As I was quickly wrapping these up last night to give to my mom today it struck me that every single positive attribute I might have I got from her...
If I can come up with a great plan or thoughtful gift it's because spent so many years watching her get just the right thing or come up with an amazing idea...that I was fortunate to benefit from many times...and I still often times recycle her party planning and gifts ideas since they're so good.
If I can cook a picnic's worth of food today it's because I learned from her that cooking is easy and worth it...to have the confidence to not need measurements and finally understand that sometimes you need just a little bit and sometimes you need a "fair amount"...her words that used to scare me when I asked her how she made her potato salad or turkey gravy.
If I can be creative and make anything at all it's because I naturally inherited her love for trying different crafts and dreaming of art journals and searching out great stationery and good pens long before scrapbooking ever came about.
If I have any sense of humor whatsoever it's because I grew up around her quick wit, teasing, and love for other people who she could really joke around with.
If I can put together an eclectic i-pod play-list of some of her favorite songs to listen to on our picnic today it's because her love for music is contagious...we grew up listening to everything and being surrounded in the car and at home with music...and being indulged as teenagers when she would help us establish our own music collections with everything from hard rock to show tunes.
If I can be organized and get stuff done it's because I watched her write endless lists, make productive phone calls, clean really well, and realize how content you are when you've spent a day accomplishing a lot.
If I have any amount of strength I can pull on when I need it it's because I had a mom who raised three kids by herself with fairly constant sources of stress around her...I honestly don't know how she did it...but I saw that life always went on and there was always fun and happiness that she made happen.
If I'm ever enthusiastic or passionate about anything it's because I've been raised by a mom that has it in endless supply...she really enjoys life...she loves people...she has countless interests...and she always wants to learn more.
If I can love unconditionally for even a minute it's because I have a mom who is the truest form of unconditional love there is...she is a fiercely protective and amazingly forgiving...and I have been beyond blessed to be one of her kids.
