Here she is.. on her first birthday. She was beautiful even then.
Where on earth should I start?
Last week I was preparing for bed and walked around to each of the doors to make sure they were locked. The back door just happened to be unlocked, so I locked it. About an hour later I was watching TV in bed and got up...once again, to make sure that I had properly locked the door...so I locked it..again.....even though it was already locked. As I made my way back to bed, I shook my head and rolled my eyes as I realized where this habit came from...Mom. She's got some crazy habits... but all in an effort to protect her babies.
One of my favorite things about Mom is her sayings. I have shared some before, but they are worth noting again. It wasn't until I got in college and began to say these things out loud to new people when I realized they were rather strange....
Example: Buck your wuck, before I spank your wank= buckle your seat belt.
Love your buts, Annabelle Louisa May Allcott Flashlight Foster= I love you.
This is just the beginning. Even though she has some strange habits, (Like using vapor rub for lip gloss- which I have gotten many of my friends over the years hooked on-try it) she is amazing. I truly don't know the words to describe the woman she is.
As a child, she put up with my temper tantrums... that, alone, makes her a saint. ;) As we got older she put up with the crazy girl violence between me and Emily on long summer days. She dealt with our pranks. She let us paint our bathroom like a clown's bathroom.She let us have fish and cats even after they ran away or got "boiled". She stayed up late when we missed curfew. She pushed us to be in every activity, sport or club we possibly could. She sacrificed so much to make sure we could do anything we wanted to.
She sacrificed so we could travel, be in school activities and have cool experiences. She made us work from the time we were 10....mowing yards and popping popcorn at the bank...to teach us the value of a dollar and the meaning of hard work. She's my rock. I always know that NO MATTER what crazy twists and turns my life takes...she will ALWAYS be there to hold my hand, listen to me, cry with me, laugh with me and support me. She wasted countless dollars in gas so we could drive around, talk and cry. She listened to my every heartache and pain.
She made me apologize when I wronged someone. She made me return something I stole from a store when I was a kid. She made me get up, kicking and screaming every Sunday to learn about God. She taught me to cook. She taught me to clean. She taught me to decorate. She taught me that life is not about what you do or don't have, but about what you do with the things you do have. She taught me the value of a dollar. She taught me to forgive. She taught me strength. Most importantly....she taught me to love.
As I have grown older, there are so many situations in life when I stop and realize how lucky I am to have such a great Mom. I guess I always assumed that everyone had a mom like me....until I got older and realized alot of people weren't taught the self-sufficiency, strength and skill that she taught me. They weren't taught the manners and morals I was. Every day I am reminded of the things she has taught me... I wouldn't be me without her...
I love her more and more every day. Thank you, Mom. For everything. For unyielding support and love over the past 24 years. May this birthday be more special than any other. You are my rock.
Your momma is a very special woman! I am so blessed to have had her as a dear friend for over 33 years. What a delight to read about your love and appreciation of her. Thanks for sharing. Give her a big hug for me :)
ReplyDeleteLove this post! Brought tears to my eyes. My Mom is my rock and best friend as well. We are so blessed to have them. Hope she has a wonderful Birthday!
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