hey pretty lady! can you believe you just put up with me in a foreign country for 10 days? you deserve a medal! in fact, you deserve a medal for far more than that. it always blows my mind (and everyone else’s!) that we have the same exact birthday – wild right? i know i wasn’t in your original life plan – and call me biased – but i’m pretty happy you decided to keep me around 😉

we’ve had quite the standard mother-daughter relationship where it makes me want to have some little girls of my own to cuddle up to and relate to and be bffs with but also makes me want to only have boys after what i put you through growing up! girls in their teens, man. i was no exception!

it was really when i went away to college that we became so close – you always made sure that we could talk to you about anything without judgment, and it’s pretty awesome to know we can. whether its about dating, or work, or friends, you’ve been the coolest mom making it possible for us to talk about anything with you – even things you “aren’t supposed to tell your mom”. that doesn’t exist here, and i love that about us! sometimes it surprises my friends what i tell you and what i can share with you, but i feel like, if you can’t tell your mom – who can you tell!?! what happens when you try something weird at a party?! or freak out like a psycho on your ex in public!??! you call yo’ mama, thats what!  (i haven’t done those things though they’re just like…examples…anyway….)

the past couple years have been the definition of the quote “life is what happens to you while you’re busy making plans” and although life plans have shifted and changed, you’ve been more of a trooper rolling with the punches than i could be, that’s for sure. to be honest, i was nervous but curious to see how you would take so many changes but you do so with a smile on your face and an optimistic attitude! it shows us kids (who are hardly kids anymore!) that no matter what happens, no matter when in you’re life, all you can control is yourself. and moreso- all that matters is that you keep laughing!

every community you’ve been in feels your overwhelming giving spirit – whether its the parish you’re involved in, the professional environment you work in or your social group, throughout my whole life i’ve had people pulling me aside and telling me how much my mom has done for them. the best part is knowing you don’t do these things for accolades, you do it because you feel for others in a way i wish i had in me, but i hope i’ve picked up on.

you are adventure, you are optimism, and you are giving – and for all of that, i’m so happy i could show my thankfulness to you by taking you on this trip with me for my 30th birthday, making you laugh hysterically and seeing the wonder in your eyes as you touch another part of this world. you’re like a little kid with your curiosity (and obsession with trees!!!!), wanting to know and touch and learn about everything you see and this trip has been an absolute blast!!!

if someone had told me when i was younger that we would be on this trip together and that our lives would look like they do now, i wouldn’t believe them, but i wouldn’t change any of it at all. i’m so lucky to have you as a Mom …and all my friends are lucky to have you as their Momma Debs! thank you for letting me continually embarrass you through life, and i promise never to let you down.

not even now.

because i know all the times you peed your pants in public. don’t forget that.

LOVE YOU BYEEEEEE