Dear Mama

We were driving to Artic Circle for lunch on this sunny day, in Dad's little white dusty truck.

No back seats.

Just the 3 of us right up front.

While many beautiful memories of you have stuck with me, this one is one of my favorites. I'm 98% positive that you don't remember it, but I do... and that's what matters.

Dad asked what you wanted for mothers day, I don't remember your response but I'm pretty sure your selfless self said something like: "Ohh, I don't need anything, maybe we could just go out to lunch."

Sitting middle seat, sipping on Dad's blue mug I looked up at you and asked: 'What is mother's day?'

"It's a day to celebrate all the mommies in the world."

My 5 year old selfishness replied: 'What about kid's day? Do we get those?'

You looked down at me, put your arm around me and said: "Of course you do, Kimi!! Every day is your day."

At that moment I didn't understand how much that sentence would affect me now... 17 years later.

That story speaks so highly of my mom. It shows her charitable heart, her selflessness, her love, her concern, and the fact that everyone comes first before her. I was only 5, but I remember so vividly because it showed me that she wouldn't forget about me on HER day.

I want to list a few things of why I appreciate my mom. (Don't cry mom. haha)

• She carried me 3 extra weeks in her tummy. No easy task when you're as skinny as a pencil and living on an Island. Thanks mom! 
  
• She built me my very own, Barbie house. Who needs a handy man when you have a handy mom? She's rad. (Still have it too.)
• Trudging through the snow yearly to get me to my swim lessons probably wasn't the funnest, but you did it because I loved it. All of that paid off with the high school swim team and the fact that I lettered. I owe it all to you. 
  
• Making me countless tuna fish sandwiches, with that extra pickle on the side... Still trying to master the way you made me lunch. I'm convinced mine will never be as good as yours. *give me knuckles* 
  
• Hanging out on that little blue backpack carrier when you mowed Grandpa and Grandma Precious' lawn, I can still smell the freshly cut grass and remember the hard work, bounce of your steps you took. Are you superwoman or something? 
  
• Sacrificing your youth to take care of your siblings... Nothing says 'Mom' like that sacrifice.
• The trials in high school took a toll on me, never once did you judge, yell, or leave my side. Thank you for staying strong for me when I couldn't be. You saved me. 
  
• Thanks for letting me sleep in yours and dad's room til I was 12. I'm not even ashamed.
• You gave me a best friend, a partner in crime, another pea in my pod. Our family wouldn't be complete without our bean. 

• Does your mom lay tile, paint, sew, play softball, build shelves, mow lawns and still look like a total ten while doing it? My mom does. 
  
  
  
  Happy Mothers Day mama, I hope you had a great day. Thanks for being my mom and giving me life.
  
  
  xo. Reebs