Celebrating my Step-Mom on Mother’s Day
Every year, Mother’s Day is hard for me. I miss my mom so much I can hardly stand it. I was blessed to have the most amazing Mom a girl could ever dream of. 
She was brilliant, beautiful, loving, funny, compassionate, a servant, self-less, inspiring, and beyond comparison.
There was one thing in life I always knew for sure, and that was that my mom loved me. She taught me about Jesus Christ. She loved Him, knew Him, lived for Him, and is now with Him.
I often think about all that Mom taught me growing up, and I try to think, “What would Mom do in this situation?” I try my best to honor her in the way that I live my life now.
When my dad remarried, it wasn’t easy. Even though he was marrying a wonderful lady, Janet, it was still hard. I wanted to kick and scream and close my eyes so I could wake up and find that Mom was still alive and things would go back to normal.
But it wasn’t.
And I thought, how would Mom want me to handle this situation? And without a doubt, I knew that she would want me to be happy for Dad, to love Janet, and to glorify God with my actions. So that is what I have tried to do, in honor of my mom.
Because without a single doubt, when my mom got cancer, I KNOW that she prayed that God would take care of my Dad and her children after she was gone. Janet is an answer to my mom’s prayer.
Though Mom would love to still be alive, watching her grandchildren grow and growing old with Dad, if she couldn’t be here, I know she would want someone in her place to take care of Dad and love on her children and grandchildren.
Mom, God has answered your prayers.
Janet is a gift to our family.
She loves Dad so much, and treats my children as her own.
Her number one desire is for Dad to still be a huge part of our lives, so she encourages him and comes with him to every one of my children’s special occasions like ball games, birthdays, graduations, and more.
Here they are at Luke’s 5th grade graduation. And yes, it is hard for me to think about all of these special moments that my mom is missing out on. But as sad as that makes me, it makes me more sad to think of Dad coming to these special events alone.
I’m so glad he has Janet to walk through life together. She treats him like a king! 
You know I have told you what an amazing writer my mom was, and how she would send me letters and notes of encouragement my whole life. I think it would please her beyond words to see the texts and letters that Janet sends me all the time.
I can feel not only Janet’s love, buy my mother’s love, each time I read them.
Dad and Janet came with us this weekend to hear Jonathan sing at the Kentucky Opry. Actually, I am writing this post from my hotel room in Paducah. Dad and Janet left early this morning because they needed to get back home to see Janet’s mom for Mother’s Day. Cy and I were going to church with some friends before we head back home. I wanted to be in church with all my boys on Mother’s Day because I know that is exactly where my mom would want me to be!
When I woke up this morning, I found this text on my phone…
As you can see, God has blessed our family so much with Janet!
A couple of months ago, Janet asked me if I could give this little metal basket a makeover. It used to be my mom’s, and it had been sitting in storage.
So I painted it white, added a little monogram, and filled it with red geraniums.
She loved it!
So today, I wanted to honor my step-mom, Janet. She is an amazing lady, full of grace, kind, compassionate, and to be honest, a lot like my mom.
Many of you may be like me, without your Mom, on Mother’s Day.
But many of you have a special woman in your life that has encouraged and loved you like a mom. Maybe an aunt, a neighbor, a lady at church, a grandmother, or a step-mom.
We are so very blessed to have these special ladies in our lives!!!
Celebrate them with me today.
Give them a hug, call them on the phone, or just pray for them and asked God to bless them.
May we all take time to count the blessings in our lives each day!
Happy Mother’s Day!!
This is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing this today, Traci! xo
My goodness… Janet sounds like a wonderful woman, & it sounds like she is just as thankful to have you all in her life as you are to have her in yours on this special day. :) Happy Mother’s Day, Traci!
Such a beautiful post and I know your mom is so proud of you for treating Janet with such kindness and love. This is truly honoring your mom in the most loving way. God Bless.
As I sit here with tears in my eyes as I read your beautiful words as I am a step mother and I know how difficult it is but I too love my step children with all of my heart. They live far away so we don’t get to see them very offten but the love continues. I have two of my own which I love so much but today is so special.
Happy Mother’s Day to you.
God bless!
Oh Traci, this brought tears to my eyes. Your mom raised such a beautiful person and I know she is smiling down with pride. Thanks for sharing and Happy Mother’s Day!
God bless you Traci for embracing Janet so well into your family. Your mom would be so proud of you. You are setting a great example for your kids too. I hope you had a blessed Mother’s Day :-). Thx for sharing
Traci, What a beautiful moving tribute to your Mom and Janet!!! I know your Mom is sooo proud of you!
I was Blessed with the same kind of Mother and Blessed to have her with me for 60 years! She went to home with her Beloved Lord 2 years ago….
And how wonderfully Loved Janet must feel!
I love your Blog and follow it faithfully!
You have uplifted and brightened my day…Happy Mother’s Day…
I read this tribute to your mom and your “bonus” mom with tears in my eyes. How blessed you are to have the love of two extraordinary women! And even more so, how big your heart is to welcome and love Janet even through your own grief of losing your mom so suddenly. What a precious gift to your dad! Many blessings to all of you…I just can’t tell you enough how much it warms my heart to read a post like this.
I think this post is absolutely beautiful, Traci! Your blog was the first one I ever began reading so I have read many, many post about your dear Mom! Thank you for sharing your heart about Janet… Your family is blessed to have her and I’m sure this post will mean so much to her!! Thank you for sharing from your heart!
Janet sounds like a blessing!
What a testament to God’s love and grace at work in your life to not only bring a wonderful woman into your lives but that you are able to love her and appreciate her while missing your mom so dearly.
I was praying for you (& missing your smiling face) yesterday on such a bittersweet almost awkward day. Love how God redeems our losses and answers our prayers with more than we could have ever imagined!
What a beautiful tribute to a beautiful woman – inside and out! Thank you for sharing!
Yesterday, I celebrated my first mother’s day without my mom. We buried her on Tuesday, May 6th, last week.
IT WAS DIFFICULT! I AM NOT GONNA LIE!
I miss her sooo much.
Marilyn C.
Forgot to add – Mom was 92.
She got to hold hands with my dad again and she got to meet Jesus.
I am happy she is not suffering any longer but sad that she is not here with me. I know I will see her again.
What a well written post and what a wonderful expression of love as your Mom and as God would have it! You have set a great example for all of us!
Traci- I remember how all this started and how your sister met Janet in the dental office before your dad even met her. It’s the most beautiful and amazing story I have ever heard. I continue to be amazed at how God did abundantly more than you all could have imagined. I know you miss your mom but how blessed your family is to have Janet and how blessed Janet is to have your family. God is sooo Good!
Crying. This is soo soo sweet. You are very blessed!
Traci, You are such a sweet person. I know you must certainly be a blessing to your Dad and Janet.
So very sweet! I am in tears! Bless you both….
Such a touching tribute to your step mom. She sounds like a very special lady who loves each one of you. My Mother is also in Heaven loving on Jesus in person! Perhaps they have met. I look forward to meeting you one day too.
Janet is a “Step Up to the Plate” Mom or a “Bonus” Mom. It is apparent the spirit of your mother is around you. You are so kind, and I love how you not only give God the Glory but also these two beautiful women that have graced your father’s life.
Tracy, your mom isnt missing any of those moments. She is right there with all of you!! This made me tear up, Janet seems like a wonnderful woman. Your family is blessed to have her!