By Judy Halone-The Courier-Herald

In honor of Mother's Day, The Bonney Lake Courier-Herald invited readers to submit a favorite memory of their mothers.

From your many responses, we've learned that mothers can do it all - whether they washed their family's clothes with a scrub board and wash basin, taught us the best driving shortcuts or showed us what it meant to have compassion for others.

We are proud to present this year's stories, each written in our readers' own voices.

In honor of mothers everywhere, The Courier-Herald extends our warmest wishes for a Happy Mother's Day.

€ Submitted by Tanya Myers, Bonney Lake in tribute to her mother Connie Myers from Lake Tapps.

When I think of my mother and the lessons she taught me, some of the first things that come to mind are compassion and respect.

My mother is a nurse. She was the head nurse at a local hospital for 25 years. She sometimes worked double shifts because they were short-staffed. Then coming home tired, she'd sleep for a few hours and get up to take me school shopping for supplies or stay up to have dinner with the family.

On weekends I would go in to volunteer in the emergency room and she taught me a good work ethic; she taught me that volunteering is a part of life.

When I was 10, I rode my bike to the nursing home to play bingo with the elderly. For me, it has become a very important part of my weekly goings-about. I go to the local retirement center once a week to help; the rewards are abundant and have given me a compassionate side.

My mother is my best friend and some of my best memories are of the two of us helping other people.

She has never been recognized, has a heart full of love and deserves to be awarded for all she does. I love her - then, now and always.