“The Diamond of my Eyes”

by Tirzah McFarland, Veritas Christian School

Her life was never easy, not like the one I’m in.

Her hands show the places she has been.

The voice she gave us sounds like the horns of heaven.

Her dance comes from the native land.

Her children are blessed with a mother of such worth,

a woman who has seen the heavens and earth.

God, Thank you for this woman, the one you chose for me.

The one whom I love and care for gently.

My mom is special for many reasons. She has been there with me from the time I stepped through the door at kindergarten to sixth grade. She has always supported me in all the activities I have done. My mom does a lot of great things for me.

My mom is special because she is always willing to help people. When it’s time to sign up for school to help the teachers, she will always sign up. She has always been great in helping out at our school. She also likes to participate in as many things as she can sign up for.

My mom is a great team player. She will always participate, and if she loses, she will be a great sport about it. She is a great family member to have because she will always support each person in the family. Even when someone messes up, she will always say “nice job” or “way to go.”

My mom has helped me in school. When I needed any help on any problem, she has helped me. If I had a lot of homework any particular night, she would help me. She has her own job to work on, too, so it’s really nice to have her help my sister and me and still work on her job.

I think my mom is the greatest. She is a very special person in my life.

– Kate Karnes, 12, Corpus Christi Catholic School

Mother: Jan Karnes

What doesn’t make my mom special? She caring, loving, kind, beautiful, sweet and everything that makes a person feel good. When I’m sad, she cheers me up. She inspires me ot do great thigns in life. When I grow up, I want to be just like my mother. Who wouldn’t?

We love to do things together. We got to the movies, go shopping (my favorite), eat lunches on weekends and anything you could enjoy together with your mom. Anything that would seem uninteresting or boring, my mom would make fun, interesting and extraordinary. Currently, my mom is teaching me fun ways to cook. My mom makes the best chocolate chip cookies in the world. You should try them sometime.

Our favorite restaurant is Paisanos. Every time we go there for dessert, she treats us to Black and White Torte, our favorite. She enjoys watching me act and do sports. When she watches me, I feel confident. Then I do great.

Every day, my mom tells me how much she loves me. And I tell her how much I love her. When I have homework I don’t understand, she helps me understand. Every single quality you could want, you will find in her – the gorgeous Carmen Hocking!

– Ashley Hocking, fifth grade, Corpus Christi Catholic School

Mother: Carmen Hocking

My mom is the best. She inspires me a lot, like the time she said I could be secretary of the Wellsville Elementary School. Guess what I am? She plays games with me, and we have a really good time. She especially likes Yahtzee. I like it, too.

Every time we fight or argue, we always end up laughing. For instance, she and I were arguing, but we didn’t even know what we were arguing about. She loves taking pictures and would rather be behind the lens than in the picture. I am in Girl Scouts, and she is my troop leader. She also loves to bake dessert. If you choose my story, she will bake something for you. Michelle loves volunteering, especially at school, like the school carnival. My mom is a terrific mom to me, and I really look up to her.

– Brittany Kampfer, Wellsville Elementary School

Mother: Michelle Kampfer

Sometimes I wonder why my mom is so special. I mean, she does so many things for me to become a better person. Mom helps me understand myself if I’m confused. She was born in 1962 in Kansas City. My mom tells me how somebody should be punished if they do something bad. My mom is extremely wise.

Her personal qualities are very good. She is a very religious person. When I have a problem, she’ll talk about it with me in a good manner. Sometimes we have lunch and shop together. My mom has a great sense of humor. There is this one kid who we know, and he will go home and come back, so my mom says he comes and goes. After all, she is hilarious.

My mom has high expectations for me. Her first and most important is to be a good person. She also wants me to be a good student and get a good job. She also wants me to be a holy person. She also likes that I’m good at sports.

My mom is a skilled parent. She has a good way of not being too strict but teaches good morals. Mom isn’t too strict but punishes me if I do something wrong. I don’t like it, but it will help me. That is part of her expectations.

I think she chose a good school for me to go to. It is a Catholic school. I have good friends there.

She is one of the happiest people I know. I will always love my mom – thank you for everything you do for me.

– Patrick Friedrichsen, 11, Corpus Christi Catholic School

Mother: Liz Friedrichsen

My mom is special because she’s special. She always reads to me. When I’m sick, she will always take care of me even though she has to do things. I got sick one weekend, and even though she wanted to go to work, she didn’t go until two hours later. She is a hard-working woman. She always has a big to-do list, but she always has time for me. I think no moms are like my mom. A lot of moms don’t hang out with their daughter as much. When we go to the car wash, we have so much fun washing the car. My mom will squirt water on me, and I will, too. We go to the movies together and bawl our eyes out, or laugh until we cry. We will go roller-skating, jump on the trampoline, swing, swim and run. I love her so much. She cares about me so much. I can’t imagine my life without my mom!

– Maggie Wiseman, 10, Woodlawn School

Mother’s Day is a day when you thank your mom for everything she has done. Thank you for helping me study for tests. You are the best mom because you are always happy and you keep me healthy.

Another way my mom is special is when anyone in our family is mad or sad, you always help out to make them feel better. Thanks for keeping me straight, because it made me to be me!

Thanks for always encouraging me that I could be in the NBA someday. If you didn’t encourage me, I don’t know – if I do make it, you can stop working.

Thanks for letting me play soccer and basketball, because it’s a lot of money. I like basketball, so thanks for letting me do it. Also, thanks for letting me play on the Legacy. If didn’t get to play on the Legacy, I don’t know if I would know any of those people who are my friends now. Thanks for letting me play soccer and basketball.

You are the greatest mom because you do everything. You let me play soccer, basketball, and you encourage my dreams when I grow up. I don’t know what I would do without you. I can’t wait until you can come to my wedding someday. Maybe you can baby-sit my children. I love you!

– Brock Edwards, 13, Corpus Christi Catholic School

Mother: Tara Edwards

My mom is very special for many reasons. She is very nice. She takes care of our family. She is honest, too. She teaches us all good things like manners and honesty.

There are different types of being special. Some types are being different. One is being very kind. My mom is probably one who is kind, but she does discipline us. She doesn’t just let us do what we want to do all the time. And that can be good, I guess. That’s what a good mom is supposed to do.

I think my mom has most, if not all, the qualities that a mom should have. Like being trustworthy, loyal to family and caring. Then there are qualities that make my mom special. Some aren’t that different, and some are. My mom’s qualities aren’t that different, but they are still special.

My mom is very special. She does her job as a mom by taking care of us. She does good at most of the jobs of a mom. There is something special in every mom. I think my mom is special for more than one reason. I couldn’t ask for a better mom.

– Patrick Bennett, 12, Corpus Christi Catholic School

Mother: Mary Bennett

Mother’s Day is coming up, and all moms get excited. I’m in sixth grade now, and my mom is very special. She isn’t just your normal mom but a lot more. I’ve thought about her lately, and she is incredibly talented.

She always tries to cheer me up, even when I’m down. She helps me understand a lot of things. She also drives me to basketball and softball practices. My mom always encourages me in sports. She always supports me.

My mom tries to set awesome examples. She also tries to model good behavior. My mom is always funny in her own little ways. Even though she might embarrass me, I still love her. We always do a lot of things together.

We take family trips. Sometimes we go to the mall. She also has great expectations for me in sports and grades. My mom expects me to pick up after myself.

If I do something wrong, I will have to do chores. My mom is a pretty calm mom. She is just trying to help me do the right things, though.

My mom is an important person in my life. She does huge amounts of things for me. My mom is so important. She helps me in so many different ways.

– Kennedy Kirkpatrick, 11, Corpus Christi Catholic School

Mother: Janette Kirkpatrick

Three words to describe my mom would be courteous, responsible and humorous. She always thinks of the other person before herself. I love the way she can add something to one of my jokes. My favorite things about my mom are her childhood stories and the way she reads a story. They are the funniest I’ve ever heard.

My mom is really cool. Starting in August, she is going to be the principal of an elementary school. Right now she has taught all grades K-7, except for first. She really wants me to do well in school. She’s even told me that she wished for me to do better than she had.

My mom likes kids a lot. She really enjoys making them laugh and smile. My mom also loves dogs. We have two right now. Their names are Cheyanne and CeCe. When my mom was a kid, she moved a lot. She lived in almost half of the cities in California because her dad was in the Navy. He is very special to me, and so is my grandma. We spend lots of time down there.

Wellington, Kansas, is where my mom moved to in seventh grade. She said that she was expecting something like “The Wizard of Oz.” I wish we could always be together.

– Kate Hiebert, 12, Corpus Christi Catholic School

Mother: Cynthia Hiebert

A mother is always right. Although she isn’t perfect, you’ve just got to love her, right? She’s there when you’re sick, there when you’re well.

She’s bossy, and she’s nice. She takes care of the cooking – at least most of the time. Embarrassing and cool, she brings me to school. She’s great and she’s good.

How does she put up with everything? Between the work, fun and other little things, she’s there when needed.

A mother’s kindness is not judging, even when you’re someone only she could love. Well, I’m sure not. She has many moods and is a hard worker. She is always the last one ready to go somewhere. It takes forever with all the makeup and junk.

She’s there at my basketball games to cheer me on. She never mows the lawn. Jocelyn is my mom.

– Jordan Rietcheck, 12, Corpus Christi Catholic School

Mother: Jocelyn Rietcheck

I think my mother is special because she is loving. And she has taken care of me since I was a baby. So I know she cares for me. I love her like no one else in the world.

She has taken care of me for 11 years now. She has done a fantastic job for being a single parent. She has been a terrific mother for me. My mom’s the best mom you can ever get in the universe.

Since Mother’s Day is coming up soon, I’m going to write some more about my wonderful mother. All mothers should be loved by their kids. Like I love my wonderful mom. Kids should love their mothers.

I think everyone should get their mother something on Mother’s Day. Well, I am. Because I love my mom. I love her a lot.

This is just a thanks of appreciation letter about my mom. I love her a lot. She loves me a lot.

– Austin Neuburger, 11, Corpus Christi Catholic School

Mother: Sara Neuburger

My mom is one of a kind. She is always there for me in whatever kind of mood I’m in. Mother’s Day is coming soon, and I want to get her the best present ever. She has always given me tons of nice things, so I want to get her the best present ever. She has always given me tons of nice things, so I want to get her something to show my appreciation. I will always be there for her, and she will always be there for me.

My mom and I have a great connection. We go shopping together, play games together and go out for meals together. I am a dancer, and I have a lot of costumes, so she helps me with my hair, makeup, costumes, and she always supports me. Without her support, I wouldn’t be able to do any of the activities I do now.

My mom is fun, but she is still a mom. She knows when to tell us to stop and when it’s gone too far. She has good expectations for me. I want to be a doctor when I grow up. My mother is happy with my choice and supports me all the way. I love being so close with my mom.

My mom is nice, and she doesn’t embarrass me. I can always come and talk to her without worrying about what she will say. I love my mom very much, and I love to see her happy. She is the best mom any girl could have!

– Emily Arnold, 12, Corpus Christi Catholic School

Mother: Lori Arnold

My mom is special. She has cheered me on from kindergarten through sixth grade. For Mother’s Day, I’m going to get her something special, so don’t tell her. (Shush.) Her birthday’s coming up, too, and I’m getting her a dress. She’s special because she’s taken care of me for so long.

My mom communicates with my dad and me every night. When my dad is upstairs, we watch TV. Her activities include going to the lake, movies, trips and helping my dad and me. Her parenting skills on a scale of 1 to 10? She’s an 11. She expects me to have a great education – doesn’t every parent?

Most of my mom’s personal qualities are helping me study. She also throws the ball to me when I practice basketball. My mom is really friendly.

When I practice basketball, my mom plays with me to improve my shots, getting around to the basket and blocking. If you had her as a mom, you would be so lucky. She loves to bake cakes, brownies and sometimes cookies with me.

My mom works at Legends Drive Dental Center in Lawrence. She is getting a bachelor’s degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. I value my mom so much that I would give my life for her. In the future I will drive her around whenever and wherever she wants to go.

– Preston Ritzman, 11, Corpus Christi Catholic School

Mother: Michele Ritzman

What can I say? My mom is the best in the world. I can’t start to explain, but let me try. From her remarkable way of making things special to her warm smile and loving guidance, my mom is great. When I get a little off track, she is always there with words of wisdom and an encouraging thought.

My mom adds the “magic touch” to the things she does. Holidays would not be holidays without her. She hangs Christmas decorations everywhere, both inside and outside the house. From the smell of cookies baking to opening our stockings on Christmas morning, everything is extraordinary, and she makes it look so easy.

My whole family loves to go on vacation. When we go to the beach, she surprises us each day with a new art project, from tie-dyed T-shirts to Hawaiian night. My mom makes life a great memory.

Each weekend, mom drives me to Kansas City for my soccer game, where she becomes “super cheerleader.” Mom makes up all kinds of goofy cheers before we get there. Sometimes it can be embarrassing, but it makes me laugh. In the end, no matter what the score, she is my favorite fan.

What makes my mom so special? She cares about me and other people. What I am interested in and what’s on my mind – she is there for me. My mom loves me for who I am. That’s what makes my mom so special.

– Daniella Smith, 11, Corpus Christi Catholic School

Mother: Yvonne Smith

My mom is not the nicest mom, but she is not the meanest. That’s what kids would probably say, just not to make their moms mad. My mom knows how I feel about how she is. The reasons my mom is the “in-betweenest” mom is because she wants to know where I am ALL the time. She just wants to know that I am safe and in a good place. Another reason is she cares about what I’m interested in. I can feel her concern about how you want to know about what your children are into, but sometimes it gets a little annoying because she wants to know what I wear and what I listen to.

The biggest reason is she wants to know who my friends are. She just wants to know if I’m in the wrong crowd, good crowd, whatever crowd, just as long as it won’t get me into trouble or put me in danger.

These are all the reasons I think my mom is the best “in-betweenest” mom she can be.

– Daryl Bennett, Perry Lecompton Middle School

Mother: Jan Frickey

My mom is special because she takes care of me and my two sisters. She loves all of us, and she will do anything for what we want, and if she doesn’t, we know she tries. On Mother’s Day, we let her do anything she wants, which we like to do. She has stayed with me all the way to sixth grade.

We communicate sometimes by having a family meeting, like what happened in the news, like the Virginia Tech shootings. Sometimes we also play basketball with friends, baseball and also board games. If I don’t clean my room or take out the trash, she will ground me or take my TV.

My mom will take my family to Florida or New Jersey for good schoolwork if I get all A’s. She also cares for people who get hurt or if something happened in their family. She also cares for our health – like what we eat. She will do a lot for us.

We love our mom because we know that she tries to be a great mother. If something happens to me or my sisters, she will take care of us until we feel better. Sometimes she will give me advice on a game or something. We will always love our mom.

– Anthony Miele, 12, Corpus Christi Catholic School

Mother: Kim Miele

My mom is special because she loves me and cares for me. I can describe her as funny and smart and nice. Everything she buys for me is very nice for me. She is funny because one time she climbed a tree with us. she’s smart because she does perfect math. She cares for me because when I’m sick, she lets me have soup. And when she is sick, I care for her. She is like a beautiful butterfly flying through the air because she is so beautiful.

– Alexandra Clark, second-grader, Wakarusa Valley School

Mother: Jennifer Clark