You are the steadfast rock through our family. I think that you have many people to thank who taught you or gave you that kind of strength; your father’s strong lecture about not “making a fuss” by crying at a funeral, or the “keep on going through the motions” attitude of your mother. Through-out all tests of your patience, faith, hope and love, you held strong and prevailed. It wasn’t always easy but you should be proud to know that you always took the high road and held strong with grace.
It’s on your birthday that I think about all the many reasons that I am so thankful to have you as a Mother. I can’t remember how many countless nights you stayed up helping me finish a paper, history project, or book report. Till 2am making a complete model of the solar system made entirely out of nothing but my favorite thing, candy. I can also remember all the many times you let me help bake cookies or cakes and goodies with you. I’m sure that contributed to the GREAT cooking skills I have today. The ridiculous amount of times I forgot my clarinet. You had to make an extra trip to go home and bring it back to me. I still call you frequently to seek your approval or opinion on the current events in my life. No matter how many times I fell or stumbled along my path you were always there for me.
Even through my experimentation with drugs. Which lead to all the endless rides, driving me everywhere for treatment or doctor’s visits. All while you were getting a 4.0 in graduate school in Berkeley, going through a divorce and let’s also not forget taking care of your other two teenagers. I take my proverbial hat off to you. I know that being a daughter, mother, scholar, teacher and mentor have all been thanks enough. But I would like to again thank you for all your love and support throughout my 27 years! You are truly appreciated and loved!
~Audra
Mom
As a shepherd you've watched over us
even when we're out of sight.
Your staff corralled our path and kept it true
even as we decided to stray.
As Lambs you nursed us with utmost care
and did not stop after we had weaned.
As adults you stayed by our side
even as we had left yours.
You are a shepherd among shepherds
and for that I must say,
You are a wonderful mother and have a happy birthday!
~Jake
Mom,
I will never be able to repay you for all the late night scares I caused you when I didn't call to check in. I will never be able to prepay you for the all the times you spoiled me with lunch after school. I will never be able to repay you for the all basic necessities you provide me with like the roof over my head or the clothes on my back. I will never be able to repay you for all the motherly advice you give me when I have come to another wall on my journey to independent adulthood.
But I will try to show you how much you mean to me through the years.
I will try to check in with you when I have moved out on my own and am engulfed in my new career. I will try to take care of you to the best of my ability when you no longer can. I will try to remind you of all the good memories of raising us kids. I will try to remember that you are not just my mom but you are a strong, fun, and driven human being.
Happy Birthday Mom!
I'm so glad that our journey to SoCal has given us a great life and that we had a place to form a close bond as mother and daughter. I will cherish the years we spent together in the Cameron Ct house and I can’t wait to embark on a new journey with you to Pasadena. You deserve to spend the next chapter in your life around the places you love and new and exciting things await you.
Love,
Leah
