Dear mom,

Dear Mom,

Since the year after I had Andrew, I have thought about writing you a letter on my birthday. You see, until I had kids, I never completely understood how you felt. But, almost immediately, I began to see that birthdays were actually more important to the mom than to the child.

Each year on the boys' birthdays, I think about the day the were born, and I smile picturing their little baby faces. Then, I think about the birthdays we have had since then, and I think about all of the joy that child has brought for me (as well as all the frustration. . .)

Finally, this year I want to take a few minutes to thank you for so many things. I am beginning to not look forward to my birthdays as much. I am nearing those dreaded numbers that I am not ready for, but I know that you always celebrate for me, and with me. With that said, let me offer a few notes of thanks:

Thank you. . . for taking care me of as a little baby, changing countless cloth diapers and cleaning up the plethora of messes that I left. I can still see the pictures. (Thanks also for giving me the biggest baby picture. Jeff can have the top of Gram's balloon shirt, but I have the biggest baby picture in your room!=)

Thank you. . .for making me eat my vegetables. Yes, I know that sometimes that required you having the entire kitchen cleaned while I stubbornly sat at the table with cold broccoli. Thank you! I am healthier because of that.

Thank you. . . for having family movie nights. I can't tell you how many times I have had grape koolaid and just smiled because it reminded me of watching movies with my family on a Saturday night. I also can't see the Karate Kid without the urge to rewind and watch the big kick over and over again.

Thank you. . . for sitting at countless summer baseball games while I pitched. Girls' youth softball can be painful, and our games were, but you were always there!

Thank you. . . for putting up with me as a belligerent teen who was trying desperately to figure out who she was. I know that I was not easy to live with, but I appreciate you trying your best to still love me.

Thank you. . . for helping me plan my wedding. As a senior in college, I was not the best help, but you gladly planned a perfect day.

Thank you. . .for the countless calls since I have moved and the countless visits for my boys. They are blessed to have such a caring grandma. I look forward to each call to just be able to talk to my mom.

Thank you for all of this and more. All of these things combine to make me the person that I am today on my 34th birthday. Without you, without my mom, none of this is possible. So, my birthday wish today is for you to know how much that I truly care. Thank you, mom. I love you.