That’s my mama up there!

Isn’t she gorgeous? People always tell me I look like her (no, I didn’t just call myself gorgeous) but her skin and her giant eyes and her peaceful expression do a definite one-up on my goofy face.

I don’t usually get to see my mom on the actual Mother’s Day because it falls on a Sunday, and for a minister’s wife, that’s “Go Day” — good luck getting out for lunch, or having the energy for dinner when everything is done! That, and they’re a fair shot down the road from me.

We usually just make up our own holidays, and spend time together when we have time to enjoy it.

But I have never been more aware that appreciating my mom is something that I need to make a priority of all the time… not just a couple days a year when Hallmark or the normal passing of time says it’s the right thing to do.

So many of my friends have already lost their moms, and days like today are days of grieving for them, not flowers or lunches or hugs or (in our case) giddy long distance phone calls.

I can’t imagine.

And while I am blessed to have a mom at all, I am even more blessed that we have a strong relationship. Again, many of my friends have fractured connections with their parents, and I know my mother has worked hard to make sure I always knew she loved me, accepted me, and would be there for me, no matter what.

No, we don’t agree on every little thing.

No, we don’t always manage to talk as often as we should.

No, she doesn’t always like what I’m up to.

But she would walk over hot coals if my happiness was on the other side.

And I feel the same way about her.

Mom, thank you for teaching me what I needed to know to grow into an independent woman who knows how to love others, how to work hard, and how to laugh at myself.

And a million other things, of course
You are brilliant, beautiful, and funny as hell, and the kind of person who makes a room light up with your warmth.

I love you!

xo