Happy Birthday Mom!

Hey Mom :)
I just wanted to tell you that I love you! I know the plan was to be together for your birthday, but even though our plans change, I want you to know that no matter where we’re at, TODAY WE CELEBRATE YOU!
I can’t thank you enough for the wisdom, care, and unconditional love you pour into my life, so I wanted to share a couple of the many, many lessons you have taught me. Some require explanations and others are self explanatory, so enjoy!

1. Try Your Best, But Grades Are Not Everything // The freedom I felt with this statement growing up. While kids were petrified to go home and tell their parents they got “satisfactory” grades, I knew I might have explaining to do…but I knew that my parents valued who I was as a growing person more than what grade I got on my report card every nine weeks.
2. Take Hooky Days // Some of my most favorite childhood memories were made on days taken off of school. Whether we took day trips to Disney World, or if she checked me out of school to go see a movie. She taught me that memories are made all the time, not just during Spring and Summer break.
3. “You Represent This Family” // AKA don’t act a fool and use your manners — your momma raised you better than that!
4. Birthdays Are BIG DEALS // People are big deals, and we should make everyone feel special and so loved!
5. Christmas & Easter are also BIGGER DEALS // Because Jesus is the BIGGEST DEAL! Also, I think I have turned this into holidays are big deals! Specifically these two though, because Jesus is the best!
6. Use Your Manners // Because manners are not only everything, but they go such a long way.
7. When you date, (and then break up) leave your relationship and the person better than you started it.
8. Prep Before & Make Too Much // My mom is the ultimate host. Buffet style, prayer before the meal, plenty to drink with lots of ice, and NEVER forget about dessert & coffee. Always be thinking ahead, so prep as much as you can before to make it easy on yourself the day of. BTW if you are ever host people, you never want to run out of food, so always prep more serving than you are expected to serve.
9. Be able to say sorry when you’re wrong.
10. “Blame Me” // Or the “You can always call your mom.” I wish I would’ve taken advantage of this more, but I’m sure you all know this one. You’re walking out of the door to go somewhere with friends, “If anything happens, call me I’ll come get you!” OR how about this situation... you randomly text your mom "say no". You call your mom 10 minutes later in front of your friends, sounding *super* hopeful she's going to say "Yes!" to that thing you're about to ask her to go do. But she says no (?!?). Mom, thanks for always being there.
11. Actions Speak Louder Than Words // Mom, you live this one out.
12. Retail Therapy // We know it's not REAL REAL, but I do know that long car rides with you to the mall, deep talks in shops, laughing over our Chinese lunch in the food court, and a good Tory Burch bag -- that was real. And the best kind of day filled with the best kind of memories with the best kind of mom (YOU)!
13. Be Honest, Don’t Lie // You said it best, "Nothing to remember when you tell the truth!" Also, how did you always catch me in lies? How did you always know? I've never been any good at getting one past you lol. 
14. Stand Up For What You Believe In // If we have a conviction, we should know why we think it and we should be able to defend it. If someone is being mistreated, say something. If you don’t think something is unfair, say so. Have a question, ask! Mom, you taught me that my voice matters, so thank you for that.
15. Be A Leader, Not A Follower // Mom, seeing you work so hard everyday, taught me that I am fully capable of making my own way in life.
16. Never Forget Where Home Is // And you never meant a place, but you always meant people — people that make you feel like home.
17. “Be Sweet, Kind and Loving” // I don’t specifically know where you got this phrase, but it will always make me think of you. Whenever I didn’t know what to do, or whenever I got so mad I couldn’t form words, you always met me with this phrase. It grounded me then, but is something I often think about now. I know that Fraz and I will pass this phrase down to our kids because it not only reminds me of you, but it reminds me of the best lesson you taught me...
18. "I Don't Care What You Do, As Long As You Fall Madly In Love With Jesus" 

Mom, I love you! And I hope this birthday is beyond special for you today because you deserve it!