To the woman I most adore.
To the woman whom I made a mother 23.5 years ago and whom I strive to be more like each day.
To the woman who has always been there for me – through the sleepless nights, through the diaper rashes, first periods, broken hearts, and even now 900 miles away I know you are right here.
To the woman I probably didn’t hug & kiss enough, or say “thank you” as often as you deserved.
To the woman who I call daily.
To the woman who worked a full time job and still had a hot cooked meal on the table each night, and demanded us to all eat together.
To the woman who helped me do all of my school projects. Including the totally awsome shoebox piano!
To the woman, who is my very best friend
Mama,
I don’t tell you often enough how much I truly love you and how much respect and admiration I have for you. I never realized how much work you put into our family until I started my own. I love you for always making sure we had dinner together and for the huge delicious weekend breakfasts. Thank you for holding our family together throughout the years. You have taught me patience, faith, and love (oh, and one of Andrew’s favorites: to cook), and what a family is supposed to be! I can hardly state all of the reasons I love and appreciate you. Thank you for all of the traditions you have enstilled in all of us and for just being there. I know that you have had your battles with all of us, and that we have all tremendously let you down and broken your heart, but like the incredibly strong faithed and patient mother that you are, we are still together. Still a very close and loving family. I know we have had our struggles too, we haven’t always agreed, and I have probably been way too needy. I am truly sorry that I left the way I did. But, I am not sorry for continually listening to you and for accomplishing all that I have with my family because of you. I love you. And I love the way I can always call you for nothing at all. I just love talking to you. Something that you probably wanted to hear since I was 12. Thank you for everything. I love you so much.
With a sugar & a peck & a hug around the neck,
Your baby girl
