Dear Mom,

I cannot tell you how many times I have sat down to write this, only to stare at a blank screen for what seems like hours. I am so afraid that I will not do you justice by writing this post.

You are my hero.

I love you so much. I value you as a mother, and as the years have gone by, a cherished friend. You have been with me through better or worse, and in sickness or heath. Your unwavering support of me, no matter what, has left me feeling so blessed.

How do I begin to tell you how much you mean to me? Where do I start?

I am a wife and a mother of two beautiful children. But I am also a daughter of one of the most loving, kind, compassionate, caring women that I have ever met. Your children always came first in your life, and since I have had children, I realize just how much you sacrificed for all of us.

You quit work to take care of your mother, and then your mother-in-law when they needed full-time care. You taught me the meaning of family, and just how important they are. Through thick and through thin, your family is always there for you, even when you screw up big time. Like me.

You are my hero.

You never gave up on me. Ever. Even when I was in my typical teenaged, young 20's know-it-all stage. You know what I'm referring to. The time when my parents knew absolutely nothing and they didn't understand me or what I was going through. Typical angst of a young adult that I imagine drives most parents crazy.

The thing is, and I wouldn't admit it to you when I was younger, I always knew I could count on you to back me up. To pick me up when I fell flat on my face, and dust my clothes off, pointing me in the right direction. I never figured out how you did it, and do it, but you always made me, and make me, feel so much better about myself. You were my safety net. It allowed me to explore life, always confident that if I messed it up, you would be there.

You are my hero.

There are too many memories to write about in just one post. I remember the very first time I made a batch of cookies from scratch, and how I kept coming over to the family room where you were laying on the couch reading, asking you advice. Do you realize how important that made me feel? To this day, I remember that fondly.

I remember how you were there for the birth of Melie No. I can still feel your hands rubbing my feet when the contractions hit. I can still sense your presence near my head, rubbing my hair and my scalp, your voice enabling me to remain calm.

Do you remember my blue and white down vest, back when they were popular? And how, one time, when you washed it you found a bag of marijuana and a pipe in the pocket? And when I came home from school I found my freshly washed vest, with the baggie and the pipe laying on top of it, as well as and article on the dangers of marijuana by its side. You see, you instinctively knew that confronting me would make me run the other direction. You have no idea how that positively affected my life.

I could go on, but then I would need to write a book. This is only the tip of the iceberg.

Mom! I did it! I have two beautiful girls and my one wish is to raise them like you raised me. With complete and unconditional love. I know they will unintentionally hurt me, like I did you, but I also know, that showing them how I am always there for them and never giving up, will help them realized that Mom is not so dumb after all. And that she is someone they can count on.

Again, my words do no justice in expressing my love for you.

Just know this. I love you and I always will.

Thank you.