All of the events that happened and choices that were made to get me to where I am today amaze me.

This is a photograph of my mom at 12.

As her daughter, I can see all the weight of her future in this image.

This was before JFK was assassinated, before she protested Vietnam, before she met and married my dad, before he passed away and she was left as a single mom to two girls, and before her home and belongings were destroyed in a tornado.

I was raised to treat everyone with kindness and to laugh at things when times are difficult.

I often am told I look and act just like my mom and even though I may make a sarcastic remark (just like she taught me!), I am beaming inside. ~shared by @sarahlizhiatt