‘She’s the rock of our family’

Monica Sterling is a wonderful wife, mom and grandmother who would do anything for her family.

Her husband, Gary, said Monica is completely dedicated to her children, Jordan, Katie and Corey, adding, “She would walk through fire in a gasoline suit for her children.”

Monica wants nothing but the best for the kids, and now that they are grown, they don’t live at home anymore, but whenever she has all her children in their home, it puts a smile on her face that doesn’t leave for days.

“Becoming a new grandmother has made her smile wider and last even longer,” Gary said. “Kynsleigh is the newest addition to our family, but she already shows the attitude, hunger and smile of the Starnes/Sterling clan. Monica will drop plans or change them at a moment’s notice to spend whatever time she can with Kynsleigh.”

Her oldest son, Jordan, who is Kynsleigh’s dad, agreed that the love Monica has for Kynsleigh makes her a great grandmother.

“I love that she’s so present in Kynsleigh’s life,” Jordan said, adding, “She would drop everything she has planned to spend time with her, even if it’s for five minutes.”

Gary met Monica when he was 15 years old through her cousin, Holly, who was his best friend. It was just a passing moment at the time, he said, but a few weeks later, she popped her head out of a car window and smiled at him and he was smitten.

He said from that moment on, he knew Monica was “The One.” They went on their first date in 1991 to see the movie, “Beauty and the Beast.” After dating a few years, they were married in 1995.

The couple didn’t have a honeymoon at the time because Gary left for the Army 11 days after their wedding. They were married for 10 years and then unfortunately got a divorce.

“I had a lot of growing up left to do,” Gary admitted, adding that even though they weren’t married, they were never far from each other and maintained a good relationship.

“Around 2012, after seeing a significant change in me, and thanks to Disney re-releasing ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ Monica agreed to go on a date with me,” Gary said. “Amazingly, just like a Disney fairy tale, love was reignited, and we haven’t left each other’s side since.”

They were remarried in March of 2015 in front of their kids and their mothers by the same preacher who married them at their first wedding. This time, they had a honeymoon, which has led to other travel adventures, including Disney World, cliff diving in the Dominican Republic, their first cruise, and a planned trip to Aruba.

Monica and Gary have made so many wonderful memories together through the years. Some that continue to make Gary laugh are the infamous stuffed crust pizza Easter incident, the movie “Grown Ups,” and the movie “Cool World,” which was the worst movie and date they ever had.

Gary said he admires that Monica is so incredibly hardworking, which helps her excel at her job as an HR Consultant for BTR. She handles the benefits setup for several major businesses and corporations. She attacks each day with her drive and determination to do the best job possible, which continues to set a great example for her children.

When she’s not working, Monica loves Disney, movies, tv, sports and pop culture. She and Gary go on date nights and dance in their kitchen whenever they get a moment.

“It really doesn’t matter what we do, as long as we are together, we are in our best place,” Gary said.

After all their years together, Gary is still in awe of how great of a mom Monica is, calling her “the most fabulous mother I’ve ever seen.”

“When I call her the best mom ever, that’s really saying something,” Gary explained. “I’m an only child, which means I’m a total mama’s boy, and my mom was awesome. Monica surpasses my mom in every way. She’s the most encouraging, honest, loving mother a child could ever want. She nudges our children to chase their dreams, wants, and ambitions even though they are all grown and have families of their own.”

Her daughter, Katie agreed, stating that, “My mom is the epitome of a good person. We really hit the jackpot of mothers. She has written the guidebook on the type of person, professional, wife and mother that I want to be one day.”

Her youngest son, Corey, said Monica is the person he goes to for advice. He said she has taught him everything he knows, and she is the person he aspires to be.

“I tell other people many of the things my mom taught me, including laugh at yourself and don’t take yourself too seriously; have fond memories of the past, but look towards the future; and home isn’t a place, it’s the people around you. I try to live my life by these pieces of her wisdom.”

Gary said that with her relentlessly positive and loving attitude, Monica is the rock of their family. She adored her father until his passing in 2019 and she has taken care of her mother, even moving her into their home so she wouldn’t have to be alone anymore.

“She never panics, always keeps a cool head, and can sweet talk the harshest of attitudes into a puddle of goo,” he said. “I always call her the mayor of sunshine and rainbow land because her bright disposition offsets my tendency to fly off the handle. She is my calming center in a world of chaos.”

Katie said her mom has the purest heart, adding that you leave a conversation with her just a little bit happier than you were when you started.

“She sees the good in everybody and she treats people how she wants to be treated,’ Jordan added.

Gary said Monica’s smile and laugh light up any room she’s in.

“She’s the embodiment of joy, and we like to call her Joy from the movie ‘Inside Out,’” Corey said. “She’s so much fun to be around. Honestly, she’s not just my mom, she’s one of my best friends.”

“This remarkable woman is my everything – Love, Happiness, Forgiveness, Laughter, Strength and, above all else, Contentment,” Gary said with a smile. “I can be content knowing that I can be me, and I realize that I am super difficult to put up with and to love, but she does it unconditionally.”

“Monica, you are the best person I know and even though we had a rough patch, I wouldn’t change anything. You made me who I am today, and I hope I’ve led to some of who you are. Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary! I look forward to making many more memories with you, and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for us. I love you!”