I am rich. The generations of mother’s that contributed to my life makes me tear with unspeakable joy. I want to introduce to you a few generations. My mother, maternal grandmother, maternal great-grandmother and paternal grandmother. Who have each so richly blessed the very core of my being.

Here is my mother, Kelly Lee Parr, as a toddler, baby and below in her college days (she’s on the left, her sister Tammy on the right). Precious from the beginning, still precious today. My mom is the most dynamic being I know. Anything she puts her hands to, she does it with all of her will and usually she’s in it for others. She has a deep desire to see people live free -physically, emotionally and spiritually. She has taught me to live every minute to its fullest potential, not just in working hard in excellence but putting your energy into joy. My mom loves much and laughs often. Her love, like God’s, changes me. Words I hold onto that my mom has told me since I was a child… “be like a palm tree and sway with the wind (in hurricane circumstances).“

This is my maternal grandmother, Connie Jo Post, as a third grader and then with her first two of five daughters (my mom on the right). My grandma is the world’s best grandma. Period. She is full of strength in a meek frame. Always hoping and always loving. She would move mountains or put out a forest fire for any of her children or grandchildren. On her own? No. In prayer, most definitely. The power of my grandmother’s prayers has changed me. She cooperates with God in changing the destiny of our family’s future, and I am most grateful to be apart of it. Words from my grandma that have helped me in life’s decisions are, “What brings you peace?” ***To read her blog about her wonderful tribute to her mother, visit http://conniejopost.wordpress.com.

Now this is my world-changing great-grandmother, Alma Ruth Cripe, as a child, and then as a college student below. I say world-changer because my Granny has changed so many “worlds”. The worlds of each of her three children, nine grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. We all have been impacted by our Granny. She was a magnificent being, and I am so richly blessed to have so many memories with my great-granny. She left us two years ago, but her spirit still lives within us all. Granny was always loving and always creating “fun” in each and every day. She taught Art and Home-Ec for 29yrs., so there wasn’t a moment I was with her that we weren’t “creating” something wonderful. I miss her so, as I write this and can hear her joyful expression calling out my name every time I’d walk in her door. My favorite quote from my Granny is… “Let’s don’t and say we did!”

This is my paternal grandmother, Bernardine Huck, just a few weeks ago in Sarasota, Florida, and me pictured with her below. Bernardine is something very very special. Her love is constant, like a river. You never really know where the water comes from when you are standing at the side of a river, you just know it never stops flowing. That’s her love. Like a river that never stops. She is a piece of magnificent work. She can “cut a rug” (tap dance) and tell a joke like no other. She has the quickest wit of anyone I know. While on my recent visit, she said to me, “Johnna, you are such a smart…” and before I could finish saying the whole word “thank you,” because I thought she was going to say “girl”… she interrupted “wait wait, you didn’t let me finish… -ALECK!” haha. This tiny little precious thing will surprise you with her big humor and big love. I know she has changed my life with her constant rushing love.

Thank you for reading about the wonderful “mother’s” that have transformed who I am today and have given me such a rich heritage. I am blessed to know that all of these women are God-fearing and believe in the power of God’s love. I have even been told that my maternal great-great-grandmother fasted and prayed every New Year’s Eve for her family generations. I believe I am walking proof that “prayer does change things.” I can only wish and hope to be such a legacy to my generations I will birth and thereafter. Thank you mother, grandmothers, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. I love you all and want to honor you with my life.