To the most AMAZING woman I know...

Dear Mom,
You are the greatest, most loving, most beautiful woman I know, and I am honored to be your daughter. You have been and continue to be the true definition of a "woman" for me, Meghan, and now your granddaughters: beautiful inside and out, faithful, strong, confident, loving, kind, hard-working, independent, God-fearing, loyal, giving, unselfish, honest... The list could go on and on...

Thank you for loving me and supporting me unconditionally. Thank you for being proud of me for my accomplishments and standing by me when I make mistakes. Thank you for being my biggest fan even when I am wrong. Thank you for giving me your eyes and your beauty. Thank you for teaching me by example that a woman is able to be strong and depend on herself even when it feels like the whole world is against her. Thank you for passing down to me your love for traveling and your passion for meeting new people and turning your dreams into reality. Thank you for molding Meghan and me into strong women who are confident in all that we do and only learn and grow from our "falls." Thank you for raising me to love and trust in my God, and thank you for living your Christian life by example for your children. Thank you for being my hero. Thank you for my brother. Thank you for my sister. Thank you for the love, praise, hugs, and kisses that were more than plentiful at our home. Thank you for the traditions that we have and for the love that still exists between the "five of us." :) You were and still are the mold that holds us together. Thank you for loving our dad unconditionally and for teaching us the true meaning of love through your relationship with him. You taught us how to love, laugh, desire, achieve, believe, adventure, learn, ask, explore, trust, forgive, support, and stay true to ourselves no matter what obstacles may come our way... And for everything else, thank you!!!

I am so proud to be your daughter. I am even more honored to be so much like you. I only want to make you proud always. I love you more than I can ever describe with words, but for as long as I am able, I will try my hardest to tell you. Happy Birthday, mom.