Mama

Mama,

You are beautiful. Anyone could look at you and tell you that, but what makes you the most beautiful is your heart. You have no idea the impact you have made and continue to make on my life.

I cannot remember a time you weren’t there championing me on.

I found myself laughing on Halloween. As I gathered materials together to attempt making a costume for Summer Kate, I thought back to all of the costumes you made me over the years. It was completely normal to pick up a costume pattern in the crafts section, because homemade with love, would be the only thing that would do in your book. I’ll never know all the hours you spent on that sewing machine, knowing you had a full time job, and taking care of us, but I see you, Mama, and I love you. Thinking of those memorie, led me to think of other memories, so here we go in no particular order… 😉

Do you remember whenever I was in the process of buying my first home? I was nervous it wouldn’t pass inspection because there was a hole in the wall…so you bought stuff to fix the hole…before I knew what was happening we were at that house and you were boosting me through the tiny window in the garage. We fixed that hole & I bought that house. You were there every step of the way, cheering me on. I’ll never forget that.

Do you remember whenever I drove the Durango into that lake in high school? I just knew y’all would never let me drive again. You just picked me up and laughed it off. Thank you for not killing me. 🙂

Do you remember that time you found out I skipped that one class? You made me push mow an overgrown backyard and I had blisters to show for it.

Do you remember when I gave you attitude (again, those high school years…) and you pulled the car over and tickled me in a parking lot? You are so wild with your crazy punishments, but I will never forget them.

Do you remember your “House Blessing” lists you would wake us girls up with, after spraying us with vinegar, to clean up the house after we totally wrecked it? Haha! I am cracking up.

Do you remember when I would drive the Geo Metro in the fields before I had a license and I would sometimes come home with missing hubcaps? Haha! You wouldn’t let us in for dinner until all of those hubcaps were found!

Speaking of the Geo…remember teaching me to drive that stick shift? Haha! All the stalling out…but you wouldn’t let me learn on an automatic, just in case I were ever “stuck in a bind.”

Do you remember you making me manage a checkbook in high school? I didn’t understand then, but I understand now. Thank you for teaching me so many life skills, so naturally.

Do you remember you telling me that the hard times are actually the biggest blessings? Because they require us to lean on God in a way that otherwise we wouldn’t. Thank you for always seeing the positive.

Do you remember when Bridgett and I were gone a little too long in the fields, so you sent Russell to find us? Only to find us trying to glue your antenna back on that poor Geo? Oh my word. Mama, how am I still alive?!

Do you remember that time some guy told me you wouldn’t love me anymore if I told you all the things I had done in my life, and whenever I finished telling you all the things I did, you looked at me and said, “Baby, is that all ya got?!” Thank you for revealing another glimpse of God’s character and love that day. I’ll never forget it.

Do you remember that time I really wanted my own hangout at home? So you bought me one of those little sheds, carpeted it, decorated it and furnished it? You’re seriously too much. Thank you for that, I’ll never forget it.

Do you remember that time I wanted to go to venue appointments for my wedding, and instead of just driving over for the day, you booked a hotel with an ocean view for the night, just because you knew I would love that? I’ll never forget it.

Do you remember that time you had just had your stroke and you got that look in your eye, I’ve seen time and time again (you know, that I am on a mission and I’m going to do what I set my mind to, face) & you said, “Baby, I’m going for a walk.” & you did…and you haven’t stopped since. I won’t ever forget that and I’m so proud of you.

Do you remember that time you had open heart surgery and instead of staying in bed, you tried to pretend like you didn’t just go through major surgery and made a point to get into my room first thing in the morning, just to let me know you were going to be okay…I knew that wasn’t easy, but I also knew you had to do those things for yourself and us. I won’t ever forget it (you hardhead).

Do you remember going shopping before my wedding? You wanted to make sure I had clothes for the honeymoon. But, I also knew you knew our shopping trips wouldn’t be as frequent with me moving states away. I won’t ever forget.

Do you remember going shopping when I first found out I was pregnant? You wanted to make sure I had clothes for the pregnancy. You always go above and beyond, and I’ll never forget it.

Do you remember that time I moved to Louisiana and was terribly homesick? You got in the car and drove over, “Just to let my baby know we are just a drive away…” I won’t ever forget that, Mama. I am tearing up just thinking of it, so let me think of something funny.

Oh yeah, do you remember that time you showed up at my Branford house at 5am, and I thought someone was breaking in?! I’ll leave this one right here…

TWO WORDS: SENTIMENTAL BUNNIES

Do you remember all the dance camps, games, trips? You were there for it all. I don’t know how, but you were, and I won’t ever forget it.

Do you remember making your handmade signs for every homecoming parade? I don’t think I showed you proper appreciation back then, but Mama, I see you and I appreciate you. I will never forget all the things you’ve done for me.
Do you remember each nickname you gave me every time you woke me up in the morning? There’s no way. There was something new everyday and I loved it.

Do you remember driving me home from my wisdom teeth surgery? I don’t. But I am thankful for you! Haha.

Do you remember telling me I’m not scared after having Summer Kate even though I saw in your eyes that you weren’t completely okay yet after everything that happened…? I won’t ever forget you sitting by my side in that ICU room that entire night. I won’t ever, ever forget.

Do you remember that jacuzzi in the mountains? CRACKING UP.

Do you remember when I asked you what you thought about John and I getting married? I was looking for your final stamp of approval. You looked at me and said, “Baby, all these years I have been praying you would have a safe place in a spouse. Someone that will love you just as well on your bad days as he does on your good ones. Someone that you can be completely yourself with and feel safe. I’ve spent my life being a safe place for you and you have found that in John.” Mama, it was exactly the words I needed and you knew that. I love you for that. I’ll never forget that lunch date.

Do you remember when I had just surrendered my life to Jesus and told you I was scared and didn’t know what to do? You quickly responded that I wasn’t scared and that I finally got to be just who God created me to be. I’ll never forget that.

Do you remember that time I was crying because I didn’t want to speak that one time? I was scared. But, you were quick to remind me that I wasn’t scared and that I was created for such a time as this. Thank you for that.

Do you remember when I jumped into the pool alone, “Cause My Can Do It MYSELF?!” Only to quickly realize, “My Can’t Do It Without My Water Wings!” Haha, thank you for rescuing me!

Do you remember when I was a very little girl and a stranger said I was shy? You were quick in your response and you said it loud enough for me to hear, “She is NOT shy! You just don’t know MY girl.” Thank you for speaking life over me that day, I will never forget it.

Speaking of whenever I was little, do you remember counting to 5…five times in a row, after five spankings in a row, just because I wouldn’t pick up my toy purse off of the floor. Talk about strong-willed! (Don’t worry, I have a strong-willed daughter of my own now…) But, I will also remember you always saying that once I got on the right path, nobody could get me off of it, because of that strong-will. Again, thank you for always finding the positive.

Thank you, Mama, for always seeing the best in me and for always being sure to speak it over me. You do it EVERY SINGLE DAY. & you have no idea the impact it carries in my life.

I pray you know on your birthday and every day what a gem you are. You are a bright place in a sometimes dark world. You carry confidence and strength like nobody else. I love you, Mama. I don’t know what I did to deserve to have you as mine, but I am eternally grateful. I could write forever about all of our memories, but I’ll end it here. Just know that you are loved, SO loved. Appreciated, so appreciated.

Happy Birthday, Beautiful! I love you, MOST.