My Mom

Celebrated her birthday yesterday. And rather than telling everyone her age like always.. I am keeping it mum. How many years has it taken me to do this? Yesterday I was going to blog about it all day. But I was sad.. and it would have been weepy, and depressing, so I didn't.

Today however I want to wish my Mom a wonderful day late Birthday. I did happen to speak to her several times.. but I like to wish her a wonderful day here too. This year is the first year in my life I wasn't there to wish her a Happy Birthday in person. It felt so very wrong. I was nostalgic for last year.. I knew last year I wouldn't live near her this year so we had a fun day. Last year we shopped. I bought her some new Mary Jane Crocs.. and then her sister sent her a pair the same color, so we exchanged the ones I bought her for gorgeous aqua instead of boring brown. Last year we ate lunch at Olive Garden. Last year we made the day as full as possible knowing it might be the last time for a while.

This year I waited for hours to call her. And when I did she didn't answer. Darn time difference. But my sweet sister called me back. We had a delightful conversation and then my Mom joined in and we were all able to wish her a wonderful day. My kids were thoroughly bummed that we weren't able to go to Grandma's on her 'Special Day'. So was I. But we enjoyed time together as our own little family. And we talked to her several times throughout the day. Wishing her as many birthday wishes as we could from 2200+ miles away.

I miss my Mom. It's not a secret to anyone. My Mom was who I called to go to the mall. To help me with my kids. To just hang out with. I relied on my Mom for more than just Mom stuff. She is my friend. And years of having her be my closest friend besides Randy, I miss just doing stuff with my Mom whenever. I still talk with her almost daily.. and often multiple times in a day. I talk to Randy most... and then her. I am counting down the days until I get to see her again. I think I miss my Mom more than anything else about moving. And I keep thinking it will get easier.. but I still get that pit from time to time... those moments I wonder what in the heck I am doing so far away.. but we have been so very blessed and it is okay. I just miss her. And it has been nearly four months since I have seen my Mom. That is the longest I have ever went. And I am ready to see her.

Some of the fantastic things about my Mom.

She is a fantastic violinist. She is playing in the symphony right now as I type.

She loves music, and taught me to love music. Especially classical.

She is the type of Mom every kid deserves to have. And one the type that I hope to be.

She has a strong testimony of prayer. And she taught that to me at an early age.

She believes in the Gospel with all her being. She lives it that way too.

She is kind and selfless. She came to take care of me for 18 days after my knee surgery.

She is the type of Grandma every Grandkid deserves. She plays on the floor with my kids, reads them stories, calls them all of the time, sends them little notes in the mail because they love mail so much, and wants to know every detail of their lives.

She is strong. We have all put her through so much with health stuff in my family, and she is strong, always strong and moving forward.

She makes the best cinnamon rolls ever. And thankfully I have her top secret recipe.

She is gorgeous. And I think that goes without even saying.. but she is gorgeous inside and out.

I am blessed to call her my Mother. I am blessed that I am her daughter.

I love you Mom. I wish I could be there. But for some reason my life is supposed to be here. Not there.