To My Mom :] Happy Birthday!!!

Alrighty Mom. First of all, Happy birthday! I am so bummed I can't be there to celebrate it with you...but hopefully this post will suffice! And Second, sorry for the delay of new posts! I am really busy! LOVE YOU AND I HOPE YOU HAVE THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!

Defining Moment: reading a tribute to my mom at Mother Daughter Senior Brunch. So here's another one!

Dear Mom, 

     I hope you know how much I love you, so we can get that out of the way first. I love you more than 10,000 bags of cheetos, crabcakes, senior year of high school, Mrs. Mill's chicken salad, my stuffed animal Sammy, the movie the sixth sense, the caribbean, Santa Barbara, the Britney Spears concert, Tom Petty songs, skydiving and anything in the entire world. What I am trying to say is that there is nothing in the entire world that comes close to how much I love you. Cool? Cool.

     You taught me when I was very young to follow my dreams. Whether it was a test grade I worked for, a volleyball team I wanted to play on or following my passion...you have always been my biggest supporter. You showed your ability to support every thing I dreamed for this past year. I remember one day vividly. I had enough of Dad's antics and I called you crying on the floor of my dorm hall. You were driving home from an open house and talked to me for 2 straight hours never questioning my thoughts or feelings. You just listened. You have always been such an amazing listener and I now regret making fun of you for that stupid "uhuh" noise you make when someone is telling you a story. I miss that now. You told me that you couldn't make a decision for me and I needed to follow my heart. I told you about my "year in Peru" and you immediately wanted to know more. You were there when I verbally committed, called me minutes after I bought my ticket with Lizzy, every errand, our final dinner together, the airport sendoff and every minute after. You have always been there. Thank you for that. 

      Not only have you always been there for me, supporting every decision...you want to make sure I am happy. Obviously I inherited my obsession with happiness from you, but most people don't understand how amazing it was growing up with a Mom like you. Whatever obstacle our family encountered, you approached each one with the same attitude. "The universe takes care of us", is what you would constantly say. Now more than ever, I truly believe that the universe does indeed take care of me and all of humanity. What once was a mission trip to volunteer in Peru is now the greatest adventure of love I have ever experienced. I have felt it all here, especially intense happiness. Every problem I have ever had, you have gotten to the root of by asking, "Well, are you happy?" And this trip is just like every other moment. You constantly ask me on skype...are you happy? And of course, I answer with 1,000% YES! 

        After these last couple of months, I have realized you were right all along. You have always known that it's the smallest things in life that generate the most happiness, laughter really does improve any mood, it's okay to cry (especially during happy moments), to be grateful for how healthy I am, to follow my passion even if it means deviating from the norm, to follow my heart, to be full of life and never let anyone make decisions for me. You have always know that life is a gift and should be celebrated. So, I am not only volunteering, learning or experiencing...BUT CELEBRATING :]

I've had the time of my life
No I never felt this way before
Yes I swear it's the truth
And I owe it all to you
'Cause I've had the time of my life
And I've searched through every open door
'Til I found the truth
And I owe it all to you

    No other lyrics could describe the way I feel about you and my adventure more perfectly than those. I am truly having the time of my life here. I have never ever felt so much love, happiness and passion. AND I OWE IT ALL TO YOU! Seriously Mom. Thank you so much for helping me open every door last year and allowing me to follow my passion. 

I love you times 20 billion and thank you so much for everything! HAVE AN AMAZING BIRTHDAY!!! And I will see you soon :] 

-Teaner :]

(and don't worry...I have a legitimate blog post in the works! So quit freaking out)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH :] LOVE YOU!