Happy Mother's Day!

Mom,

Happy Mother's Day! I wish I had the perfect gift to give you, or could be there to share a large iced tea with you, or sit on the patio and enjoy the beauty of God's creation (and Daddy's hard yard work!). But, since I can't give you those things today, I wanted to share this with you instead.

Thank you for being my Mom.

Thank you for staying at home with Jeff and me, sacrificing and working hard to stay in the black while still giving us so many experiences and opportunities. I will always remember "Kid's Day" when we got to go and pick out fun fruit at the grocery store-it was so simple but so fun!

Thank you for taking me to church, for teaching me about Jesus and modeling a relationship with Him.

Thank you for singing to me and praying with me every night before bed.

Thank you for making me countless beautiful dresses, tying ribbons in my hair, all the while showing me that true beauty comes from within. I know many women have body issues that are inherited from their mothers and I'm so blessed that I don't! You have always been so beautiful and have taken care of yourself without stressing over gray hairs or wrinkles. I have a healthy body image because of you and with God's help I will pass that on to Addie.

Thank you for teaching me to love learning. You were my first and best teacher and gave me a solid foundation to build on in my years of school.

Thank you for going back to work when the time came. I know that must have been such a hard thing to do! I'm so proud of what an amazing teacher you are and I love hearing people talk about the influence you have had in the lives of so many.

Thank you for making our home a safe place-a place that I could invite friends over for some cookie dough, a place where I could come home from college and rest and be completely taken care of, a place where even now when I walk in it just feels peaceful. It will always be HOME to me.

Thank you for loving Dad and being committed to your marriage. What an example your marriage has been to me!

Thank you for having high standards. Even though there were many times I didn't get to wear what I wanted to or I may not have been able to go where I wanted to, I know now that you were guarding my heart and helping me grow into the woman God created me to be.

Thank you for loving Keri and accepting him into our family. Your approval means so much to me.

Thank you for showing me how to be a loving mother. It's hard work and you did it so well! And thank you for all your over the phone advice, in person help, and constant prayers for me as I figure out motherhood!

Thank you for still being my Mommy even though I'm 31! Thank you for always having cookies in the freezer, cokes in the pantry, and planning meals that I love when we come to your house. Thank you for buying Keri "stinky chips" and Dublin DPs and Happy Cow milk for the kids. It makes us feel so special that you think of us and anticipate our arrival!

Thank you for loving Addie, Doak, and Brock. I love seeing them with you whether it be reading books, playing dungeon, or bath time! You're the best Cookie and the perfect grandmother for them!

Thank you for praying for me, supporting me, visiting me in various locations over the years, and loving me just how I need to be loved.

I love you!

Nat