My mother has always been there for me. Whether it was when I was a little girl, a teenager confused with life, college student trying to follow her dreams, or a new wife and mother,  Mom has always been right there or a simple phone call away. Last year, I mentioned that she will always be my hero. My mother was unselfish and sacrificed a lot  for her children because she wanted what was best for us. Still, there is more that comes to mind as I sit here with tears streaming down my cheeks. Once again on her birthday, I recall how my mother saved my little guy by breathing life back into JSL on that terrible night in February 2008.

Mom has shown me how to be an advocate for myself and my family. Mom stayed home with my younger brother and me when we were growing up. She helped to arrange play groups with friends, take me to endless swim lessons, watch at softball games, and was the leader of my Girl Scout troop. My mother was the one that always stood up for us when she knew there was something wrong at school or beyond. She made sure that each vacation we went on had something educational involved and always stopped to tell us the proper names of everything scientific (and I do mean EVERYTHING).

Today my mother is celebrating a big birthday. Recently, we have been talking about this milestone in her young life. You see, both my Nana and Papa passed away quite young. I think this birthday is hitting her hard and while I am typing this it is having a similar feelings. Just thinking too much makes my brain and heart hurt.

For this Aloha Friday please send a message to my mother on her special day in the comments. Thanks!

Dear Mom,

Happy Birthday! Please know that no matter how we may disagree from time to time, I love you with all of my heart. You have given so much to me and I owe you for all that you have taught me. We are all going to continue to work together, as a family, so we have many more fun filled years with you. I want and need you to be there for all of us. The boys constantly talk about seeing Nana and spending time with you. It was so wonderful to see you and Dad with us and so happy at Disney World. It brought back so many wonderful memories from our Disney adventures when I was little. We will have many more fabulous memories, I promise you. Thank you for being such a great mother and Nana. I love you <3

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the Mr. Linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #51