Wednesday, May 7, 2014

A Lesson From Bread Sticks

"I got it!" I happily said while placing one more sticker on my Book-it pin.  The year was 1980-something and I was with my family at Pizza Hut.  Our school participated in The Book-It program, where you got free pizza every time you read a certain number of hours.  I read over 500 hours that year.

I got several pizzas.

It was even more of a treat as my family of eight rarely ever went out to dinner.   There was no weekday trips to McDonald's, no weekend trips to nicer restaurants, we just ate at home, which isn't a bad thing I might add.

I enjoyed my personal pan pizza and my mom and a few of my siblings ordered a big pizza to share.  I don't know why we weren't all there together, maybe the older siblings had school activities that night.

We ate our dinner and got our bill.   "Oh they forgot to put the bread sticks on our bill" my mom said more to herself.

She went up to the cashier and told them they forgot to charge her for her bread sticks.  The girl seemed amazed that my mom had mentioned the error, especially when it was an error in my mom's favor.  My mom paid the corrected amount and we were on our way.

I don't know if my mom remembers that time, but I do.  It is one of those memories that is so vividly ingrained in my mind.  She didn't preach, or teach about being honest and integrity, she did it and lived it.  That was just who she was.

That was just one of the many lessons she taught me in life, rarely with words but always with example.
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Me and my parents
Endless hours serving others, always welcoming friends into our home, always having a nice dinner ready, always attending all of my performances- even the marching band competitions 4 hours away, always so patient, always full of faith.

My mother- she taught by love and example.  So with mother's day fast approaching I write this post in honor of her, to thank her for who she was and who she is, as she helped me become the person I am today.
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This is my mom's profile picture on Facebook, she and I together.  It has been her picture the entire time she has been on Facebook mostly because she doesn't know how to change it- I like to tell my siblings it is because I am her favorite 

Linking up with Shell's PYHO

26 comments:

  1. I love this post! We truly do have an amazing mother :) Thanks for sharing this memory :)

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    1. Yes, we really do. She has always been a great example and always loves us

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  2. Your mom sounds like a wonderful person! Great lesson to teach her kids, even if she wasn't aware of it at the time :)

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    1. She really is, and yes remembering this makes me a lot more aware of my own actions around my kids

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  3. SO sweet Em. And you know what, you're totally like her! Except you might go out to eat a little more. ;) xoxo

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    1. Awe thank you! And lol yes, we definitely eat out a little more :)

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  4. What a beautiful story and so true. It's hard to remember sometimes but by just being the person we want our kids to be we teach them more than we do when we lecture.

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    1. Yes, it really is the way they will learn the most

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  5. This post was so wonderful. I just love your mom! I just love you!

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  6. Beautiful. It's SO important to thank our own Moms. After all, they helped shape who we are in SUCH an amazing way. LOVE this. :)

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    1. Thank you! I heard from my mom and she said it made her cry :)

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  7. This is so sweet, Emmy! I like the story about the breadsticks. I believe my mother would have done the same thing. :) I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day! xoxo

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    1. Thank you so much! I hope you have a wonderful mother’s day too!

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  8. Oh I remember book it and all the free pizza's. I love the lesson and the picture of you and your mom with your pants rolled up in the ocean. Wishing you both a happy mothers day.

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    1. Thank you! I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day too

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  9. Great memory! Your mom IS awesome. :)

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  10. Awww such a sweet post about your mom!

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  11. That just shows, kids watch everything you do!

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  12. Your mom sounds like a wonderful woman.

    I hope you both have a great mother's day!

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  13. I loved the Book It program as a kid! Such a great story to go with it!

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  14. Such a sweet story about your mom! We do learn so much just by watching how others act.

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    1. Yes, which definitely makes me think twice about the things I do

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  15. Your mom sounds like an amazing woman!! The story about her FB profile pic made me smile.

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    1. Thank you! She really is pretty awesome.

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