To my "Not-So-Perfect" Mom

I am daily glad that you are ours. I hope you always know how much we love you.

I am a better, stronger, more ambitious, more caring person because I was raised by you. I learned that a mom is not a Mom because she is always by your side. A Mom's love reaches from Tacoma and Orlando and anywhere life may take us.

You taught me to be myself, no matter how quirky that may be. I am good at being me because you are so good at being you. Thank you for that. Thank you for always loving me, always supporting me, and always inspiring me to be more. You let me mess up. You let me learn. You showed me how to live.

I've learned to cry when I need to cry and laugh when ever life gives me the chance. You taught me to take big chances and dream big dreams. You have always wanted us to have it all and we have it all because we have you. Thank you for doing anything you could to give us everything we need. 

More than anything... You taught me the meaning of home. Thank you for our home. Thank you for my brothers (even though they were obviously accidents). You and Dad did such a good job with them. I am proud of the people they are and I am proud to have such wonderful parents. I love you both. I am proud that YOU are my mom. 

The older I get the more I realize how much it must have hurt to be away from us. I want you to know that even when you were miles away you were always there. You are so much of who we are, and I would never change that. Sometimes I catch myself doing things the way you do them. I like that. 

So yes... there might have been a lot of "mom" things missing. I wouldn't trade you for any of it. I don't need a "normal" mom because that would just be so boring. I need you. I love you. Happy Mothers Day!