If only I could be like my mom...

My Mom...what to say about her?  As this post began circling in my mind, I realized that I can't truly put into words what my mom means to me...she is not just my mom...she is so many things to me, most importantly my friend. She is the one person that has always been there for me my entire life.  She has held me and rocked me as I cried (as late as last month!!!), listened to me vent, laughed with me until there were tears, supported me in every decision I have ever made, loved me unconditionally...truly when I have been my ugliest, travelled to nearly every concert or performance I have ever given or directed, dropped everything to be there when I needed her (and still does), made me do things that were best for me, even if I didn't like it...my mom has blessed me more than I can say.  I could go on and on about all of the ways she has shown me love and all of the things that I love about her.  She is also one of the most humble people I know...never takes credit for anything or wants any attention drawn to herself for any reason. She simply cares, loves and does for other people with no expectations.  If only I could be like her. She has energy like no other...like the energizer bunny with her grandkids, her gardening and yard work.  She makes me tired! Ha!

Many have said that in the above picture especially that I look like my mom.  What a great compliment to hear...but what I really hope is that I look like my mom on the inside too...she is beautiful inside and out and I am truly blessed by her.  I am lucky that I get to see her nearly every day since she gets my boys on the bus and watches my youngest while I go to work and that we also go to the same church.  You would think that seeing each other so much we would run out of things to talk about, but just this weekend, we spent several hours together on Saturday and Sunday and talked and talked about important things and non-important things.  And when we run out of things to talk about...we can just be together and it's comfortable.  I love that.  She is my mom, my friend, my mentor, my confidante, and so much more.  And as wonderful as she is as a mom...she is equally awesome as a Grandma.  The kids never tire of having her around and in the summer get disappointed if we go to work in the barn and Grandma isn't there to at least say hello to!  Once the fair is over and real summer break starts for us, we still have to go see Grandma a couple times a week so that we don't go through withdrawal! HA!  Our family is just so blessed to call her Mom/Grandma.  Someone on facebook had this quote and I thought it really captures my feelings, although I wouldn't put it nearly as formal and flowery!

“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” -Washington Irving

Happy Mother's Day Mom!  You are amazing and I love you so incredibly much!  I am blessed to be your daughter and to be so close to you.  I know I often take you for granted, but please know that I couldn't love you more!