An Ode to Mom

I'm always so daunted by Mother's Day. How do you begin to thank the person who literally brought you into this world? I mean if she did NOTHING else for you - who else (divine beings aside) has done something like that for you? I've not been pregnant, but from what I've heard, it's no easy feat. Then there's that whole raising a child thing. Nbd.

That said, I would like to try, though it be inadequate, cheesy, and a bit braggy (it's socially acceptable to boast about one's mother, correct?), to describe why my mom is the best mom:

She loves everyone. 

Like EVERYone. It's impressive. You show me someone who would drive anyone else absolutely nuts, and my mom will be able to find no less than five redeeming qualities in that same person. I'm willing to bet on it.

She's the best cheerleader. 
Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders listen up - you could learn a few things from this lady (plus she's hotter than all y'all). Every time I have a new idea, a new direction I want to go with my life, a new business I want to start, a new spiritual path I've decided to take, she's like, "I think you should go for it." She's always encouraging me. Believing in me. I could tell her I'm running for president of the United States, and she'd get out her computer and start making campaign posters. 

She feels my pain. 

From scraped knees to broken hearts and lost dreams - she hurts when I'm hurting; she cries when I'm crying. She can't take the pain away (though I know she wishes with all her heart she could), but she can take me in her arms and do that soothing thing that she's so good at. Man she's good at that soothing thing. 

She's steady.

Like a rock. I've seen this woman go through some really tough stuff. And I'm sure I don't even know the half of it. But I've never, not once, seen her faith waiver. I've never once seen her lose her hope. I'm over here losing hope all the time like no one's business, but that's just not her style. It gives me hope that maybe someday I can have hope like she does.

She's just so dang fun.

I'm going to repost a video at the risk of getting in trouble, but I think it's worth it. I can only get in so much trouble now that I'm an adult, right?

See that? Not every mom can get down like that. She's a zip-lining, adventure-loving, late-night-chatting, expert-shopping, down-for-whatever kind of mom. She's not only my mom, she's my best friend. And one that I just can't get enough of.

So. That's my attempt. Thank you, Mom, for being my mom. I wouldn't have it any other way.

For Grandpa

Our Angelita

Phoenix: a mythical bird of great beauty fabled to live 500 or 600 years in the Arabian wilderness, to burn itself on a funeral pyre, and to rise from its ashes in the freshness of youth and live through another cycle of years: often an emblem of immortality or of reborn idealism or hope.

I can't pretend that finding out Audrey was coming into the world wasn't one of the most painful and difficult things that has happened to my family. I can say that during that time we definitely went through hell and back; and a WHOLE lot of humiliation (as in, the process of being humbled). There was not a member of our family that was spared some heartache. It felt like a mourning process--a kind of funeral service for hopes and dreams. There were some deep wounds that I wondered if would ever be healed.

But a miracle has truly transpired. Who would have known that after all that, we would be sent a beautiful angel? I am seriously weeping as I write this, because she is the most perfect angel I have ever seen. A touch of her tiny finger has healed rifts that were, to all appearances, beyond repair. The thread of love has begun to mend the tattered edges of our hope. In her was born a new life... not just her own, but for our family. And I can already tell she will be an integral part of it.

Thank you, Audrey.