Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my Mom!

Here's to someone who is such an inspiration and a wonderful role model! I definitely almost caused her several strokes.....but our relationship only grew stronger because of it. She has shaped me into the person that I am today. Not many children are blessed to have such a talented, amazing, giving, caring, loving, and as grammatically in-tuned mother as I am. No one also is as lucky as me to have the Bible Nazi as their mother either. Whenever I'm struggling with my faith or need a pep-- I know I can always have a prayer or bible verse within minutes, almost seconds, through an e-mail. It's almost therapeutic! I love e-mailing my problems to her and always within moments getting a direct response! She helps me make many mothering decisions as well as life long decisions. I don't know of one big obstacle in life that I haven't gone to her for advice. My most recent memory is sending her my usual "need your advice email" and her response this time was "You always get me to thinking!" I loved it! I always said I never wanted to be my mother, but since I've become a mom, I want to be nothing less than the wonderful Mom that she was to us. Looking back on my childhood, I cannot imagine raising three girls, by myself, working a full time job and having no child support. There are many many days that I think "how the hell did she ever do this-- those years by herself" when comparing my current lifestyle to hers.... but with the exception of me being continually blessed by a wonderful husband who loves his children and his wife more than life itself. I know that she will tell anyone that she wouldn't have made it without continuous faith and prayer. She will tell you that it was hard leaving my Dad, and to make that decision......but she did what was best! My mother is awesome! She's the rock that holds us all together! I know that my Grandmother would be extremely proud of her and all that she has become and made of herself. I look at her life and I think "Wow! To have a successful career, without a college degree, that she has moved up in all because she WANTED better for herself and her retirement, to look back upon three daughters who are college graduates, happily married with children, and a son who is on his way of becoming a man himself as well. To have 4 christian children who try diligently, day after day to live their life according to the christian example that was set before them. To be blessed with 7 grandchildren who love their Nana to the moon and back! To be at her age and to accomplish what all she has accomplished--- I can only think of that bible verse that says in Luke 19:17 "Well Done, My Good and Faithful Servant!" Here's to you Mom....and Many Many more happy, healthy, years!