HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM

Mom: Now that you're turning 55 (wink, wink) I'd like to thank you for the following:

1. Putting up with me throwing up over the side of the bed when I was little because I was too lazy to get up and go to the bathroom
2. Middle of the night calls because we somehow believe that you'd rather help us resolve our concerns than be sleeping at 2:00 in the morning
3. Not being agitated every morning after a night of Dad's snoring
4. Four missionary farewells, months of care packages, and you and dad both loving the people we served because you love us
5. Calling us regularly to check up on us and make sure we're okay
6. Making Christmas such a phenomonal time of the year
7. Taking your role as a grandmother so seriously
8. Forcing us to do things, like practicing the piano at 5:30 in the morning every day, that we would one day appreciate, but were ademate about not appreciating at the time
9. Acting as though you like Jack the Dog, even though whenever he jumps onto your lap I'm sure you're screaming in your head for him to get off of you
10. Not getting offended when we return the clothes that you buy for us every once in a while, even though you think they're cute
11. Being so generous and kind to our friends and others who are important to us
12. Driving for hours to where we are living to help us move, go to college, bless babies, etc.
13. Making us meals every single day when we were growing up
14. Being there when we would get home at the end of a school day...even when we were old enough to not need you to be there, but really appreciated that you were
15. Always being aware of the needs of others around you - you are one of the most charitable people I've ever known
16. Still sending us packages in the mail for holidays, or just because you were thinking about us
17. Setting an example for all of us by loving the Lord and showing it in your actions, words, etc.
18. Not holding me accountable for having lost the diamond ring in your wedding set all those years ago (you'll think twice before you show something little and shiny to a small child and then tell them not to get into it)
19. Getting excited about vacations and trips, and then planning them for us
20. Putting up with all of our personalities, issues, opinions, ideas, and everything else that comes along with being a parent - WE LOVE YOU!!!!