You'll Love The Mother-Daughter Winners of Patch's Mother's Day Contest

We asked kids young and old to share stories and photos of their mothers.

Why? Because Mother's Day was coming up, and moms deserve every bit of recognition they get and more. To make it a little more fun, we put a $250 gift card on the line to be given to someone who submitted a story, and an extra entry for a photo. The winner was selected at random. 

Submit stories and photos of military veterans, those serving now or any loved one you've lost that deserve recognition. There will be a random drawing for a $500 gift card for that as well. 

Without further adieu, here is the winner:

, of Urbandale, won with her entry about her mother, Jeanne McWherter, who lives in Jefferson City, MO. Congratulations, Mandy and Jeanne.

Mom was touched, to say the least.

"I am ecstatic quite frankly. I moved to Missouri in April. It brings me back to the way she was before. She was very upset with me for moving. It renewed my faith that she is the same as before. She is very generous, very giving and she has a heart gold," Jeanne said.

Sounds like she has a good role model. Take a look at the entry below and their photo is attached to the article.

My beautiful mother is the most generous person I know. She literally gives of herself. When I was only three years old, out family traveled to Chicago so my mother could donate bone marrow to a little boy she had never met. To this day, she is still very close with the boy's family and he is now waiting on his second double-lung transplant, without my mom, he never would have made it to junior high. Marc just recently graduated college. These days, my mom serves on every committee she can and volunteers in what little spare time she has after working 60+ hour weeks. I was so grateful to see her this week while she was home from Missouri. My grandmother was recently diagnosed with throat cancer so my mom was up this week caring for her own mother, cooking, cleaning and taking to her numerous appointments. I love my mother dearly and I want to be just like her some day.

Here are a few of the other great Mother's Day stories we received:

• My mom is the best! Over 2 years ago, she let my husband, our two boys, and me move in with her because we were having major financial trouble. We are still at her house, and I cannot thank her enough for taking us in when we needed help. --

• My mom is a military wife. She raised three kids while my dad spent 8 months out of every year out at sea. Her strength showed me what it meant to be a woman. It helped me get through the recent deployment of my boyfriend. --

• My (Our mom), Suzanne, has been the glue and foundation of our large family for decades. She still, at 85, has the drive, determination, compassion, and gentleness, needed to help guide her six children in their travels through life. --