My mother is the biggest influence in my life. She has taught me so many things from loyalty to patience. She always taught me, not always through words, how to laugh and have a good time, to appreciate what you have and to love those around you.

She is devoted to being what the Lord wants her to be, and is willing to take risks in order to get there. She has been through many tough times and has proved to be a strong woman that is not afraid to show some vulnerability in order to grow and learn. She is honest and true, loyal and fun. Her laugh is also very contagious and her smile lights up her face and the room.

She is always welcoming and warm to my friends. She has a love for dogs and for her family, especially her kids. I remember when we were kids she treated my brother and I fairly while still making us feel special and loved. ( I was always her favorite secretly!) It took much patience to raise myself and my brother and she had it.

She has a beautiful voice and I always love listening to her sing. She is responsible for introducing music into my life noting it’s importance; for which I an eternally grateful for music is my life now. We have also learned patience together and that God will never give you what you can’t handle and whatever you need will always be provided for you as long as you are open to recieve it. If I ever need help I know to just ask and if I know what I want I need to pursue it immediately. These things I have learned from my Mom. Parents always say that they want a better life for their kids and this was also true for my mom. Even while making ends meet by herself as a single mom through her kids’ teen years she perservered and conquered, with a smile and a hug on the other side.

My Mom is the best and I love her and everyone around her would agree that she is a joy and is a great friend and mother. Did I mention she is fun?!

My Mom is 98 years old. She and my Dad raised 5 kids. She lost my Dad in 1988, but remained steadfast. Her children all love her very much. She was a breast cancer survivor. Now she suffers from Alzheimers, and still lives in the same home in Wichita since 1957. I believe she deserves this award, as it would make her very happy to be recognzed. She gets so happy when she sees her children, and has the sweetest smile.

My mom works 3 jobs, and works VERY hard at each of them.
She takes care of me and makes sure I have everything I need. She is very loving and friendly. Everyone likes to be around her and i think she deserves this, because she through her example she has made me a better person.

The reason that my mother is so amazig is because: She raised 2 sons on her own.Worked 3 jobs in the past. She has also raised help other childeren, had 3 knee surgeries, 2 carporl tunnel surgeries and then a kidney stone removed surgerically and the most rescent surgery was her major surgery of fusion of L-4 and L-5 lumbar. She is just so amazing. She has her good and bad days just like any other but over all, she has been there for us and others and just keeps going like the enegizer bunny even when she is is major pain. She has been put through alot lately and she still finds time for others more than herself. She is really and truely amazing mother. We love her so much. She has been divorced for 17 years and she takes care of others before number #1 which is herself. Moms aren’t supposed to get sick. She has and is their for all of in need of sickness and health. She’s very special. We love her very much. Please nominate our mother. Thank you.

believe that Kathy is a wonderful mom! She has raised four boys and has been there for them for anything they need. She is my mother in law and does so much for me and my family. She visits us frequently even though we live a couple hours away and is always surprising us with gifts that are very thoughtful. I just want to say thank you to such a wonderful mother in law who is always looking out for her family!

My mother raised three sons (one of which I am) Mother was so excited when I got married, now she had a daughter. We were married 32 years, when my wife died this last November in a accident. Mother has taken it hard. This would be a nice surprise for Mothers Day.

MY 32 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER HAS 2 YOUNG CHILDREN. ROBBIE IS 2 1/2 AND JORDY JUST TURNED 1 YEAR. ROBIN WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO HAVE CHILDREN DUE TO HER DIABETES. NOW SHE HAS TWO. MY DAUGHTER IS MARRIED TO A MAN THAT SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH. HE ON THE OTHER HAND LOVES HIS CRACK/COCAINE MORE THAN HIS FAMILY. HE STEALS FROM MY DAUGHTER AND ON TWO OCCASIONS HE HAS LEFT MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDCHILDREN HOMELESS. ROBIN HAS PULLED OUT ALL THE STOPS. SHE WORKS FULL TIME AND SUPPORTS HER TWO CHILDREN ON HER OWN AND WITH NO ASSISTANCE FROM ANYONE. NOT EVEN THE STATE. SHE EVEN HAS GONE AS FAR TO PUT HER HUSBAND IN THE BEST REHAB FACILITIES BUT IT FAILS ABOUT 3 MONTHS AFTER HE GETS OUT. ROBIN DOES NOT HAVE A LOT AND SHE DOESNT WANT OR ASK FOR A LOT. SHE JUST WANTS WHAT IS BEST FOR HER KIDS AND THAT IS ENOUGH FOR HER. ROBIN DESERVES THIS.

Mother has always been a guide and helping hand to all her exgtended family. She has always put everyone else first even in helping a grandson with college money, helping family to relocate by assistance in moving. She even provided living quarters to family when they needed a place to live. She provided support whenever needed throughout her life.

I am the youngest of my family, the tenth of ten children (six boys and four girls). My mother not only took care of all of us, but she has also cared for her many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. She has been an inspiration to all of us in the way that she loves her family and accepts us all, thorns and all. A few years ago on Mother’s Day, I sent her the following message, which sums up how great my mother is! This is for my wonderful mother Georgia Etta Essick Taylor who read poems to me when I was ill, and by doing so taught me the joy of reading; who taught me to cook, to sew, to plant, and by doing so gave me the skills to be a chef, seamstress, and gardener; who sang to me and by doing so encouraged me to sing and enjoy music; who took care of my son and by doing so gave me the freedom to move forward with my life and seek happiness; who has never judged me or disapproved of me openly but who has always been there for me whenever I’ve needed someone to talk to, someone to dry my tears, someone to tell me to straighten up and quit feeling sorry for myself! My mother deserves to be and is the best mom ever.

When my son was diagnosed with cancer almost 11 years ago, we had to travel out of state for treatment. My wife was pregnant and morning sickness lasted longer than the morning. When our 9 month old was having a bad day, throwing up from chemo, my wife was worn out, we didn’t have any groceries cause we didn’t have time to go to the store, we were running low on clean laundry or the house was a disaster - My mom came running. We lived next door and she would get up in the middle of the night and help. Since his treatment lasted several years so did my Mom’s expression and outpouring of love. Other people helped and showed their love – it’s just Mom’s love never stopped, we have never found the end. She traveled with us when we needed it, she took care of our other children when we needed it, she takes care of all of our children when possible even today. We live out of state and the one thing we miss is family. We can’t think of enough ways to thank Mom for all she has done for our family. Our child that had cancer is now 11 and Mom still loves and protects him with her whole heart. When he was diagnosed with cancer again at the age of 8, Mom came running and stayed. When I broke my back and crushed my leg – guess what? Mom came and stayed with us for 60 days so my wife could return to work. She cared for her father and brother simultaneously in her home until they both passed away within months of one another. We think Mom is PHENOMENAL and underneath her sweet, smiling, cheerful and always giving exterior is (shhh…it’s a secret) wonderwoman, ‘cause Mom can do anything and everything she sets her mind too.

I would like to nominate my wife Audra Milam as Wichita’s Favorite Mom; she was born at the St. Francis Hospital in 1970 and 1987 graduate of Friends University. We have two wonderful children Heath and Celia but Audra’s duties don’t just stop there she was in charge of the Goddard United Methodist Church nursery for more than three years helping out with as many church events as humanly possible. She is the founder, Troop Leader of Girl Scout troop 147 and activity planer, doer, and organizer. She has been a t-ball score keeper and snack packer for two years and still finds time to assist in the class rooms of both our children’s class rooms. She is unable to say NO to any one asking her for help or to help out with an additional project above and beyond the normal super mom; I think she should be issued a cape to go along with the flowers. Man I just got tired typing all of this, thanks for your consideration.

My mom is the type of person who will do anything for anyone. She never gives up and will always be there for you. When my dad had gotten into a car accident last year she was always there for my brother and me saying everything would be alright. She helps people from my aunt to homeless people on the street. My mom is very unique and everyone loves her very much. I want to show her that she is the best mom ever and no one could ever take that away from me.

I, unlike other girls I know, wish to become like my mom. Not only in looks–although people claim I look exactly like my mom–but in intelligence, practicality, and personality. In order to go to Bishop Carroll Catholic High School, which had a tuition at the time, my mother had to find a job at 14 years old to pay her way into BC. She never complained about doing so, even though it was a tremendous burden. After four years of high school, my mother graduated and then undertook college. She went to a variety of schools, ranging from Newman to WSU to Butler Community College. She became an LPN, and then transitioned into an RN soon after. At the age of 24, she met my father and married him, all the while paying for his student loans, wedding, and honeymoon costs, because he hadn’t started working with the Boeing Company as an engineer yet. As the years, and the children, added, my mother advanced in her career, eventually becoming a well-paid nurse. While my three brothers and I were younger, my mom worked part-time in order to spend time with us during the day, often sacrificing sleeping time in order to work a second shift during the evening. She now does a similar practice, except working full-time and waking up at 4 a.m. in the morning to make it to work. I admire her so much for her hard work and dedication in providing for us. She not only works hard, but is an extremely caring and loving mother. She cheers at every basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball game, swim, track, and cross-country meet that happens to be going on at the time. She keeps track of our school work, grades, and schedules. She praises us when we excel, and disciplines us when we fail. She comforts us when we are sick or suffering, and is a constant figure whenever I come home from school. Although my mother might not win this award, I believe in my heart that she is “Wichita’s Favorite Mom,” because she is my favorite mom.

My mom is 88 yrs old and as stuborn as they come. I did not know this when i was growing up . she was always there for me and my best friend . We did not have a lot but you would not have known it she made sure we had all we needed. Now that she is older she is very set in her way. she manages well with little assistance .. Whe was a great MOM and raised three great and responcible adults..

My parents have raised my sister and I, but my mother has been such a strenth within my life and the lives of some many other people. My mom is a LPN, Which is a truely selfless profession. While I was a little girl she wnet to school to get her LPN lincene and worked full time in nursing homes caring for the elderly. In my early teen’s she started doing home health care with kids who were disabled. My mom had a lot of kids that she cared for, but there was this very special little boy that she started caring for when he was four. At that time my mother was told that the child was not suppose to live past the age of six. With that in mind she tried not to get to attached to him, Although it was so hard, he was the sweetest little boy that you would ever want to meet and his grandparent who had full parental right were the most caring people I have ever met. To make a long story short … His grandmother died in 2005, which left his granfather his sole provide. At that point he asked my parents if they would share parental right in case something happened to him. The little boy is now 17 years old and still giving his love and sprit to everyone who comes in contact with him, with the exceptions of the nurses at the hospital.
However, some time ago she started working for the Red Cross, Drawing blood. She doesn’t like traveling that much any more, but she loves her job and her co-workers.
So my mother is a full time Nurse with the American Red Cross and a full time care taker of my our family. I cannot thank her enough for all that she does. Not only for her family, but also for people that she will never even meet.

My mom should be wichitas favorite mom for several reasons. She is 55 years old and has been a loveing wife for 35 years, full time teacher for 33 years, and has raised my sister and i and continues to help us even though we are both grown and gone from home. My sister and I are both single parents , I have 4 children my sister has 1. My sister and I both work full time and so does my mom but to help us out she keeps all 5 grandchildren everynite until my sister and i get home from work. So her day starts at 6 a.m. and ends about 11 p.m. She feeds the kids super, gets homework done, has baths given and usually even manages to make them somekind of bedtime snack. Three nights a week she gets the oldest 3 to soccar practice or soccar games. She is always shopping getting us all things and she really puts herself last. She is there to listen and give guidence. She is a shoulder to cry on and someone we can always depend on. She works so hard and does so much we could never repay her. She often feels unappreciated so I wanted to do something really special this year to show her how much she is loved and appreciated and that we could not do what we do without her.

My friend is Lori Gold and she is the Head Secretary at South High School. She is a special mom becuase she is only 33, but she also has 6 kids. She makes sure that the kids get to where we need to go even if she is tired. 4 kids are boys and they all play football in the fall. They are Collin 15, Austin, 13, Benjamin 12, & Mychael 8. She also has 2 girls, one plays basketball & track and the other is a cheerleader. Gaby is 13 and Pati is 10. She has done a great job bringing two families together. Her husband Duane thinks that she is awesome. I would love for her to be recognized because she deserves it! She has been through a lot with her family this year, losing her grandfather and uncle within a week of each other, and her husband’s grandfather passed last week in Missouri. All the while she has kept it together very well and has been their for her family when they have needed her to be strong.

My mother is a strong kind caring woman she can see the good in anyone and still believes that everyone posseses kindness in them. My mom divorced when I was young she took care of me and my brother, my brother has a disability that took alot of patience and my mom worked full time and took care of him day and night. I was 18 when I married and had my children I then divorced and ran into hard times my mom took my children in and helped raise them she never complained or made me feel like I was less of a mom, she always has a way of making us see what we are capable of and making us do it.My mom is my hero when I look at my kids I wonder if they will ever see half the woman she is.My mom went back to school and continued working full time after 2 years she found out due to medical issues she wouldnt be able to continue in the field she wanted to go so she had to quit,I was devistated but if she was she didnt show it, my mom deserves to be treated like a queen and pampered and I would love to give that chance to her. Thank you

Not quite three months ago, Feb. 15, 2008, our family was in a terrible car wreck in Colorado. God took our 45 year old father to be with Him. Also, He took our 18 year old big sister, Jenna, and our 13 year old little brother, Jace. Alyssa and Avery (twins and the writers of this letter) and our mother lived. Alyssa suffered from 4 broken ribs, lacerated spleen, broken femur, broken pelvis, and a broken back (which could have easily resulted in becoming paralyzed.) Alyssa was in the I.C.U for a week. Avery cut up her head terribly. The doctor stated it was the worst case of de-gloving he had ever seen in which the pieces were all there. By God’s grace there was no brain damage. She crushed her pelvis in 5 or 6 places and her hand was cut really bad. If it was cut one millimeter more the tendons would be cut and Avery wouldn’t be able to move her hand. She has 70 staples and 50 stitches. Our mother was flung from the car and escaped with only a broken back and clavicle, and a bad concussions. We are only 15 years old and there seems to be such a demand for us to be older. We are getting around with crutches and wheelchair. This is going to be a terribly hard mothers day for our mom because of the loss we are still grieving. Since we still can’t get around well, my mother is diligent in helping. Through the pain she is suffering, our mother sees our pain and does her best to comfort us selflessly. She still holds tight to God’s unfailing graciousness and encourages us to do the same. She is stressed out trying to close our fathers business, dealing with the attorney, doing the housework, trying to get our house on the market, fixing the financial status, working out insurance, helping us, and trying to still cope with the grief of her husband and loved kids. We can not replace the family we have lost but we would love to ease the pain for my mother this mothers day and for the rest of the year with fresh flowers to always remind us of the love that was and is between our family.

My mama’s eyes - the first thing I saw in this bright world and is still the first thing I think of when I think of her. She shares her soul with others through her eyes, so soft, so caring. Through the years I’ve seen then change from big, round to small and bright but always smiling. The cheerful brightness went away as she witnessed her own mother’s death but has slowly returned with the joy and birth of each grandchild and greatgrand child. She is always there just a phone call away and frequently will show up on your doorstep when there is anything “important” happening in your house. At 79 she drove here by herself just this last Friday to be with me at the zoo as I was a finalist in naming the new restaurant. She feels even some of the smallest things are memory makers. My mama is getting older and I understand each day is precious - just as she is precious to all those that know and love her. My mama’s eyes are a direct link to her heart - and they are both beautiful. Diane Roberts

Marcelyn spends many hours thinking how she can make her family’’s life better. This includes many cards and letters encouraging them. Each and every holiday is like Christmas from a gift perspective. She is also a very Godly person with a personal relationship with the Lord.
What a Lady!!

my mother is a very special person in a lot of ways. first of all she works fulltime outside of the home to provide the things that i need in every day life. she spends her spare time in running me to and from places that i need to be at. she provides and prepares excellent meals. my most favorite is her home cooked lasanga it is really superb! she also helped me to become an eagle scout and she goes camping with the boy scouts and me. this last summer she went with me to summer camp that takes a very special mother to do that. she will always be dear to my heart forever and ever. thank mom i love you so very much. your son chris

I grew up being rasied by my father then at 19 years old I got pregnant and married to a man who had a wonderful mother. During this time her husband was in the hospital for having a brain anurism and her daughter was just getting over cancer. She was there to take me clothes shopping when I got too fat for my old ones. She was there whenever I called crying that I was scared. She split her time between her sick husband and everyone else who needed her and was the one person I looked up too. I nominate her because she is the greatest lady that I have ever known.