This is an official shout-out to my beautiful mother, who turns 55 today. Mom, I tried to find a picture of you to put on here, but the photos I have, you’d kill me for putting them on. 🙂

My mom has had a full and interesting life, and has faced her share of troubles. But she gave her heart to the Lord a long time ago, and ever since has truly become more and more beautiful each and every year. God is doing an amazing thing in her, preparing her to be His bride. Yes, her body is getting weaker (arthritis, high cholesterol, teeth issues, hearing loss, sore toes :-), incontinence–ha! Sorry about that, Mom!), but her spirit just keeps getting stronger. She is so excited to turn 55 today because that means she’ll qualify for a senior citizen discount at IHOP and that would just tickle her pink. That’s my mom. We have had some pretty great conversations lately, including one yesterday where we were both laughing so hard that she was begging me to stop (largely because I was inducing one of those medical issues above, and no I’m not talking about sore toes).

You are a really special mother and friend and grandmother, and we are so blessed to have you in our lives.

Happy birthday, Mom! I love you!