A Mom For Umande Maria Faulconer's Mother's Day Event

 I'm so pleased to take part in a very special event celebrating Maria Faulconer's touching picture book, A MOM FOR UMANDE, and mothers everywhere. Mothers come in all sorts of packages, from natural moms, to adoptive moms, to women who stepped in and raised us in the best way they knew how. No matter what form they come in, mothers are a special group of women who deserve to be honored this Mother's Day, and today I am excited to share my own tribute to a very special woman. Here are all of the details about A MOM FOR UMANDE, plus my own special tribute. There is also a giveaway opportunity, so be sure to enter!

Event Participants

Monday, May 4th - Coffee Books 7 Art

Monday, May 4th- Pieces of Whimsy

Monday, May 4th - 21st Century Once Upon a Times

Thursday, May 7th- In Between the Pages

Thursday, May 7th- Beauty and the Armageddon

Thursday, May 7th- Deal Sharing Aunt

Thursday, May 7th- A Book and a Latte

Friday, May 8th- The Phantom Paragrapher

Friday, May 8th- Curling Up With a Good Book

Friday, May 8th- Stacy S. Jensen

Saturday, May 9th- Ishiee's Book Blog

Saturday, May 9th- Maureen's Books

Saturday, May 9th- Bookworm for Kids

Sunday, May 10th- LuLo Fangirl

Sunday, May 10th- Refreshingly Riki

Sunday, May 10th- Bumbles & Fairytales

Sunday, May 10th- Books Are Love

There's still time to participate and honor the special women in your lives!

This event will run daily from May 4th through May 10th. A blog is not required, however, HTML will be provided for bloggers that will include book and author details, as well as the giveaway information. You'd just need to add your special touch - a letter, or post about being a Mom or the mom(s) in your life, and/or pictures! You may choose to post on whichever day best fits your blogging schedule.

The Giveaway features a very special Mother's Day gift basket including:

Lavender and Vanilla Candle

A Book of Simple Pleasures

A Lavender Lotion and Hand Soap Set

Vanilla Rose Bubble Bath and Body Lotion

Lavender Chamomile Shea Butter Soap

A White Flower in a Wooden Box

Lavender Soap in a Keepsake Box

Sign Up Here: http://jenhalliganpr.com/news/maria-faulconer-mothers-day-event/

I wanted to say a little note to my mom for this tour. She has been there for me for every every big part of my life. The good, the bad, and everything in between. She has been my rock through all of my hard times, and to be truthful I have been hers.

My parents went through a divorce that was finalized my junior year of high school. And to say it didn't cause me a lot of turmoil when I was growing up would be a lie. My dad moved out when I was in middle school and it was pretty much just me and my mom from then on out. I have two older siblings that were also there  but they live out of state so it made things harder for them to be there. 

While things weren't easy some of my best memories are with my mom. She did everything she could for me and and we had a lot of fun. We would take trips and find things to do around the house all the time. She was at every chorus performance, softball game, and school event I can think of. And not once complained about being chauffeur to my friends and I before I started driving. She was like a second mom to all of my friends and they all fondly call her Mama Rit to this day.

She has her faults like any mom would but I have learned to take them for what they are. I still have my moments even at 21 where I act like a crazy pissed off 16 year old, but really i have a respect and love for her I will never lose. 

I love her and I don't know what I would do without the crazy lady. She has literally been the one person in my life I rely on the most. Through all the ups and downs I would be completely lost without her.

I hope that she has an amazing mothers day

Love you mama :D

 Way old picture, but aww look at me as an ugly baby with that spaceman hehe

This is my 2 siblings and our mom. Its from a few years back but we are quite a crazy bunch as you can see hehe

The heart-tugging true story of how a baby gorilla found love in the arms of a surrogate mom. When Umande was born, his mother didn’t know how to take care of him. So, he was hand-reared by keepers at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs. For eight months, the keepers crawled on the ground with him to show him how to walk; coughed in his face to teach him discipline; and gave him happy gorilla grumbles to encourage him. But for Umande, something was still missing. Luckily, a thousand miles away at the Columbus Zoo, a mom was waiting just for him. This touching true story about finding a family will resonate with animal lovers and adoptive families alike. Illustrated by Susan Kathleen Hartung

 Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the Author:

Maria Faulconer has published fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. She loves writing stories, especially ones that tug at the heartstrings. A huge animal lover, and an adoptive mom herself, she knew when she saw a photo of a baby gorilla snuggling with his surrogate mom that she had to tell their story - A Mom for Umande. Her first children's book, Arianna and the Strawberry Tea, was used for a statewide literacy program. She currently writes for Colorado Springs Style magazine and is working on a YA novel. She lives in Colorado with her husband and two children.
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Giveaway:

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