Dear Mom...a Birthday Letter

Dear Mom,

It's hard to begin a letter to a woman so amazing.  How do I really capture the magnitude of the impact you have on everyone you meet?  Simply put, I can't.  You are my most favorite woman in the whole wide world and you always amaze me with the grace and kindness you show those around you.  The passionate love of Jesus seeps through your every pore so loudly that you don't even have to speak His name for people to know whom you serve.  I am never surprised at people's reactions when they find out I am your daughter... "Oh, I just love your mom!!" "You're so blessed to be Melanie's daughter!" "You're mom is so sweet!"  ...the list goes on.  Through my childhood you worked so hard to make sure all of your babies were very well taken care of and rarely sad or hurt.  You protected our hearts, our minds and our spirits, always pointing us towards the savior.  You often use the phrase "it's not taught, it's caught" and you live this out beautifully every single day, using actions to show love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.  You are my hero, mom.  I am so excited about the adventure of motherhood that I am about to begin and feel all the more prepared because of the example you have set.  I have often said, "if I can just be half the mom that my mom is, my kids will be set!"  I pray that I am able to pass along these same qualities to my children, just as you continually do.  Other moms are wonderful, no doubt, but no one is as great as you!  Thank you for everything you have done and continue to do for not just me, but everyone you meet.  BL, Max & I wish you the happiest of birthdays today, and a very blessed year ahead.  

With love,
Chrissi