Happy birthday Mom!

Today is my Mom's 60th birthday.

I am grateful every day that she is my mother.



My mom has so many admirable qualities.

She is caring, thoughtful, fun, organized, efficient, brave, classy, stylish, compassionate, a leader, sensitive, friendly, giving, motivated, intelligent, service oriented, and spiritual.



She has given her best to being our mother and my sister, brothers and I are truly the products of her years of investment.



I have several specific memories with my mom growing up.

Most of them are of times when she and I were alone, talking about things that really mattered.

I remember her telling me as a child how she first knew that the church was true and her invitation that I come to know the truth for myself.

I remember a time when she encouraged me during a difficult time at school by sharing her own experiences as a teenager and citing the love and support of her dad as something that helped her through.

I remember another instance when I was an overwhelmed new mother in a new city and she reminded me of God's constant love and her faith in me as a mother, woman, and daughter.



And I can say that especially in this last year of my life she has always been there for me and has, at times, borne the brunt of my despair and sorrow. I know that she hates this experience for me, for Jake and for our kids and that she would give anything to take it away.

But she can't.

However, I also know this.

That it is because she is my mother and taught and trained and instilled the gospel into my very being that I have and will be able to survive whatever comes.

I am who I am because of her and I am grateful today, especially on her 60th birthday, that God sent me to be her child.



I love you Mom.

Happiest of birthdays to you.