Today is my mother's birthday. I am not so silly as to say which one.
In honor of my mother's birthday, I want to share with the world why I am so thankful for my mother.
1) She has always shown me unconditional love, even when I wasn't so fun to love.
2) Swedish tea rings on Christmas mornings.
3) Handsewn and painted stockings that continue to multiply as our family gets larger.
4) A love of family (extended and immediate) that takes priority over other things.
5) Her willingness to give to those in need without any expectation of something in return.
6) Her passion for young people, specifically those she was principal to for so many years.
7) How she saw her job not as an occupation, but as a calling and lived each day passionately trying to make each child's life better and therefore the world a better place.
8) She learned to make Norwegian food so we could have our favorites when we were visiting my dad's family.
9) She loves to read and has passed that love and hundreds of books she has read along to me.
10) She grows more adventurous as she ages instead of settling into the status quo.
11) Hand massages that put me to sleep in church, but also could calm me down on hard days.
12) My mom has always supported me, even when I decided to drop out of college, work at a truss plant and McDonalds.
13) She still prays for my husband so at least one of us is:)
14) My mom remembers the names of her students. It still is awe-inspiring to watch her converse with a student she has 10 years ago and know their name, what they are doing and remember details about their families. Wow, what a gift!
15) I have seen her grow in her walk with God my entire life. It was always such a cool example to see my mom have her quiet time at the kitchen table early in the morning before work.
16) My mom (and dad) always made church a priority. They set the example that being a part of a church community wasn't something to do when it was convenient, but instead was a part of life. I remember always finding a church on vacation and how it reminds me that we are called to be a part of the body.
17) Christmas desserts (sugar cookies, fudge, Russian tea cakes, candycane cookies, I don't even know the appropriate name for the fudge filled bars, the lemon bars, etc. etc)
18) She always make pies for family gatherings and you've allowed me to now be a part of that.
19) I have never felt like a burden when I've moved back into the house. Instead, I've been made to feel like it was the best gift ever. How lucky am I?
20) My mom dislikes sowing and yet will hem and pants, fix anything I've torn, or sew whatever I ask.
21) She likes to slip all of the kids random cash to cover gas, groceries or whatever. We have always been spoiled.
22) My mom and dad came to all of my sportings and musical events (and that was a lot of them). My mom even made the trip last year up to watch my U of Minnesota alumni game. Now that is dedication.
23) She is the best grandma. She spoils my nieces and nephew rotten. They love being at grandma's house.
24) Mom's homemade chili and soup on cold winter days.
25) A hug after hard games and rough days.
26) Answered phone calls after hard days in language school or in foreign countries where I walked away feeling like I could face another day.
27) My mom is a prayer warrior for me as I live the life I live.
28) She is wise beyond words. When I make life decisions, I know I can go to my mom and get awesome advice and plenty to chew on.
29) My mom made me take piano lessons. I hated practicing at the time, but I love that I can read music and can sit down and play to relax me.
30) I also had to play and instrument and am so thankful for the memories I have from my days in band.
31) I have never seen my mom back down from a challenge.
32) I love that my mom has become the pseudo grandparents for a number of kids over the years. I love having extra nieces and nephews that she cares so deeply about.
33) If my mom liked sports before I came along, there isn't a ton of evidence. But, my mom has become and avid sports fan in some ways because she knows how much I love sports.
34) She has shown what true dedication to family means as I watched her walk through my grandmother's last few years faithfully visiting and spending time with her even with a full schedule and with little return in the world's eyes.
35) She'll still do my laundry if I leave it by the washing machine.
36) She gives me meaningful children's books that express her love in ways that are rich to me and I can pass along to others I read the books to.
37) I have learned what sacrificial leadership looks like by watching her.
38) My mom has given up many things so I can pursue what I feel like God has called me to do. She has always supported me in following God's call even if it meant living with the fear of me being in less than stable countries or knowing that I will miss birthdays, holidays and family moments.
Every day, I thank God for my mother, especially this day on her birthday when I can't be there to celebrate with her. I know that I would not be where I am both figuratively and literally without her. Thanks mom. I love you and happy birthday.
