My mother works extremely hard as a nurse. Each day she gives her all, and when she comes home she is dog tired. I like to help her take a load off, so I try and make dinner for her. I also clean the house and mow the yard outside. Today was even more difficult though. It rained like cats and dogs all afternoon, so I couldn’t take care of the yard. Then, when I came inside to clean, I realized the kitchen sink was clogged, and the washing machine seemed broken. I couldn’t catch a break! By the time Mom came home, I had given up, called a plumber, and ordered a pizza. It’s a good thing my mom always taught me that where there is a will, there is a way!

What is the meaning of the underlined phrase in the paragraph above?