Happy Birthday, Mom

My first memory of you, I was 1. Lindsey had just been born and you were comforting me as I cried for her, wishing I could hold my new sister who was heading to the nursery in an incubator. Ya, I was a bit of a drama queen. Was.

 

I remember long walks around the neighborhood when we lived on the east coast, just you and your three little girls out for a stroll.

 

I remember how you used to always make our Barbie dolls’ clothes, perhaps because you couldn’t afford to buy them, but in my mind, because you were just that cool.

 

I remember how you used to make us cocoa when we came in from a day in the snow.

 

How you braided my terribly long hair almost every single day when I was little.

 

The way you doodled on whatever paper was nearby as you chatted on the phone.

 

 

I remember you working multiple jobs to make sure we had everything we needed, and most of what we wanted.

 

I remember church every Sunday, sitting next to you and thanking Jesus for giving us you.

 

I remember when you had your first classroom, right across the hall from me, and how all the kids thought you were the coolest 2nd grade teacher ever. I was jealous.

 

And just look at you now…

 

I remember when it was just the four of us.

 

Those dinner nights where we learned how to cook– chicken nuggets from scratch, tacos, spaghetti, and chicken parmesan. I loved those nights because those were our nights. Just the four of us.

 

And I remember bike rides around the park, crashing every few minutes as you attempted to jog behind us.

 

I also remember wearing our helmets in the car on the way to the park because we were so excited… and the people pulling up next to us at the stoplight thinking you must have been a terrible driver to make us wear our hemets in the car 🙂

 

 

I remember when you met your best friend, how her kids became like siblings to us.

 

I remember when you fell in love with our Todd; the trips to Bonham Lake with my future brothers and sisters, eating Chicken Express on grandma’s back deck, decorating Christmas cookies, and how much trouble we all got ourselves into.

 

I remember getting on the roof, playing softball in overgrown fields, and piling into that brown minivan.

 

You gave me someone to walk me down the aisle, dance with me, and be there for me. For all of us.

 

 

I remember a very tough time when I learned that you were made of steel.

 

You were the strongest person I knew.

 

I still feel that way.

 

 

I remember driving you crazy in my teen years… and literally driving through our carport. In fact, no one can seem to forget.

 

I remember how you were there for me when boys broke my heart, and when they asked me to dances.

 

You came to every softball game, cheerleading event, and school play.

 

You taught me how to put on makeup, study for a hard test, and respect who I was.

 

I remember tough love, long talks, great advice, and feeling like I always had a best friend in you.

 

 

I will also never forget my wedding day.

 

How you smiled at me because you knew I was marrying the best man for me, and how I hadn’t managed to screw it up 🙂

 

Mom, you worked harder than anyone I know to provide for us and give us a childhood full of amazing, happy memories, in spite of some pretty tough stuff. I know that you worry about the things we went through to get to where we are today, and I can only hope that my life is a small representation of the kind of mom you have been, and the love, respect, and friendship that you have shown me my whole life. Every year on this day, I feel so much appreciation for you and what you have done for us, how far you have come, and what’s in our future.

 

Happy birthday, to my friend, my hero, my momma. Thank you for my beautiful memories. I love you.