Thank you, Mom!

Thank you, Mom, for putting up with me all of these years!  I know I haven't always made it easy for you.....but even when I made it hard to like me.....you have always loved me.

Thank you for....

rescuing me from Buster, the dog, when I was 3ish and he had me cornered and was fiercely growling at me.  So scary!

gently breaking the news to me that cold, icy, winter day about what had really happened to Tabby.

staying up all night with me when I was 3 or 4 when my ear drum burst. OUCH! The pain was excruciating, but you made it all better simply by stroking my hair.  I know you must have desperately wanted to lay your head down and get some sleep...but you didn't.

rescuing me when I blew up my bicycle tire.  Boy, did my ears ever ring!  The lesson I learned that day was invaluable.  :)

waiting to tell me that the first ribbon I earned at the fair was not such a good thing.  It was a WHITE ribbon (last place).  You waited to tell me because I was so excited about that little ribbon and in my mind, it was so BEAUTIFUL.

all of your help with numerous 4-H projects and those wonderful record books.

making sure my shoes remained spotless and forever "unscuffed" no matter where we went.  I apologize for not carrying on that tradition with my own kids....I know that drives you crazy.

spending endless afternoons perched on that park bench outside Steinhart Lodge, quietly tolerating the summer heat, while Brent and I swam our little hearts out each day.

sewing my "first day of school" school clothes way back in Kindergarten....because I know you hate to sew, but you did it anyway.

volunteering to drive for my first end of the year field trip....we went to the Bicentennial Train.  Does anyone know what "bicentennial" means anymore?

making our birthdays absolutely wonderful and making us feel like the most important people on Earth.

making all of our holidays so very special.

piano and guitar lessons and carting me back and forth.

taking me to the "country school skating parties"....even when the weather was treacherous and you would have much rather stayed home where it was safe and warm.

putting up with those difficult teenage years.

checking up on me during those difficult teenage years.....making sure I wasn't driving around on my learner's permit, meeting me at my car in the IGA parking lot when I was obviously way past my curfew, making sure I was where I said I would be, and not being overly upset with me when I rolled the Bronco.  If you hadn't done that, who knows what kind of hoodlum you'd have on your hands today.  :)

staying up late, cooking and serving up breakfast for us after the Holiday dance.
 
letting me fight my own battles but sticking up for me when needed to.

giving me a safe, loving home to grow up in.

showing me that I can be a working mom and still be a great mom to my own children.

this last year!

last week!

everything else you have done for me that I have failed to mention.  And I know there are so many things I haven't mentioned.

all of your love and support in everything I have done and have failed to do.  One of those being...not telling you more often what you mean to me and how much I love you!  You are truly the best and I hope I can be half the mother to my own children that you were/are to Brent and me.

Happy Mother's Day....a day late!

You truly are the wind beneath my wings!

I love you!
S