Early May has always been special for me. Of course, the excited anticipation of Kamp being just around the corner has been a part of my life forever, but before the gates would open, I always got to celebrate my mom. Yes, Mother’s Day is always the second Sunday, but the beginning of May is my mom’s birthday. Some years, she would have to share her birthday with Mother’s Day, and the lady who should have been celebrated 365 days a year only got one intentional day of being celebrated instead of her “allotted” two. Now that I am a mom, I hope that I do a better job of celebrating my mom more than just once or twice a year.
For those of you who know my mom, you know that she is extraordinary and easy to celebrate, even though she doesn’t like the attention a celebration draws.
If you don’t know my mom, let me tell you just a little bit about her. Debbie-Jo is a gem! She is the hero behind Kanakuk, and I am so blessed to get to call her Mom. She is steady, practical, and consistent. She is thoughtful and compassionate. She is strong and fiercely loyal. She is organized and diligent. She is funny, and when you discover her humor, you’ll be in knots. She has patience that never seems to end and wisdom that is beyond measure. She is a rock, and she loves well. My mom is the most selfless person I have ever known.
George Washington said, “All I am, I owe to my mother.” I don’t owe everything solely to my mother. Thankfully, I have had so many amazing people speaking into my life, and I could write for days about each one of them. But I am who I am, in large part, because of my mother, and I am a better person every single day because I strive to be more and more like her—she is a beautiful reflection of Christ and the way He lived while He was on earth.
I’m grateful for my mom, and I am thankful each day that I get to walk beside her and be her daughter, friend, coworker, neighbor, and biggest fan!
Jamie Jo Johnson
Alumni Engagement Director
