My Mom

For the past 34 years, I have been blessed with the most amazing mom.  So on Mother's Day, here are 34 reasons why I love my mom:

1. She loves me.
2. She taught me how to sew.  (Too bad I never really caught on that well.)  Now she just sews stuff for me.
3. She has tea parties with my girls.
4. She never missed an activity of mine growing up -- games, concerts, . . . if I was in something, she was there.
5. She tried her best to get me to like vegetables.
6. She always puts everyone else above herself.
7. She loves my husband and laughs (sometimes too hard) at his jokes and stories.
8. She is never critical of my parenting even though inside she is probably thinking, Wow, I sure wouldn't do that!
9. She loves to play games.
10. She once paid me $100 to not watch TV for a whole year.  Yes, I did it.  (I think I was in 5th grade?)  Crazy, I know.
11. She loves to read and shared that love with me.  Now if only I had more time to actually do it.
12. She has come to our house for a month every summer since Emily was born.  What a blessing that's been.
13. She taught me the importance of doing chores when I was little and working hard.
14. She loves Scrabble, especially playing it with my dad. 
15. She always said, "Don't make a mountain out of a molehill."
16. She is always so supportive.  When I went through some rough times this past year she was never critical, she stuck by me and shared words of encouragement.
17. She taught me how to garden.  Let's see if I can remember anything this summer as I attempt my first real garden on my own.
18. She loves taking my girls to places I would probably never take them -- the Kelley Farm, Fort Snelling, etc.
19. She hasn't aged a bit.
20. She always made us a hot breakfast every day growing up.  Now she's the grandma who makes homemade waffles, which the girls love.
21. She memorizes chapters of the Bible at a time.  Even whole books.  Wow.
22. She never buys herself anything but also never complains.
23. She loves going on picnics.
24. She taught me that "a job worth doing is worth doing well."
25. She is the best tutor in Nebraska.  All her students are lucky to have her.
26. She sewed the most amazing Snow White and Sleeping Beauty costumes for my girls.  The compliments on them never end.
27. She was always there to help me with my homework, even the most frustrating writing assignments.
28. She likes to have "puzzle parties." 
29. She spent countless hours and dollars on piano lessons for me.
30. She's the only one I know who actually enjoys public transportation.
31. When we visit her or she visits us, she always lets me sleep in while she watches the girls early in the morning.
32. She prays for me and our family. 
33. She taught me about Jesus.
34. Better yet she showed me Jesus with her life.

I'm sure most of us at some point in our life say, "I sure hope I don't grow up to be like my mom."  Then suddenly one day we realize that wouldn't be so bad.  If I could be half the woman my mom is, I'd be doing well.  I love you, mom, and hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day.