Today is my mother's birthday

Today is my mother's birthday. Eight years ago she died so instead of turning 53 today she is forever 45.

To celebrate I cranked up the stereo in the living room and sang Delta Dawn, then I pulled on my old sweats and my moon boots, went to the gas station, bought a nice cold mountain dew and drove to the cemetery where I cleared the snow and ice from her headstone and made her a snow angel. As I ran back to the car, frozen and caked in snow I screamed Happy Birthday.

She was my best friend, she was funny and dorky and beautiful and she loved me more than I ever knew.

When she got sick she found a quote from Charles Swindoll that read 'I am convinced life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.' She lived it, made copies of it and passed it out at the cancer center and believed it to the very last. I had it printed on her headstone and now I finally really understand it.

Thanks Mama!
Happy Birthday!
I love you!