Dedicated to my mom

It has been on my mind to dedicate a post to my mom and tonight as I was driving back to my apartment from class, I realized that I don't brag on my mom enough.

I would say that my mom and I are a funny pair. We always find something to put our hands to, she always has bundles of advice for me, and I pride myself in making her laugh about the random encounters with people that I have. We are different, yet I am no doubt her child and she is no doubt my mom.

One of the first memories that I have of the two of us and our excursions is waking up at the crack of dawn to take my brothers to Christian school (and before you home schoolers have a heart attack, my brothers went to Christian school for only one year before going back to being home schooled) and then stopping by the mall to go on, what seemed like, the longest walks of my life. If I recall, I was around 3 or 4 and even back then, I disliked early mornings. So my mom would be walking quite fast to get in her early morning exercise with a small child (being me) lagging behind her saying "mommy, I'm tired....I want to go home". Mom would tell me, "I'll give you orange juice at the end of our walk if you continue with me". Well I was obsessed with orange juice so I agreed with this for a couple weeks. But my mom had to eventually add the gift of a cinnamon roll to the orange juice, and then the merry-go-round to the orange juice and cinnamon roll to keep me walking. But together, we persevered and that has been our story through the years.

My mom has always been good at pushing me just a little out of my comfort zone. This has empowered me to have a voice of my own; to not be fearful to speak up, to do what is right, to believe in myself and the one who created me, and to stand up for what I believe to be true, even if I am the only one. She has also been immaculate at  demonstrating what it means to care for someone in need. I cannot tell you how many deathbeds she has been at, nurturing dear friends through reading the Bible, brushing their hair, fluffing their pillows, etc. I can tell you now that if you are able to have my mom as your confident, friend, and or sister, you have a warrior by your side. She will advocate for you above and beyond the call of duty. She will spend countess hours trying to find resources and people for you to connect with, she will bring joy and laughter to your life, and she will stand by you through thick and thin. I am thankful for her.

"Mom, I am very thankful for you. You dedicated your life to me. From the art lessons, to piano lessons, to soccer and volleyball practice, to driving me to work, to teaching me how to drive, to supporting me in my choices, to excepting me, for me, to loving me despite our disagreements, to intentionally sitting me down and reading through the Psalms many mornings in middle school, to praying in the car every time before leaving our garage, to sending me care packages, to visiting me across the country, to teaching me what it means to be a woman of God, to showing me how to love despite not being loved, to doing my hair, to buying me who knows how many things, to all the many prayers you have prayed, I am truly grateful. Know that I love you very much and forgive me for not always showing it well. Thank you for being my mom and not letting someone else raise me. I am eternally grateful. Your one and only blood daughter,
JGB"