My mom turns 50 this weekend and it hit me that she is getting older. I know that may sound silly, but when you’re younger the thought that your parents are getting older never really crosses your mind.

Their birthday is just another reminder to buy a gift and a card to write some sweet sentiments on.

And to be honest, the sad (and somewhat morbid) thought crossed my mind that my mom (and dad) won’t always be on this earth when her birthday comes around each year. All of the sudden, I start to tear up because a lot of the reason I am who I am, the woman I’ve become, the fact that I’ve simply made it through my day, was because of HER.

How would I ever manage to live life to its fullest without her in it?

So if tomorrow never came, here is what I would want her to know:

For birthing me (that’s a big one!)

For all the recitals and plays.

For all the times you let me sleep in your bed when you could’ve turned me away.

For teaching me about Jesus and taking me to church

For all the Publix runs and volleyball tournaments

For all the advice you gave me (some wanted, some not haha!)

For all the times you just let me cry and even for the correction you gave

For wrapping your arms around me when my heart was broken

For holding my hand at my first ultra sound

For cutting my sons umbilical cord

For all the laughter and all the tears

For all the long walks

For guiding me as a new mother that first year

For loving my daddy and showing me what it means to be a “good” woman

For just being there

For loving me, even when I wasn’t easy to love

For all your imperfections and imperfect moments

For your strength when I wasn’t

For showing me what a Mother’s love IS

I never knew how you did it all, how you loved me so unconditionally. I never knew why you sacrificed so much for what seemed so little in return. I never truly knew your love for me until I had my own child and then it all made sense.

No matter how old I get, you will always picture me as that baby being placed in your arms. From that moment you have loved me unconditionally and would move heaven and earth if it meant my happiness. You gave me everything when you gave me your love.

If tomorrow never came, I hope a piece of you would always be in me and when others saw me they would say, “You remind me so much of your mother.”

And of all the things you gave me, that would be the greatest of them all.

 I love you momma, always your baby girl.

With love, B