Editor's note.

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The moment you become a parent your world changes forever. The way you view the world around you is altered in ways you never would have dreamed.

As I sit on a rainy Sunday afternoon with my daughter Mary Pender in my lap watching me type, I dream of how wonderful I want her life to be. I hope to guide her to be someone who is kind to others, compassionate, and respectful of herself and of the world around her. I want to inspire her to achieve great things.

In his book, Promises I Made My Mother, Amory native Sam Haskell credits his mother for his abundant success as a person and as a leader in business. Haskell's kindness, ethics, and respect for others have brought him admiration from his family, peers, and even a prince. His book honoring the wisdom of his mother is insightful and inspiring and is a great place for us to begin our education in becoming better individuals and guiding our children.

It is through Haskell and his friendship with His Royal Highness Prince Edward that Mississippi was one of two states chosen for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. This international program challenges and rewards youth on the very principles that Haskell speaks. When the prince visited Mississippi to honor the inaugural class of award recipients, the pomp and circumstance revealed Mississippi hospitality at its finest.

The way we choose to honor our mothers, the women who shape us, sacrifice for us, and unconditionally love us is never-ending. Our recipe contest Grand Prize Winner is one of these examples. ...