Thank you mom!

On this mother's day, I just want to take a moment to let my mom know how much I love and appreciate her. As a child, its very easy to express that love and gratitude because our moms and our homes are our whole world. As I've gotten older though, I have to admit that even though I have a whole lotta love for many things and people, I don't often express my appreciation for my mother as much as I should, mostly because I feel that I need my adult 'space', as I live only a few miles away. I want to be 'me' and 'have my own life'. But when I think about who 'me' is and what my life is, it is inextricably linked to my mother. Who would I have been without a mother like her? Obviously I wouldn't even be here if she hadn't taken care of her body during her pregnancy, labored, given birth to me and nursed me... given me the physical healthy life that I have. But also who would I be as a person if it were not for her long hours of caring, instilling values and spiritual understanding in me. Who would I be without her teaching me a love of learning, nature, and all things beautiful? What would my life consist of if she hadn't protected me from the negative influences that exist in this world or sacrificed so much to give me the life that I now have? I have so much to be grateful for because of the path choices that my parents were able to provide for me. Those that believe in reincarnation say that we choose our parents before we are born. That's not something I was brought up believing, but its an interesting thought. Anyway, I'm so thankful for you mom and I'm so glad you're my mother.

Thank you for always playing with me...

throwing great birthday parties...

bringing me to my favorite parks

skip ahead a few years ( I still need to digitize more pictures)...

visiting me during college

college graduation (my grandmother and sister are on the left)

my wedding

my graduation from grad school

.

on a trip to Greece last fall, my husband and I brought our moms...

my mother-in-law, who I'm also very thankful for, as she is such a wonderful person

(and raised a wonderful son I might add)

 Thank you!

Lastly, I had to throw in this video because it is just too hilarious!! Skip over the little kids fighting intro if you want and watch the rest.