Happy Mother's Day!!

A few weeks ago, a photographer that I went to high school with, Laura Lynn Photography held a contest where she was going to give away a mini-session to one person, who wrote an entry about their Mom.  I wasn't sure I was going to be able to write an entry without completely breaking down (which of course happened) but I entered, and the entry won!!!  I'm so excited to tell my Mom, because all she's wanted for the longest time has been updated pictures of the family.

 

 

So, since it's Mother's Day, I thought I'd share the entry I wrote about my Mom:

I have always heard that a girls best friend will be their Mom. I have had the most supportive parents a girl could ask for, but growing up, I was definitely mean to her, and she didn't deserve it at all.  Now that I have grown up, I wonder how she put up with my teenage attitude and didn't lose faith in me, while remaining my biggest fan. Call it hormones, call it stupidity, call it both, she did not deserve to be treated the way I treated her as a teenager. I got so wrapped up in friends and bring able to go places that when she said no or gave me a punishment, I could not see the bigger picture, I was stuck in the moment.

I am not sure how I got so lucky, but both of my parents are my best friends. I talk to them on a regular basis, and I value their opinions like gold. My Mom has become the one person who knows everything about me, and loves me anyway. She celebrates the successes with me, and helps pull me through the struggles.

I went through one of the biggest struggles of my life this past August, and I still struggle with it on a daily basis.  I am constantly battling with myself over why God would take such a precious angel from both me and my family, and I can hardly see through my tears while writing this because it is so fresh. I cannot wait to be a Mother, but having a niece was just as much of a blessing for me; we had an inseparable bond. I was in a very dark place when we lost her, and I still have many bad days where I need guidance. My Mom has been there through the whole process and whether it is sitting with me while I cry, or helping by making a crock pot full of soup and having it ready when we spent so many late nights at the hospital, I know for a fact that I get my huge heart from her.

My Mom is hands down the most caring, compassionate, giving person that I have the privilege of not only knowing, but loving unconditionally!  Whether it is volunteering with the youth group at our church, going on a Missions Trip to Guatemala to help clean underprivileged children's teeth, helping at the food pantry, or or helping her own children, she doesn't even think twice about helping others. She hardly ever does anything for herself, and that is proven when I say when I got her a gift certificate for a manicure a few years ago, it was the first time she had gotten one. She really doesn't ever do things for herself. She is always busy helping other people that she forgets to do something for herself or have "me" time. Whether it is buying one of her children something as a surprise, or supporting us at our events and interests, she is our number one fan. She deserves to know that we as children are her number one fans!!!!!

When I am blessed enough to someday become a mother, if I become half the mother that she is, I would be set for life. I am beyond lucky and so is everyone else who is fortunate enough to know her!!!

I love you, Mom and I can't wait to see you in a few hours to tell you the news, and give you your present!!!!