Lois Kankovsky, Minot, wrote the following poem for her mother, Ella Baklenko of Benedict, for Mother’s Day. She said she wrote it in about 1985.

For all of the thinks you have given me.

…for an appreciation of beautiful things

.. a garden of flowers

.. a fresh bouquet on the kitchen table

.. a sprig of parsley on the meat platter

.. crinkly lettuce around a salad.

…for the joy of doing things with my hands

.. crochet — embroidery — all handcrafts

.. gardening

.. baking and cooking.

…for thoughtfulness

.. baking a birthday cake

.. taking time to write a letter

.. sending pretty cards

.. making “surprises” for no particular reason

…for all of the letters you faithfully wrote all of the years that I was away from home.

…for a sense of humor that lifts dark clouds and gives laughter and cheer.

…for stamina to accept a challenge

.. to decorate a wedding cake when I’ve never done it before

.. to try a new recipe

.. to sing a solo

.. to become a nurse

.. to drive out of the ditch

…for ingenuity — the ability to make-do with what one has

.. when out of money, enjoy what is free

.. when lonesome, to make someone else happy

.. when depressed, to roll up the sleeves and do something productive.

…for generosity and hospitality

.. always taking time to have folks over

.. making guests feel comfortable and finding places to sleep when there really was no room

.. for giving and giving and giving.

I respect these gifts and shall always guard them, cherish them and nourish them.

I love you, Mom, for what you have given to me but mostly, I love you for being you.