The Beam family celebrates Mother’s Day today with a new mother in our family. Jessica Meek Walker, our granddaughter, became the mother of Aurora, our first great-granddaughter, on Sept. 29 of last year.

It came as no surprise to Jo Ann and me that Jessica is a loving and caring mother. We knew she longed for the day when she could become the mother she is today. Most of our readers know Jessica well. I’ve written a number of columns about her early life as a new member of our family.

The joy that Aurora has brought to our entire family is indescribable. She is the star of our weekly family gatherings on Sundays. Aurora didn’t like the men in our family at first, but she has gradually accepted us as well.

Shortly after Aurora was born, I told her I planned to spoil her just as I spoiled her mother. She may not remember what I said, but she will probably get the picture before too long. Jessica knows there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.

Adam Walker, Aurora’s dad, is a hard-working fellow who grew up in a large family. He’s also a fountain of knowledge on a variety of subjects. We have had some lively Sunday discussions.

When the family gets together today, I am sure each of us will be thinking about our own mothers. As I said last year, no one has had a more profound influence on my life than my mother — Mrs. Charles (Carrie Welch) Beam.

Thanks to her, I found out later in life something she already knew. A good education is the best ticket to happiness and success. We couldn’t afford encyclopedias, but my mother managed to purchase the two-volume “Lincoln Library of Essential Information.” Both are still proudly displayed in our home.

While we’re on the subject of education, I saw a great story in The Advocate Friday about the Bruce and Cathy Thompson family of Lake Charles and its connections to LSU. Both mom and dad attended LSU.

George Morris wrote, “This weekend is not only Mother’s Day, but Cathy Thompson is spending it with her 11th and youngest child after having followed a family tradition — graduating from LSU.”

That is only half of the story. The six siblings who are married have wed LSU graduates.

Elizabeth “Bit” Thompson said her mother liked the LSU connection because she wanted to see everybody close to home so they could return to celebrate different milestones.

Jo Ann and I have been fortunate to have the members of our family living in this area.

All of us are able to get together almost every Sunday and on other occasions to celebrate birthdays and other special events.

Religion has played an important role in our lives, and Jo Ann has been the major influence in that area. Our daughter, Jamie Fierro, son, Bryan, and their spouses, Joe and Edith, are active members of St. Luke-Simpson United Methodist Church.

Jo Ann read to our children when they were youngsters, and both have benefited. They also have advanced college degrees that have served them well.

Jamie and Jessica have always been close, and the arrival of Aurora has given them even more mutual interests. The three of them have been spending a lot of time together. Aurora is named after a Walt Disney character, which comes as no surprise since her mother and grandmother are Disney fanatics.

Edith is the mother of Andrew James Beam, our loveable grandson. What a marvelous job Edith and Bryan have done helping Andrew develop his God-given talents. He became quite a celebrity at Barbe High School, thanks to his excellent performances dressed as singer and dancer Michael Jackson.

If you see a 22-year-old walking around town in a Michael Jackson jacket, winter and summer, the odds are it is Andrew. He is majoring in graphic arts at Sowela Technical Community College, and is a whiz at the computer.

Andrew is also one of the best movie analysts in this community. Ask him about recent movies, and you usually get much more than you bargained for. It’s good information, but Jessica urges him not to tell her anything about movies she is planning to see.

Jo Ann and I will celebrate 65 years of married life on Aug. 20. We feel fortunate to still be around to enjoy our children and grandchildren, and to see the birth of our first great-grandchild.

We’ve had some struggles and tough times, but somehow we survived them all.

Our lives are no different from many others who also experience life’s up and downs. It seems so appropriate to take one Sunday out of the year to celebrate mothers and to let them know their love and sacrifice will never be forgotten. However, there is certainly no reason not to tell them how much we love them more often.

Happy Mother’s Day to one and all!

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY — The Beam family welcomes a new mother to the clan today.

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