My mother.

Today is my mother's birthday. She turns 21 today, which seems odd, since her oldest daughter is about to turn 23. Oh, well, let's not look too closely at that :)

Anyway, this post is not dedicated to my mother. It's dedicated to the all the amazing and wonderful things she's given me; all the love and lessons she's bestowed over my nineteen years, that without, I could not survive to see my 2oth birthday. This post is for all the times I have belligerently realized how right and smart my mother was, while still stubbornly disagreeing. This post is for every time I had unthinkingly reached for the phone because there is no other true solution besides than asking my mother. Truly, this post is for every time I have thanked my lucky, lucky stars I have a blessing so great as my mother.

Sure, we fight, my mother and me. We fight, we cry, we yell, we insult, and we hurt. But not as often (anymore...). Now, as I've grown up, the things I've learned that I cannot live without are how we laugh, we talk, we banter, we learn, we gossip, we joke, we enjoy and above all else, times a million, how we love. I'm sure, dramatically, that I could NOT go on without her love. It is the single most important reassurance I need when things are too tough, too impossible, and too frustrating.

There are things about my mother that I have, at times, taken for granted and at times, I have thanked the Lord aloud for; her countless talents, her seemingly endless wisdom, and her near perfect patience, to name a few. There are the things that she has taught me, the things she is still teaching me, and the things I can only hope and pray to have her teach me in the future. Without everything she has given me, I would basically be that weird kid, eating paste in the corner.

But the bottom line to this small tribute to my mother is that, at the end of the day, knowing that she is in my corner is what allows me to continue on to the next day. Her love and approval is what I seek more than anything in my life, with everything I do. If it weren't for the truly great women that I call my mom, there is little that I would be able to accomplish. What I am trying to say, as always, with too many words is, Mom, I love you. Pretty much more than anything. And happy birthday :)

P.S. Because in my heart and with my mouth, I could never say it enough, thank you.