Tomorrow is my mom’s birthday. I’m not saying which one- but it is a biggie. I thought I’d blog her a birthday card because she is the only person I can count on to actually read my blog. That is what a mom does…a mom reads her 38-year-old daughter’s blog. At least, usually. And then sometimes she writes me little emails telling me how wonderful and talented I am. And whether that is true or not, it always feels good to read. Without my mom, the phone might not ring for days sometimes. I mean, I have a lot of friends…I do. But my mom is the only one who calls for no reason…as we are rushing out to school…as we are doing bathtime…all the time. And no matter how scrunched-up or snarky or sideways I get with her…she still loves me.

Here is what I love about my mom:

• she is selfless in her ability to love
• she’s up-for-anything
• she is still my safe place
• she loves a good project
• she’ll always say yes before she’ll say no
• she puts her kindle in a ziploc plastic bag to read and play word games in the bath
• she is always there
• she built a sweat lodge in my backyard
• she is loving, supportive and nurturing
• she lets us all spend the night…all of us
• she is so, so much fun
• we can laugh until we…well…you know
• she is the best grandmother to my kids…she teaches them the true meaning of YES. (Just as she did for me when I was little.) Want to build a race car out of a cardboard box with working parts? YES. Want to make a concoction out of every ingredient in the pantry? YES! Want to pile all of your clothes and stuffed animals onto the ceiling fan and then turn it on and see what happens? You betcha!

I love you, Mom. Happy Birthday. You are an amazing and beautiful person. I feel so grateful and lucky to have you in my life. I never knew, until now that I have kids of my own what it feels like to love so much that the cup runneth over and the cup shattereth into a billion pieces because it cannot possibly hold back the ocean within. I never knew what it was like to breathe someone in…to breathe in a person in one breath…and to hold them inside. You did that with us. I can see it all over you now as you look at your kids…as you look at me. I know because now I do that, too. You taught me how. Thank you.