Mother's Day

       My mom and I have always ALWAYS been close. Growing up, we would spend nearly every single Saturday together. I remember her taking me to my cheerleading functions, basketball games, riding lessons, movies, band things, out to lunch, shopping, and the list goes on. During football season, whatever we did usually revolved around OU football games. I can remember watching an OU/Nebraska game in the shoe section of a department store. Looking back, I'm not sure why we were out in the first place, but I know my mom was happy that Renberg's had a tv. As I think back to all those memories, years worth of times we spent together, I think of all the laughter we shared. We would pretend our cell phones (the enormous kind from the 90's) were microphones and sing into them. With gusto. We used to drive to my grandparents cabin in my dad's pickup truck. It was a 3 hour drive and I think we even had to share a seatbelt. Anyway, we both started trying for more space, gently nudging the other person's side with our elbow. This turned into an all-out contest and we called it elbow fighting. We would put our elbows up and kind of poke at each other with them. My dad HATED it. We thought it was hilarious and used to do it just to get a reaction from him. Sorry, Dad.  Now that I'm writing it down I guess it was a little weird. We got the giggles in an elevator in her office building so uncontrollably we laughed till we didn't make any sound. I know the guy stuck on there with us had to be uncomfortable. I have no idea what was so funny, but sometimes when you're with your best friend you can laugh over nothing. My mom has truly been my best friend and I'm so grateful to have always had someone in my corner that made me know I was unconditionally loved and supported.
     Now that I have kids of my own, I get to watch her pour her love out on our boys. Harris is so excited to see his Mimi he can hardly stand it. He likes to call her on the phone and will carry on a coversation that's long, even by adult standards. Over skype, he'll sit for an hour while she reads books to him. She is so delighted to be with him that she'll spend hours doing whatever he wants. She plays cars with him, does bubbles, takes walks and delights in the rocks that he finds or the plane that flies over. She's never too worn out to read another book or chase him around the yard. She has dropped everything to come help our family, even while working full time and living almost 1,000 miles away.

Thank you seems very inadequate given all that you have done for me, Mom, but it's all I know to say. On Mother's Day, I love and honor you. I hope your day is so special and wish I could be there to give you a hug and celebrate with you. And maybe have an elbow fight.

May she who gave you birth be happy. ~ Proverbs 23:25