While searching for some images of my mom and I together for this blog,  I realized she or I are the ones taking the photos and rarely do we get together for one. So I found these two, which I think say a lot about my mom. She is ALWAYS thinking about someone else’s needs before her own, be it her own 4 children, or her 8 grandchildren, or our huge family…if she has a free moment she doing something to please someone else.

Now that I am mother of both a daughter and a son, I have a new appreciation for all the things my mom has done for me. If you’re lucky enough to know her, you may recall some of these memories as well, and for those who have not….my mom is….

The best chocolate chip cookie maker ever, my friends use to asked for her cookies every time they came over: She has a baking skill I long for, she rarely measures and has recipes memorizes to many of her famous holiday treats. I am thankful she doesn’t get sick of my endless phone calls about how to make/bake something.

She knows how to take an ordinary event and make it extraordinary…..what I grew up thinking was normal, I’ve discovered not many mothers go above and beyond, wearing which costumes to my school and bring treats, dressing up as the prize patrol for a family function, or giving out silly prizes during the holidays just to remind her family they are special to her.

She has the most sound advice and willing to listen to my every rant or rave, offering her advice to any topic. We talk almost every other day (mostly because I need a recipe, or have to tell her what crazy thing Olivia did) but she never gets sick of my phone calls.

And most recently the best grandmother ever. She’s enjoyed being a grandmother for 16 years, but until 2009 I never saw the amazing acts of kindness like I do now. She has always offered to take her grand kids camping, or play games, or buy them something to enjoy, I think that’s why these two photos paint a great photo of who my mom is to me now….

The top photo is from a spring day in 2010 when My mom was taking Olivia for a walk, The second photo is an annual camping trip to Redwood Falls…while the family relaxes around the camp fire, my mom is doing everyone’s dishes in prep for the next meal.

THANK YOU MOM

for all you’ve done for me and my new little family. I treasure the years I spent growing up and learning from you.