"The Jewell in Our Crown"
By, Cheryl Harwell Bailey

There are few people, whose names aptly describe them.
 In mom's case the name “Jewell” fits her perfectly. 
She is a priceless gem to me, and to us all.

From the first moment I saw her, some 46 years ago, I was totally in awe.
 She grows more amazing as time goes by. On this special occasion, 
 I would like to express how much I admire and love mom.

In the fall of 1969, as a student at W.C.B.C. 
I attended the Fall Convocation in Fresno, California.
 I noticed, and was inspired by a lovely lady, because of the way she worshiped. 
I had no way of knowing, who the lady was.
  That she would be the grandmother of my children.

The following spring, my boyfriend Randall,
 asked me to come to his house for supper, and meet his parents.
 The lady I admired, back in the fall, was his mother.

Before summer arrived, Randall asked me to marry him. I said yes. 
 From that time on Jewell asked me to call her “Mom.”
 From that time on, she made me her daughter.

I couldn’t believe all she accomplished.
 She cooked, baked, sewed, cleaned, gardened, everyday.
She still does!
 When she started working part-time as a cook at W.C.B.C. she made
 cinnamon rolls from scratch.
 The scent of yeast dough, butter & cinnamon caused all of the campus to adore her. 
She still bakes them, much to our delight.

The Christmas season before our wedding, 
Randall asked me to go on a special date.  Formal attire required. 
I washed & ironed my stand by, a white ruffled blouse and black skirt,
 excited for  the annual W.C.B.C. Christmas Banquet, with my honey.

 Later that morning, Mom picked me up from campus, for lunch. 
When we walked into the house, she handed me a box wrapped in holiday paper.
 “Early Christmas present” she said. “You are spoiling me,” I replied. “Open it Cheri.”
 As I pulled the lid open, I saw the gorgeous red velvet evening gown. I was astonished.
 It was so beautiful, trimmed in tiny white pearls. “This is too much mom.” 
“Try it on, I’m anxious to see if it fits,” she said. She zipped me up and it fit perfectly. 
" I blurted out, “What, you made this?”
 “Oh it’s nothing,” she modestly replied. But it was something to me.
 I felt glamorous that evening, when Randall picked me up, at the girls dorm. 
 She has spoiled me, and this entire family, since that day!
 It is who she is.

God is the only one who knows how faithful Mom has been,
 in all aspects of serving in the church. From cleaning the toilets,
 to caring for the sick & elderly. If I attempted to list all the tasks I have seen her do,
 there are not enough words. She is the definition of the term multi-tasking.

All things concerning  mom are good,
 but the greatest tribute to her comes from her son, my husband "Randall."
 As he grew up, coming in from school, he heard the sound 
of his mother's voice, behind a closed door.
 She was down on her knee's, praying for him and the family.
 What could be better than hearing, your mother call your name in prayer.

Happy Birthday Mom!
I love you!

Her children rise up and call her blessed.
Proverbs 31:28