Why do we honor Mother's day? Celebrate our Moms one day a year? Thank them, love them, hug them, give verbal affirmations. Remind them that you notice all of the little meaningful things they do for you? Honoring Mom on mothers day can be a special occasion to set aside time to think and reflect on our relationship with our moms. Today I was challenge to write about what I appreciate about my Mom. Trust me, I could list a thousand easy things. Where to start is the hardest part. I will go where I go naturally. Love. She started with love for me (even though I was an unhappy cholic-y baby who about caused her to lose all of her hair!) She continued to love me, when I made messes, bad choices or said mean words, (and when I tried to drag my new baby brother around by his neck), that too! She loved me when I bossed her around and told her how to do this or that the right way. She loved me when I wore her shoes and broke the heels, or tore her pantyhose. She even loved me when I wore her bright red lipstick to Kindergarten and lost an earring that was precious to her. She loved me when I was sick with ear infections and allergies, loved me to the doctor and back. She loved me through childhood illnesses, pre-teen 'tudes, and a life-threatening surgery to correct dramatic scoliosis curves. She loved me in a body cast, through gastritis illlnesses, and through the unsavory jr. high years. She was my friend when friends were hard to come by. She loved me by encouraging me to look at the bright side. She loved me by pointing out my strengths and blessings and all that I had to be thankful for. She loved me through cheer tryouts (when I had to sleep on squishy pink hair rollers), through zillions of social commitments through church and young life and school activities. She loved me by having snacks and fun things to do at our house, so it was the place where my friends and I wanted to hang out. She loved my while taking me to t-p the house of a "friend" from school. She loved me by being fun and having fun with us! She loved my by working hard, keeping the home, making yummy foods, getting us to church, helping with homework, tucking us in to bed. Waking up early to get us to before-school activities, planning ahead for us to have good days, weeks, summers, etc. She loved me by telling me the truth. Showing me how to be a good friend. Walking with Jesus and leaning on Him in good times and in bad times. Praying for us, with us. She studied her Bible, by herself and with ladies Bible studies. She stayed committed to my dad, showing him respect and modeling faithfulness. She worked hard. In and out of the home. She supported me through my first crushes, then first boyfriend, and was there to be my shoulder to cry on when I had my first broken heart. She let me go. She loved me and let me go off to college. She cried (but she didn't show me). She helped me adjust to being far from home, gave me a soft spot to come back to, then sent me off again, with all the hope she could share, to go into the world and continue to become the woman that God created me to be! She was praying for that calling, that vision and that dream, for me to be Who God would use for His Kingdom and Glory! She loved me through college work, flip-flop friendships, more crushes, a semester abroad to England, and meeting the love of my life. She supported my crazy intuition that I would marry this guy (after only being on one date with him), and she always encouraged me to be the godly wife that I want to be. She loved me by sewing me a pretty dress for our engagement pictures (just like she had made my prom dress), and she helped by making my engagement a special happy celebrating time. She blessed me on my wedding day, and was full of love when I returned from my honeymoon. She called and visited and was always available to help or answer a question (the same one I have asked a thousand times; How do you make hard-boiled eggs???). She was there for me when I miscarried our first baby. She was there when I went for the ultrasound for baby #2, finding out we were expecting a GIRL!!! She loved me through 3 pregnancies (that's hard) and births, and has been a loving grandmother to all 3 of my beautiful kids. She has loved me through seasons of busy little kids, ministry commitments, personal development, deciding to Homeschool, and vairious other hair-brained (but fun) ideas over the past 15 years. She loves me today by coming over and spending time with me. Enjoying each others company. Laughing, talking, eating, shopping, driving, watching baseball games or spending time with the family. She is the fruits of the spirit, walking on two legs. Mrs. love, joy, peace, patient, kindness, gentleness, goodness and self control. She shares God's love with me and my family and continues to seek Jesus and grow in her faith, even as she has gotten along in years. She makes life fun but laughing a lot and choosing to do fun things. She loves my by encouraging me to do my best at whatever God has called me to do right now. She builds me up to be the best Mom that I can be now in the season of life that I am in. She is an intricate part of my life and she loves me every day. I love you, MOM! Thank you for all the love you are to me!