Blessing #10--My Mom

Updated with pictures as of 8/24/08 I am unbelievably blessed to have the mom that I have. She isn't just my mom. She truly is one of my best, most trusted friends. She is understanding and most of the time, she makes a lot of sense and provides solid advice. Except for the time that she told me I should wear the Espirit cherries jumper outfit that she got me for my seventh grade pictures and everyone made fun of me. :)

She is a confidant and a friend.... my mom and my example. Much of what she exemplifies, I wish to duplicate in my own life. I don't know how she balances all the things she does, but she does so with grace and beauty. Not only did my mom do almost all the legwork for my wedding (cuz I was in another state), but she also blessed me by agreeing to sing in my wedding, too.

I've often wondered how she managed to be a role model and an authority figure, but still end up being my friend, too. I have told people for years that one of my greatest desires is that my kids will want to be my friend when they are grown. I want that because I have it with my mom. And, I am extremely blessed because of it.

At one of my baby showers

My mom and I have so many wonderful memories. One time, we went to a beauty college to get pedicures. My pedicurist did an okay job, but the green-haired guy who was painting her entire toes and talking about his library of unitarian beliefs books was just a bit too much for us. We sat there, next to one another, looking straight ahead. We dared not look at each other, lest we burst out in uncontrollable laughter. When the torture was over, my mom had toenail polish all over her toes and it didn't even cover the entirety of her toenails. It was so bad that it was comical. We got out to the parking lot, after the whole ordeal, and we were both doubled over on the ground laughing. Uncontrollably laughing as people walked by us. So many times, we have gotten tickled by something and have been unable to stop laughing for a very long time.

Having fun at a friend's tea party

We know each other really well. I can follow her from one thought to another without there being any clear transition between the two. Recently, my mom started to tell me some difficult news and before she even got half of her sentence out, I knew what she was going to say. Random how that connection happens...but we definitely have it.

There is nobody I'd rather shop with than my mom. We just get each other. I never have to worry about whether she is getting bored or is wanting to go home already. We just know how to coordinate our shopping adventures to suit us both.

We enjoy traveling together, too. I remember on one of our Christmas Bed and Breakfast trips, we rushed back to the B&B, interupting our shopping bonanza, to make sure we were there to enjoy their highly tauted "afternoon hors d'oeuvres", only to arrive and find celery sticks and water!! On another of our Christmas trips, my mom highlighted my hair with a home highlighting kit. I ended up looking like a platinum blonde cheetah with orange stripes. Ay yay yay! Yes, there are pictures. Unfortunately, I don't have them with me.

There are way too many memories for me to share them all. But, I cherish each of them and always look forward to making more when we are together. Of course, we see each other more often since she is the grandmother to my precious boy.

When Toad was just a week old

When Toad was a few months old

She is an amazing Grandma and loves my son with every ounce of who she is. She spoils him...like when she let him have a Sees Candies sucker when she was babysitting him. He ended up with it all over his face. And, what did my mom do? She sent me a text message picture saying "Having a sweet time". Happy birthday season to you, too, MOM!