It's true. Notice I didn't say 'no one loves you more than your mother', because that just isn't true. But no one can love you the way your Mother does.
As small children, it doesn't take us long to figure out who makes it better when we fall down, or who to go to when we have secrets to tell. When we get a little older, it's our moms who know to ask the important questions; like if our dates were fun, or if we stayed true to the things we've been taught. It's our moms who are there for answers to the tough questions, too. 'Why do I have to go through this now', 'why do trials last so long'. Even from thousands of miles away, the sound of a mom's voice makes everything seem a little better.
As I became an adult, I began to realize how special a mother's relationship is with her children as I saw how she treated my children. Lately, this is what I miss the most. I miss that my kids don't have their special time with their Nunn.
The great thing about having a mom as special as mine is that even more than a year after her passing, I still feel close to her, and I still strive to make her proud in how I conduct myself. Just like those little talks at her bedside, after having to wake her up by tickling the foot she inevitably had sticking out of the covers, I still feel that she has expectations for all of us. Every day I try to exceed those expectations because I know that no one loves me like my mother does.
As another Birthday passes, know this mommy; we all still miss you like crazy. We are stronger kids than even a year ago, anchored in the values you taught us by your example. We still cry when we gather to honor your memory, and I hope we always do. The world is still not quite as bright a place as it was with you in it. We love you. Happy Birthday, Mommy.
