The kids and I wanted to wish her a happy birthday by listing the 36 (we lost count actually) things we love about her. I tried to keep their original words, I think it helps her hear their voices when she reads this love letter from her family. So let's begin.
Fone's list of reasons that he loves you:
- Your smile
- Your hugs
- Your Chili
- Your kisses
- Your laughs
- Your snuggles
- The way you teach school
- Your motherly compassion
- Your care
Mario's list
- Your love that you show for us
- How happy you always are
- How good you are at teaching school
- The good food you always make
- When you read to us
- When we play games with you
- How forgiving you are
- When you let us stay up
- How good you are with babies and easily calming them down
Melody and Ariel worked together on their list:
- Your loving hugs
- Your snuggles
- Your smile
- You taking Ariel to St. Louis
- You taking us to Disney
- Your love
- You homeschooling us
- Your delicious home-made bread YUM!
- Your yummy soups
- You being our mom!
Max and Pookie's list:
- Max: Your snuggles
- Pookie: Your good food
- Both: When you sing songs to us at bedtime
- Both: Your kisses and hugs
- Max: You take me to Tae Kwon Do
- Max: You teach me
- Pookie: You love me and I love you
- Max: You clean my glasses for me
- Pookie: You let us eat outside sometimes
- Max: You let me play LEGOs
- Both: You let us do our privileges
- Pookie: You gave me Max
- Max: Yeah! You gave us our whole family!
Those last two brought tears to my eyes...
I asked Rose if she had any to add, but she just yelled MAMA!! over and over again at the top of her lungs because you weren't home...I think she loves you :-)
From me, your groom:
- Your self-giving love.
- Your smile
- Your organizational skills
- Your ability to calm fussy babies (funny that Mario also thought this)
- The joy with which you approach everything
- Your unfailing faith
- Your dedication to your family
- Your hugs
- Your willingness to help those around you
- Your ability to look outside of yourself and our immediate family to recognize when we should reach out with love
- The passion that drives you
- Your ability to put up with me :-)
- The beautiful family you have given me
- The direction you have helped to give me in life
There are countless other reasons why we love you dear, but this is just a few items we chose to share. We love you and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
We are blessed to have such a strong yet gentle woman in our lives. I pray that the Lord blesses you in the coming year.
Love,
Neil and the kids