She's The BEST... Seriously!

Dear Friends,

I have the best mom in the whole wide World... period.

Yes, I am biased.

Yes, I have never had another mom to compare her with.

But seriously! She's the best.

And today she is 50.

I talked to her yesterday on the phone... to see how she was coping... When she seemed all chirpy and normal I gently reminded her that it was the last day of her 40's (that's what daughter's are for-- a good pie in the face moment now and then)... she just laughed and said, "I guess it is! I hadn't really thought about it!"

Then she went on to tell me what was up around Keoni, how the sibs were doing, where dad is and so forth.

One thing that I love about my mom is her selflessness. She's so good and kind to everyone. She makes them feel good about themselves and she doesn't even realize she is doing it! 

And something about that type of living makes it no big drama to her that she's getting older. She's still a mother, being a mom, she's still a wife loving her man, she's still a friend, sister, daughter doing what she does best... being HER.

I love that about her.

She will doubtless be appalled and embarrassed at my unabashed outpouring of praise and admiration... but around here, I try to tell it like it really is.

She's my hero-- ahem, Heroine.

(gag all you want but it's the truth)

Truth be told, I cringe on the inside when people site the likenesses between she and I.

Not for all the normal reasons daughters often feel that way.

I would love nothing more than to be more like her.

I cringe because I feel so often that I am not nearly as like her as I could be.

I could be better at putting aside personal ambitions and interests and throwing my ultimate all into being the best mother possible.

I could be better at forgetting "me" and focusing on "you".

I would be a lot less caught up in my recent onslaught of gray hairs if I was busy being wrapped up in seeing all the joy and blessing of every day I have lived so far.

I could be kinder, truer and more graceful.

And guess what?

I am still alive and so is she.

So I better get busy learning all I can from her.

Because in 23 years, 6 months and 14 days when I turn 50 (and she's 73) I'd like people to say, "She reminds me so much of her mother when she was her age."

I love you, Mom.

and for the record, no matter what you say, every word I said was true.

Happy Mother's Day and Happy 50th Birthday!

I look forward to spending at least 50 more years admiring and loving you for all you are to Mr. Loggerhead, the turkeys, and me.

Love,

All She Taught 'er Daughter in NE

P.S. The pictures in the card above... Left to right;

A: 1985-- Mom and I  when I was a baby in Alaska,

B: Mother's Day 2009-- Mama and my babies,

C: August 30, 2003-- Mom helping me get ready on my wedding day.