Table of Contents
Introduction Amy Newmark 1
1 Thanks for Being My Teacher
1 The Good Parts Victoria Fedden 7
2 Mom's Christmas Stocking Daryl Wendy Strauss 9
3 Everything I Would Need to Know Barbara Ann Burris 11
4 Staying Sharp at 95 Jacqueline Seewald 15
5 It Doesn't Hurt to Smile Katrina Anne Willis 19
6 How Running Helped Me Heal Kristin Julie Viola 22
7 A Strike at the Ballpark Amy Newmark 25
8 Standing Out Patricia Gordon 29
9 The Girl with the Golden Curls April Knight 32
10 The Next New Step Jennifer Harrington 36
11 Grandmother's Gift Elizabeth Rose Reardon Farella 39
2 Thanks for Always Being Right
12 Cheer Leader Victoria LaFave 47
13 Mom's Tour de Force Aimee Forge 50
14 The Fertility Specialist Mary Ellen Flaherty Langbein 54
15 Sleepless Nights Melissa Face 56
16 Product Design Hank Musolf 58
17 Party Invitation Barbara LoMonaco 62
18 A Positive Step Beth M. Wood 64
19 Ugly Ali Lauro 67
20 The Most Important Day of My Life Patrick B. Coomer 71
21 The Last Night Home Michelle Vanderwist 75
22 Celebrating the Tears Kim Stokely 78
23 The Tiny Waist of the Fifties Carole A. Bell 80
3 Thanks for Being There
24 A Child Like Me? Lisa J. Schlitt 87
25 My Mother, My Father, My Everything Natalie Scott 89
26 Coming Home Logan Eliasen 91
27 Always a Mother Kelk Z. Riley 94
28 Happy Birthday, My Sunshine Monica A. Andermann 97
29 Pizza Night William Mark Baldwin 101
30 A True Mother Sonja Herbert 104
31 Mom to the Rescue Mimi Greenwood Knight 106
32 A Pink Dress and a Promise Gail MacMillan 108
33 The Matriarch Rhonda Brunea 111
34 Motherhood: Not Quite a Stroll in the Park Maizura Abas 115
35 Wreath Rivalry Winter Prosapio 119
4 Thanks for Your Strength
36 Worth More than Money Chris Mikahon 125
37 Return to Heart Mountain Jessie Miyeko Santala 128
38 To My Other Mother Penny Smith 132
39 The Girls on the Bus Nancy Julien Kopp 135
40 Her Turn Kara Johnson 138
41 Urban Cowgirl Isabel Harris 141
42 Racing with Heart Carrie Monroe 145
43 Finding Christmas Annette McDermott 148
44 Hair Is Overrated Janet H. Taylor 152
45 Wonder Mom Susan Blakeney 154
46 Tea in the Afternoon Nancy Bravo Creager 158
47 Dance Lessons Judith Fitzsimmons 161
5 Thanks for the Memories
48 A Glorious Ride Tracy Crump 167
49 Momma's Christmas Cookies Kevin J. Kraemer 169
50 Just the Way I Like It April Knight 172
51 The Healing Power of Toilet Paper Toni Becker 175
52 Mom Didn't Play Fair John M. Scanlan 179
53 Joy in an Unexpected Friendship Julie Hornok 181
54 House of Sunshine and Tears J.D. Chancy 183
55 Gifts to Keep Susan R. Ray 187
56 Love You Forever A.B. Chester 190
57 Early Mornings with God and Mom Ronda Armstrong 193
58 Tables Turn Winter Prosapio 196
59 Lillian's Daughter Sally Schwartz Friedman 199
6 Thanks for Being My Role Model
60 The Lady in the Mirror Terri Lacker 205
61 Father's Day Denise Reick 207
62 Midnight Grace Skawnelle Eliasen 210
63 No Complaints Donna F. Savage 214
64 Burned Lisa Wright-Dixon 216
65 Hope for the Future Tricia Downing 220
66 The Locket Donna Brothers 223
67 Forgiving the Unforgivable Sheridan Kee 227
68 Focusing on What We Have Lisa Hutchison 230
69 Adventures in Staying Ann Kronwald 233
70 A Life Lesson in Courage Donia Moore 236
71 Turning Into My Mother Karen Kullgren 240
7 Thanks for the Laughter
72 Granny's Bible Robin Rylee Harderson 247
73 Sense of Humor Needed Lucille Engro DiPaolo 251
74 A Fist Full of Dollars Gail Eynon 254
75 The Cooking Lesson Ava Pennington 257
76 The Little Woman Jill Burns 261
77 Answer the Phone Cindy D'Ambroso-Argiento 264
78 The Cursed Jersey Michelle McKague-Radic 266
79 Serious Business Beth Morrissey 269
80 A Simple Wedding Dress Debra Mayhew 271
81 Cotton Balls Lava Mueller 274
8 Thanks for Being My Rock
82 Nighttime Mothering Jennifer Knickerbocker 281
83 There All Along D'ette Corona 284
84 Unconditional Love Angel Therese Dionne 286
85 From Despair to Peace Kimberly Ross 288
86 Granny's Cedar Chest Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy 290
87 Finding Strength in Love, Holly Wilkinson 293
88 She Never Stopped Loving Me Leigh Ann Bryant 296
89 The Spelling Bee Mary Elizabeth Laufer 300
90 Independence Day Ellarry Prentice 303
91 Grandmas Trade Secret Courtney Conover 307
9 And Now I Take Care of You
92 Clothed in Love Pam Giordano 313
93 In Her Hands Judy Brown 317
94 The Missing Stocking Teresa Ann Maxwell 320
95 Talking Potato Linda Rose Etter 322
96 A Turkey of a Thanksgiving A.J. Cattapan 324
97 A Little Child Shall Lead Them Candace Schuler 328
98 Accidental Destiny Cecile Proctor 330
99 Like Mother, Like Daughter Anna Fitzgerald 333
100 Daffodil Month Jennie Ivey 336
101 Rewind Kala Cota 339
Meet Our Contributors 345
Meet Amy Newmark 361
About the Boys & Girls Clubs of America 363
Thank You 365
About Chicken Soup for the Soul 366