Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful women out there who deserve celebration today!  To me, that includes moms, grandmas, great-grandmas, aunts, and dear friends; I have been lucky enough to have several special women in my life who love me and inspire me on a regular basis.  I could write an awkwardly long list of women deserving of extra hugs and kisses today; I have fabulous friends who are like sisters to me, a sister-in-law I am lucky enough to call family, and amazing aunts and cousins.  I am blessed to share my life with these women, and I am so thankful that my children are getting to know them as well.

Happy Mother's Day to Sue, my mother-in-law.  Thank you for raising such a wonderful, caring man.  I appreciate that Ryan wouldn't be the man he is today if it wasn't for his mom!

Happy Mother's Day to Grandma Rose.  Thank you for sharing your jewelry, your make-up, and your good taste with me.  (She even let me paint her nails!)  Grandma Rose showed me that women can be self-reliant, that costume jewelry can be beautiful and that inherited jewelry is precious not for its value but for its memories.  She also once  told me you should sleep on satin pillowcases to help with wrinkles; maybe I should start thinking about doing that!

Happy Mother's Day to Nan.  Thank you for your hugs and kisses.  You are the picture of a grandmother: baking and comforting and cooking and loving shoes!  Nan will always listen and bring sunshine into your life.  I went to journalism camp at Columbia in New York City when I was sixteen.  I was alone in "my" dorm room and terrified, and my mom suggested I call Nan.  She talked to me for an endless amount of time, telling me stories, updating me about family, and just making me feel like the world wasn't so insurmountable.

Happy Mother's Day to Grandma Pat.  Thank you for welcoming me into your family with open arms.  Ryan has shared so many happy memories from his childhood that include you.

Most of all, Happy Mother's Day to my Mom.  There isn't enough water in the oceans to express the things for which I should thank you.  Thank you for teaching me strength and grace.  Thank you for showing me unconditional love and for showing that same love to my children.  Most importantly, thank you for teaching me and loving me even when I didn't seem particularly teachable or loveable.  You are the best mom in the world and an inspiration to me as I tread down my own path of motherhood.

Of course, I can't pass up an opportunity to talk about the kiddos, so Happy Mother's Day (in a way) to them.  Without them, after all, I wouldn't be a mother.  And without being a mommy, I wouldn't have scored a fantastic spa gift certficate from Ryan Abbey and Dylan today!  I love my family :)