Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mother's 61st birthday. What can you possibly buy for your mother that has everything she needs? The answer . . . . nothing. If I could wrap my kids up and send them to her in the mail, that would make her the happiest. To have all of her grandkids right there with her. (It might make her a little nuts too. :0)

I didn't send a birthday card in the mail because I thought that a blog post dedicated just to my mom would be better. In case you didn't know, I have the BEST MOM EVER!!!! And, now that I have been a mother myself for almost 4 years, I can say that with even more conviction. It's tough stuff and a tall order to fill. My mother has many names. . . . Mom, Dee, Mama Dee, Taxi, Landlady, Mrs. Fix It, Doctor,  Banker, and Chef. She is always VERY busy bustling around doing things, and mostly things for someone other than herself. My mom will do ANYTHING thing for her kids. When you need her she is there, no matter where you live or what you are doing. She has spent a countless many of hours doing many things with/for me over the years . . . . like shooting 5 million free throws to get me good enough to go to the nationals in the Hoop Shoot,  bribing me with a ferret (I really wanted to have one as a pet) to get me to try out for the "rival" high school's softball team while I was still in 9th grade, collecting bugs for a science project, retrieving javelin after javelin in "after hours" practice so that I could throw javelin and play softball in the same season, shopping for prom dresses, doing projects for my YW Recognition award, taking time out for a girl's trip to England, sending package after package to me while serving a mission in Japan, leaving my dad in the hospital and driving for hours to witness the birth of her first grandson, mailing coupons to me every single week. . . . . I could go on and on. 

Since we have been living in SC and have been without our families, I have realized how much my mom did for me and how much I needed and depended on her . . . and still do! There is just something about your own mother that in and of itself makes you feel comforted and safe. I have not enjoyed being without mine over the past few years. :0(

Mom, I love you and miss you! I wish we could all be there to celebrate your birthday with you. You are a wonderful woman and mother! I would be one lucky girl if I could grow up to be just like you.