My mom and I

Who know me knows about my struggles about being apart from my family, I've been living in the U.S. for almost 6 years and my whole family lives in Brazil. We are really close and we never been apart before, kind of big deal for us. My mom tried to get a tourist visa to come and visit, but it was really really hard, it was very tough to have her try and never get it and then had to deal with the disappointment and the doubt if she would ever be able to come.
She is my biggest inspiration, she had raised 4 kids, after my dad past away 25 years ago. She was a stay home mom. She was only 36, when she became widow. After my father's sudden death, she went to work and went back to school and not only she did the best that she could, but she raised all of us to be a loving family and good people. Although I'm the youngest I remember the toughest times, and especially remember her, she always went beyond, now I understand things and I can see how hard it was her life. She is a very strong woman, she never gave up, and this is one of the reason that she is here today. After trying 5 times, the American consulate finally gave her a visa to come and visit. She is staying about a month here with me and my husband Mike. Now she is able to see how are my house and my work, meet my friends here, even Mike's family, that she has never met before.
I'm so happy to be able to share my life here with her. It's one of my biggest dreams coming true.
In celebration to that I had my friends Abby Sullivan and Andreia Makkas photograph us. This is definitely a special moment in our lives and I'm truly grateful for their gifts. My mom and I will really treasure these moments forever. Thank you so much Abby and Andreia! I'm really lucky to have you as friends!