My "Mother's Day"

Today is my Mother's Day. Which I can officially acknowledge at 10:15 p.m. to mark 28 years since I brought our brown-eyed bandit into the world. Yes, 28 years! Next year will be terribly awkward since we'll both be 29 and I already have twin. Hmmm.

When my oldest sister (whom my "real twin" and I call our "upstairs mother") sent me the above image today, I had to cry. 

It's one thing to love your child and celebrate his existence. But it's a whole new level of pride when you can look at your adult child and realize you did good raising him. I mean we have to take SOME credit, right?

Despite his serious "Thinker" pose above prepping to be the narrator in a grade school play, he has the best sense of humor. A perfect combo of (yes both of us, LOL) his parents' quick wit, clever turns of phrase, and of course, sarcasm.

I love his courage to get a passport and study abroad. Not knowing anyone! But finding a career focus after graduation to work for a company that provides this same opportunity for others like him.

I beam with pride when I hear how much he does for others. His girlfriend's family cannot say enough good things about what he does for them – from physical labor to helping care for people and animals. I'm most proud of you for that, Carter. You have such a big, generous heart. 

You have such compassion. Even at 8 years old you'd be corralling wayward shopping carts in the Walmart parking lot with a "Mom, why can't people just put them where they belong? It takes like 5 seconds!" 😁

And I'll cry typing this... throughout your childhood (even in the sometimes surly teen years), every time I called my mom, you were willing to talk first with a "Hi, Grandma. How's it going?" She just thought you were so kind, smart, funny, and exceptional.

I'm biased. But I agree. 

Thanks for making my "Mother's Day" my best day! 💜