… who was never mad that i made you be in a hospital for your and dad’s first anniversary, on your 46th birthday and for your 24th anniversary
… who sang (and whistled) “away in a manger” every night so i’d go to sleep
… who let me name my toys after the alphabet
… who mostly kept calm every time i flooded my sandbox
… who read hundreds of books to me and taught me to love reading too
… who didn’t make me do kindergarten
… who taught me almost every subject from first grade through 10th grade and never tired of learning along with me
… who helped me bake cookies, pies, bread and countless other things
… who helped me wash sheep, paint rockets, paint my room, sew things that were way over my skill level, learn an art medium i adopted on a whim, learn how to set a table with panache and polish and learn robert’s rules of order
… who drove me to swimming lessons, piano lessons, play practice, debate class, junior college and a hundred other places
… who was the best nurse ever through numerous flus, colds, bouts of strep throat and gamma radiation, asthmatic bronchitis, pneumonia and brain surgery
… who always believes i can do more than i believe i can
… who never tires of having fun
… who wants to be the first to start the race and is enthusiastic crossing the finish line
… who has a tender heart for the hurting and a tender heart toward God …
mom, i love you.
