🌹Happy Mother’s Day to the Best Mom Ever💘

Happy Mother’s Day, everyone!! It’s a very special day because, well, moms are incredibly special people, aren’t they? And, I may be a bit biased here, but I happen to think my own mom is pretty special herself.

Or, wait. Maybe that’s the biggest understatement of all time. Moms are special, but they’re also loving and kind and beautiful and extraordinary and inspiring and fearless and brave and brilliant. And so much more — the list just goes on and on! So how can we even come close to accurately capturing what our mothers mean to us? How can we articulate that mother/daughter bond that has become such a part of us.

Something tells me that we’re doing it all the time, not only on Mother’s Day. As much as today is about the big gestures and glam, flashy gifts, love and togetherness happen in those small, quiet moments. Playing a rousing game of Yahtzee. Trekking up to the gas station for a refreshing soda pop on a hot and humid day. Spending a leisurely evening watching favorite shows together.

For me, especially this year, love — and pride — has come in the form of me getting to take care of my mom. After her surgery in January, I told her (again and again…and again!) that I was going to take care of her. I wanted to take care of her just like she took care of me for all those years in the hospital and at home after my own surgeries. I also told her that no matter how much I do, it would never even hold a candle to everything she’s done for me over the years. She seemed to roll her eyes at that one and give me her classic “Oh, come on” line, but her mini protest didn’t stop me.

Because I’m never going to stop. I’m always going to want to take care of her. I’m always going to want to make her happy and make her smile and make her day a little brighter. After all, she’s done all those things for me and then some. I’m a better person because I have her for a mom. Trust me, I thank my lucky stars every single day for that. Was it fate that made the two of us mother and daughter? You all know I’m a very rational person, but in this case, I simply can’t discount fate’s powerful role.

Maybe it was also fate that had a hand in my Mother’s Day gift fe her. I wanted to get her something extra special this year, so a couple months ago, I sent a photo of my mom and Harry to an artist. I chose the shot from Harry’s big adventure at the apple orchard and the result is the above gorgeous illustration. Melissa Hiebert, the artist, sent me a preliminary sketch shortly after Harry died and it was then I realized that this illustration couldn’t have come at a better time.

So whether it’s a blessing or a curse, Ms. Bear, you’ve got me for life. Just like I’ve always had you. Thank you for the love, comfort and security. My love for you overflows. Thank you forever and ever.

And thank you to ALL the mother figures in our lives. Make sure you give yours a big hug today and tell her how she’s influenced who you are… xoxo