I MISS MY MOMMY!!!

This Sunday is my mom's 75th birthday. It also falls on Mother's day as it does many years. Lucky for me I get to combine shopping and shipping. She lives in Northern California and I certainly do not see her enough. Every year is a challenge to figure out what to get her. She has pretty much everything she needs. I can't do gift cards. Not for her. It just doesn't feel right.
This year I opted for a gift basket from Cox Honeyland. It was a nice variety of some Cache Valley goodies. I know what you are thinking. "WTH? IT'S HER 75TH BIRTHDAY AND THAT'S THE BEST YOU CAN COME UP WITH??" I confess, I'm a TERRIBLE daughter. I didn't even realize it was her 75th birthday until yesterday. When she told me. My mom will probably never read this. Although we gave her a laptop last year, I'm positive it's sitting somewhere in her house collecting dust. She's afraid of the internet. It's the devil. I still feel the need to post my deepest gratitude for her. I was a terrible teenager and I'm surprised she even survived me. Since I came late in her life (an oops there's a hole in the condom late) she got the pleasure to have a rebellious teenage girl from hell whilst moving, quitting smoking, going through menopause and a mid-life crisis. She is definitely the strongest woman I know.
Before she met my dad she was married to an abusive alcoholic. She courageously left him to become a single mom of 3. She was self employed seamstress so she did not have a kush sit down job. She literally worked her fingers to the bone. She stood for long hours every day. She bought her first house on her own with cash. She did whatever possible to make sure her kids were taken care of. She went without so her kids didn't. She suffered. She earned every bit of everything she's ever had. She is one tough broad. I (like many) never truly appreciated my mother until I had my own kids. I wish I lived closer to her. Things you don't think about when taking off on a whim and moving 2 states away. I wish my kids knew her better. I wish I could sit and have coffee with her. Go to lunch and listen to her stories. Bowl once a week with her. Go for a walk together. ANYTHING to spend more precious time with her.
I hope all you moms out there a very happy Mother's Day and hopefully your children will appreciate you for everything you do for them. And if your mom is still alive make sure to treasure her while you can. We will never have another! They do so very much for us.