I hope you can see why my mom is so wonderful. Thank you for taking your time and getting to know her. I have included some pictures of me and my mom. Enjoy! :)
Jennifer won a Thymes Ambersweet Orange Gift Basket for her mom!
Norma
My mom story is actually not about my mom at all. It is about my daughter.
In October of 2009, she found out she was pregnant. Unmarried and entering drug rehabilitation, she knew the best thing for her baby was adoption. Though many of her former high school classmates were having babies as single moms, she knew she wanted better for her child.
She went through rehab and spent the next 7 months preparing to have a child that would never know her as, “Mom”. She went through adoption counseling, and picked out parents for her son.
On June 20th (Father’s Day last year), she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Malachi William. The adoptive parents were there, and the adoptive mom and I coached her through the last hour of pushing.
I am so proud of my daughter. She made a very difficult decision and gave her child a chance at life and a 2-parent home. It was far from easy, but, because the adoption is an open one, she gets to see him on a fairly regular basis. However, sometimes when she comes home from a visit with him, her heart is sad because she knows she will never be able to hear him say to her, “Mommy, look at me!”, with her being the one he is talking to.
She loves his adoptive parents and they are more than we could have hoped for. They are very good to her and us, his grandparents. We have the best possible outcome for the circumstances, but it’s still hard on her. He’s now 10 mos old and getting cuter every day! On April 30th, we’ll be going to a luncheon to honor birth-mothers for Mother’s Day. I will be so proud to sit next to her as she shares with other birth moms the photos of her beautiful child, a gift from God for all of us. Oh, did I forget to mention that she was adopted by us...?
Sincerely,
Norma
Norma won a Thymes Naia gift basket for her daughter!
Thank you so much to all of those who sent in their beautiful stories about such lovely mothers. We deeply enjoyed getting to know you and your moms through your stories.
Mother's Day is
THIS UPCOMING SUNDAY, MAY 8th
So make sure you are all ready to spoil, treat & treasure your mother and all the mother's that you know. The PJ girls have been reminded how special moms are, and we hope you share our excitement and enthusiasm for Mother's Day!
LOVE,
THE GIRLS AT P.J. CHILCOTTAGE
May 15-20
