Nest Full of New

Dear Mom,

As we celebrate your birthday today, I want to offer you a special gift. I don’t want another day to pass without you knowing how much I love and appreciate you. You are the most loving, thoughtful, selfless, compassionate, caring, giving, amazing woman that I know. You make me want to be a better person and a better mother.

I want you to know the things for which I am so grateful:

You believe in me and always encouraged me when no one else did.

For supporting my crazy dreams, and not just standing behind me in my decisions, but standing beside me. (Including the one where I plan marry Jon Bon Jovi…)

For bearing with me through all of the times I thought I knew better.

For taking us on family vacations – I recently shared with Bill some of our experiences from Turtle Creek and all the times we went camping on the beach, and how special (and fun) those trips were.

For helping pay my bills when I had nowhere to turn…many times.

For sussies…enough said.

You forgave me every time I hurt you and did not hold those things against me.

For always making each of us feel important and worthy of good things.

For always putting others before yourself. The last couple of years have been difficult for you and Dad health wise, and you’ve been so strong.

For giving me a beautiful, unforgettable wedding. I felt like a princess!

You stood up for each of us when people hurt us – you are fierce.

For being a bad ass concert buddy. We screamed and sang our way through Def Leppard, Cinderella, Bon Jovi, INXS, and even Celine Dion, Barbara Streisand, Neil Diamond and George Michael. It’s so much fun to tell people at my office that the lady in the picture with Motley Crue is my Mom!

For treating my husband as your own son, and loving him just as much. He’s a challenge…I know. But you always make him feel like family.

For poking me in church to get me pay attention.

For being the most amazing Mamaw to Olivia. I love how you love her and how she adores you. For that matter, thank you for making sure we were able to have that same amazing relationship with our grandma.

For teaching me things.

For passing on your beautiful skin, sense of humor, passion for music, intelligence, compassion and positivity to me.

For investing in my future and Olivia’s future.

For always noticing the details, paying attention,and hearing the wishes we made that weren’t even made out loud sometimes. Then…remembering all of those things.

For knowing how to make me happy.

For being a survivor.  I can’t even begin to understand how scary that must have been for you, and you kicked its butt like a champ.

For telling me I am beautiful…and believing that I am beautiful.

You are my biggest fan, my confidant, and the first person I call to tell when good things happen. The comfort that comes from our friendship, the confidence that your faith in me instills, and your unquestioning support of whatever I do, is irreplaceable. I feel your unconditional love around me like a big hug every single day. I simply want to live a life that makes you proud.

I respect, admire, and adore you. You are my hero. I am so grateful that you are my mom and I love you.

Happy, happy birthday to the best mom ever!

Tracy