happy birthday, mom!

Er, 56 days ago! It's the thought that counts, right? Sheesh. At least I didn't forget her birthday, just late on this blog post. Can I just say how blessed I am to have this woman in my life?

Three words come to mind when I think of my mother. Determined. Grateful. Laughter.

Determined. Is she ever! I definitely get my stubbornness determination from her! If someone tells her she can't do something, I'm not sure it even registers. She puts the "go" in go-getter. Or maybe it's the "get" or the "ter" she incorporates. Regardless, she goes and she gets (it done).

My mother has bad kidneys. Very bad. We're talking one that is completely not working and the other that is barely hanging on. About 9 years ago (or so) she entered the world of dialysis. Only she didn't like the idea of going to a clinic several times a week. So she sought out another option. I'm not sure that anyone was very positive when she started talking about Peritoneal Dialysis, which would allow her to do it from home. I know her doctor wasn't, at least. But she forged through. She did the research, decided she wanted to do it, and she did! It comes with it's risks, of course, and she has had a couple scary infections, but all in all I think she is very happy she went this route. It has allowed her to travel, to be with us for the births of both of my kids.

Grateful. My mom's mother died when my mom was just 19 years old. Her mom was 45. One thing I have heard my mom say over and over is how thankful she is to have lived this long. She's been saying it for years, ever since she herself passed the 45 year mark. She didn't think she would live to see me grow up, much less see me graduate from school, get married, have kids. She doesn't take her life for granted.

Laughter. My mom always tells me she wishes I could have known my Grandma and her infectious laugh. I never heard my grandma laugh, but I think her laugh lives on through my mom. She gets embarrassed when she hears herself laugh on a home video. She says it's loud. It may be loud, but I love it. Not only can I pick her out of a crowd sight unseen, but I know that wherever she is at that moment, she is happy.

There have been a few times (more often as I get older, it seems) where I will do or say something and the thought hits me, Oh my gosh, I am my mother! Like pretty much any teenager in high school, my ignorant, egotistical self would have balked at the thought. But not now. Since I have matured over the last 10+ years I have come to realize how blessed I am to have her in my life.

Her children rise up and call her blessed...~ Proverbs 31:28

Thank you, Mom. Thank you for striving to be the best Mother you could be. It worked. =) I love you.

Love, Susan
(MB)