Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my lovely mother's birthday!  Today, we celebrate how much we love you mom; but, I hope you know that I am thankful every day that I have you for a mom.  You are such a good example of the kind of wife and mother I want to be for Brett and our future children.

When I was a teenager, I thought that I was destined to end up in the city as soon as I was done high school.  Now that I am back close to home, I honestly can't imagine not spending the rest of my life just 30 minutes away from Mom's house.

I thought that when I grew up and got married, I wouldn't need her guidance.  But what I am learning, is I am relying on her even more now.  Yes, Brett is my partner and best friend - but you just can't replace a mother's touch or comfort when you are sad or worried.  And you can't beat mom telling you how proud she is of you when you've had a success.

My whole life, I never had to worry that she would love me any less, or judge me for a mistake.  I knew that she loved me unconditionally and no matter what.  I think that is a big part of why we have always been so close.  I can only pray to be able to create the relationship with my future kids that she did with my sister and I.

Mom, you are the strongest woman I know - and I am so proud to say I am your daughter.

I quoted a verse from "So God Made a Farmer" here.  I recently read a different version by Brandi from the blog Lipstick and Tractors.  You can read the whole thing here.  I feel like these verses explain Mom perfectly, and it is these things that make me so proud of her.

God said: I need somebody strong enough to clean out bins and heave bales, yet gentle enough to raise kids and bottle feed calves and tend to the house, who will drive the tractor and pray to God about the weather.  It had to be somebody who'd be able to handle the house and field work and not cut corners.  Somebody to seed, weed, feed, wash and dry, cook and clean, remember scheduled events... and finish a hard weeks work with a five-mile drive to church.

Somebody who'd bale a family together with the soft strong bonds of sharing, who would laugh and sigh, and then reply, with smiling eyes, when her daughter says she wants to spend her life "doing what mom does".

So God made a farmer's wife.

I don't know what we would all do without you Mom.  We love you so much, happy birthday!