This was not a hard one for me. Freda Maude Frye Ross. I will be ever so grateful for my mother who sacrificed all that she did to make my childhood safe and comfortable and for all she taught me. Mother never preached the gospel at me or pushed religion down my throat. She didn't need to. All I had to do was watch how she lived her life. Her example of how she lived was the gospel of Jesus Christ. There was always the bible or the Book of Mormon on the kitchen table where she read every morning before going to work. Mother worked long hours including Saturdays and cleaned an office at night once a week to earn money to provide for her family.
I think the thing I'm most grateful for is that even though she was alone and very poor she never shirked her responsibility as a mother. The most important thing to her was to make sure we had clothes to wear, food on the table and loving arms to come home to. Our Christmas celebrations were always filled with family. Very few presents under the tree but a home where we all felt loved. She could have given me away the day after I was born. There was a well to do couple who offered to adopt me but love outweighed the convenience and responsibility of one more child to raise on her own. I love her so much and miss her so much sometimes that it hurts. I shall always cherish the "I need my mom today" days when I could hop in the car and run to Provo and sit at the kitchen table, pour my heart out and know that she gave me that unconditional love and reassurance needed that day. Thank you mother. I love you and miss you and look forward to the day when I'll see you again.
Mother at 19. I can see Annette and I in this picture. We look alot like our mother.
