Fellars with Character

“When a fellars got character … he ain’t never gonna be nuttin but a whole heap of pure o-l-d joy to his momma and daddy.”

Gunsmoke’s
~ Festus Haggen,
Deputy Marshall – Dodge City

portrayed by

~ Ken Curtis,
Actor, Dancer, Singer & Western Performers Hall of Fame – National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum (1981)

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When Mom Listened to Our Stories

“My mother grew up with each of her children – whatever your age, that’s the age she’d be when she listened to your stories. She never belittled our problems. It made for something permanent and reliable.”

~ Esther Rolle
Actress & Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Special (1979)

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An Expression of Love

“Our attitudes toward sex have become warped and perverted and have deviated from its true function as an expression of love and a means for procreating.”

~ Russell Brand
Comedian, Actor, Radio Host, Author, Podcaster & YouTuber

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She Soars Like an Eagle

“A kaleidoscope of colors, you can toss her round and round
You can keep her in your vision, but you never keep her down
She’s a lover, she’s a mother, she’s a friend and she’s a wife
And she’s a sparrow when she’s broken
But she’s an eagle when she flies”

~ Dolly Parton,
Singer-Songwriter, Instrumentalist, Record Producer, Actress, Author,
Businesswoman, Humanitarian, Grammy Awards (8X), Grammy Nominee (46X),
Academy Award Nominee (2X), Country Music Association Awards (10X),
Academy of Country Music Awards (7X), American Music Awards (3X), &
Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year Award

What Parents Have Taught Them to Do

“Is is not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make the successful human beings.”

~ Ann Landers a.k.a. Esther Pauline “Eppie” Lederer,
Advice Columnist

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Today, It’s a Completely Different Story

“I put off having a family because I knew that I wanted to be there for my family and I was traveling a lot. At that time, the industry was not ready to allow pregnant women the opportunity to still be on camera or on the silver screen. Today it’s a completely different story, but back then, I would have lost my contract. I would have never been hired again because people were just not ready for that at that particular time.”

~ Jayne Kennedy Overton,
Miss Ohio USA (1970), Actress, Model, Sportscaster, Emmy Award (1977), NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture (1981), Entrepreneur & Philanthropist

Maternal Health Advocates

“I became a global maternal health advocate the day I became a mother.”

~ Christy Turlington
Supermodel, Charity-Founder & Campaigner – Every Mother Counts & Filmmaker

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Joy: An Overwhelming, Full Supply

“I think the greatest thing about being a mother is that the joy
that comes with it is, absolutely, overwhelming and a full supply.”

~ Laurie Crouch,
Co-Founder – Gener8Xion Entertainment, Film Producer & Co-Host – Praise – Trinity Broadcasting Network

Being An Example to Follow

“I never told my kids, ‘You’ve got to work hard.’ I just worked hard, and they followed my example.”

~ Maye Musk
Model, Dietitian, Author & Entrepreneur

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Instinctive Philosophers

“Most mothers are instinctive philosophers.”

~ Harriet Beecher Stowe
Abolitionist & Author

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Parents Become Popular Again When Kids Reach 20

“To all those mothers and fathers who are struggling with teenagers,

I say, just be patient: even though it looks like you can’t do anything right for a number of years,

parents become popular again when kids reach 20.”

~ Marian Wright Edelman,

Children’s Rights Activist, Author, President Emerita & Founder – Children’s Defense Fund, Candace Award, National Coalition of 100 Black Women (1982), MacArthur Fellowship (1985), Barnard Medal of Distinction (1985), Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa Bates College (1986), Albert Schweitzer Prize -Humanitarianism (1988), Jefferson Awards – Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged (1991), Boy Scouts of America Silver Buffalo Award (1992), National Women’s Hall of Fame (1993), Community of Christ International Peace Award (1995), Heinz Award – Human Condition (1996), Presidential Medal of Freedom (2000), The National Women’s History Project Women’s History Honorees (2004), Stanford University Rathbun Visiting Fellow (2011)

Life Has Been a Blessing

“It’s just a whole different thing, and it’s just that my life has been a blessing,
and I thank God every day for the gifts that He has given me and for my daughter;
and to be able to watch her grow and be a part of her joys and her excitement
and what she wants to do in life.”

~ Teena Marie
Singer, Songwriter Musician, Record Producer & Arranger

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When You’re Responsible for Those Little Lives

“Having children makes you see the world in a completely different way.
When you’re responsible for those little lives, you can’t slough it off or forget about it until later.”

~ Linda Ronstadt,
Grammy Awards (11X), American Music Awards (3X), Academy of Country Music Awards (2X),
Emmy Award (1989), ALMA Award, Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2011),
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2016), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2014),
National Medal of Arts and Humanities Award (2014) & Consecutive Platinum Albums (8)

Routes of Parenthood

“I’ve not given up having a child. But I hope whatever route of parenthood I choose, whether it’s adoption or I’m able to conceive,
I just hope that I’m able to give someone as beautiful a life as my parents gave me.”

~ Tamron Hall
Broadcast Journalist, Talk Show Host, News Correspondent, News Anchor,
Temple University Lew Klein Alumni in Media Award (2010), Edward R. Murrow Award (2016),

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Having It All

“The secret to having it all, is knowing that you already do!”

~ Egypt Sherrod,
Multi-media Personality, Author, Real Estate Expert & Philanthropist.

If Men Were Birthing Babies

“Let me tell you something: I salute womanhood worldwide, because women are exceptionally tough for enduring the misery of childbirth.
I’ve cleaned hogs and gutted deer, but in my experience on Earth I’ve never witnessed such a brutal event.
If men were in charge of carrying and birthing our babies, we’d have a lot fewer people on Earth,
because we’d only do it once- I can promise you that!”

~ Phil Robertson,
Professional Hunter, Businessman, & Reality Television Star

Precious, Valuable Treasures

“Our relationships are precious, valuable treasures from Heaven,
and we should handle them carefully, always looking for ways to build bridges to each others’ hearts.”

~ Victoria Osteen,
Co-Pastor – Lakewood Church, Author, Philanthropist &
Founder – Lakewood Church Women’s Ministry

All Things Glittery & Sticky

“I don’t know about other mamas out there, but my children love all things glittery and sticky!
I made the mistake of buying an expensive rug once…it was destroyed in 6 months.
So the idea of having a washable rug is genius to me!”

~ Tamara Day,
Interior Designer, Actress & Co-Founder – Growing Days

Reminding the Kids

“You have to remind kids to stay connected to the meaning of Christmas.
Sometimes it takes a little bit of effort, but it’s so worth it.”

~ Caroline Kennedy,
Author, Attorney, Diplomat &
United States Ambassador to Japan

Being an Asset

“We all have a gift; we all have a passion – it’s just about finding it
and going into it. Being an asset to your family and community.”

~ Angela Bassett,
Actress, Author, Saturn Award, Image Awards (5x),
Golden Globe Award & Black Reel Award

No Ice Cream

“You can’t be the dad who takes your kid out
after your wife has said, ‘No ice cream,’
buys the ice cream, and says, ‘Don’t tell your mother.’
You teach the child to lie – and to disrespect the other parent.”

~ Howie Mandel,
Comedian, Actor, Television Host, Creator & Star – Bobby’s World,
Author, Hollywood Walk of Fame Star (2008) & Canada’s Walk of Fame Star (2009)

One of the Biggest Blessings: Mom & Dad

“One of the greatest titles in the world is parent,
and one of the biggest blessings in the world
is to have parents to call Mom and Dad.”

~ Jim DeMint,
Author, Writer, Politician, United States Senator (2005-2013)
& United States Representative (1999-2005)

Motherhood is Absolutely Amazing

“Motherhood is a dream. It really is absolutely amazing.”

~ Jessica Simpson,
Singer, Actress & Philanthropist

Love’s Call

“Love calls on you to do things you don’t want to do sometimes.
It calls on you to care for people you wouldn’t typically want to care for.
It causes you to go fishing with folks you don’t want to be around.”

~ Larnelle Harris,
Singer, Songwriter, Grammy Awards (5X) & Dove Awards (11X)

The Future of Generations to Come

“Our choices are going to determine the future for our children,
our children’s children, and their children. I take that responsibility very seriously.”

~ Maggie Q,
a.k.a. Margaret Denise Quigley
Actress, Model, Health Advocate
& Animal Rights Activist