To Three Amazing Moms: A Guest Post by Jamie

Happy Mother’s Day weekend! My sweet husband Jamie asked me a few weeks ago if he could do a guest post today, and how could I say no? I knew it was important to him. Take it away, J!

Hey y’all. The fact that Erica is letting me write a post is pretty special and well, as it turns out she’s pretty special. Today we’re celebrating the most special women in our lives: our moms. I feel very fortunate because I have three moms in my life who all mean a lot to me and our family, and I’d like to use this post to tell you about the greatest moms that I know: my mother-in-law, my mom, and Whimsical September‘s very own Erica.

I might be pretty biased, but I feel that I have the greatest mother-in-law in the world. I first met Nancy back in 2008 when her other son-in-law Josh and I were there to take pictures with Josh’s now-wife (Erica’s sister) before a dance. I was laughing with Nancy the other day about how each of us had no idea that night Josh and I were there that I would be bringing my second daughter (whom her other daughter gave birth to) home from the hospital to that house. God does have a funny way of laying out our lives out, right? Anyway, I just remember Nancy being so warm and kind to me and I barely even knew her. Fast forward eight years after a marriage, two granddaughters, and countless nights spent at that house and it’s safe to say where Erica gets her warmth, kindness, and loving personality from. I can’t speak for others and their in-laws, but I’m always excited to go visit Nancy, and she’s really treated me as another son for the better part of the last decade.

Nancy, thank you for all you have done for me and my little family. You raised three outstanding kids and gave me a marvelous and godly woman who follows your example daily. Thank you for letting me stay at your house so many nights, fostering my relationship with Erica, and being an awesome grandma to Hadley and Sadie. I hope you have a great Mother’s Day and I can’t wait to see you.

My mom is one of the strongest individuals I know. She exemplified bravery through her past battle with breast cancer and her positive outlook on life has been an inspiration as her remission continues into its second decade. My mother and I have always had a special relationship ever since I was born to “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” playing on December 23. That song still brings her to tears!  “What a Wonderful World” is also special and makes her tear up. I have never met another mother who has the perfect mix of strength, love, poise, and yes, even a little bit of fire than my mother. I think the fire might be her Ulloa-Bone combination, but that’s just a guess.

She’s been a pillar for our family and always somebody to look to when times are tough. She’s always there to lend an ear to and always there with an example of how God will work a situation for His glory and purpose. One of the greatest things about my mother is how much of an awesome “Miya” she is (her grandmother name to Hadley and Sadie). I also used to call her that when I was little and couldn’t say “mom.” I can always count on my mom to welcome my two girls with loving arms. I love you Mom. Thank you for always being there for Brendon and me and  telling us “no” when we needed it. You are an amazing woman and I can’t wait to see your relationship as Miya to Hadley and Sadie continue to blossom.

Erica told me not to be too sappy when writing this post, but it’s going to be pretty hard not to sound too sappy when I talk about what she means to our family. Erica is my rock, and after three years of long distance dating, five years of marriage broken up by three deployments, and now two divas running around, she deserves the mom of the century award. I knew early on in our relationship that Erica was going to be an outstanding and loving mom. Since Hadley was born she’s taken the gift of motherhood and ran with it. I’ve never seen a mother look at her children the way Erica looks at our two little girls and my heart swells with pride every time I see her getting a “Hadley Hug” (which are the greatest hugs in the whole world) or whispering “I love you Sadie Rose” as she kisses our newborn on her forehead.

I know that she wants only the best for our daughters, and I thank God every day that He chose her to be my wife and the mother of my girls. She’s strong-willed and committed, raising our girls through potty-training, sleepless nights, temper tantrums, breast-feeding, and picky eating and most of it while being a single mom since I’m away for the time being. I love looking into our daughter’s faces and knowing that they have a beautiful example of what a mother should be right in our own home. I know she’ll always be there for our girls and they’ll have that special relationship that Erica and Nancy have to this day.

Erica, you mean the world to me. Thank you for giving our family two of the most precious gifts a guy could ever ask for in daughters. I’m excited for the next chapter of our lives now as a family of four. I love you and Happy Mother’s Day.