To My Mom

I don't know if you know exactly how much you mean to me but I'll try my best. Since you've been a mom for 23 years I'll give you 23 reasons why you are so amazing:

1) You are my mom. Nobody else has that title. Nobody will ever fill that position in my life except you. I'm grateful that you are mine. I don't know if you remember when I got my patriarchal blessing, but it said that I chose my parents. I chose you and I don't think I could've made a better use of my agency

2) You dress super cute. You never got into frump mom stage and I love it. You have a good sense of fashion and really cute clothes (cute enough for me to want to borrow your clothes and that's saying something).

3) Your hair. You rock your hair like nobody else could. I always like when you go and get it done because you tweak it in some small way but still has the jen-ness to it. Sometimes its darker, lighter, longer, shorter, a bit spikier, whatever. I wish I could have a cool hairstyle like you.

4) You blue mascara. I stole some one day and now I have tube of my own and every time I wear it somebody says how awesome it is. I always smile and tell them that my mom wears it all the time. I don't think I've ever met another mom who would even try wearing colored mascara.

5) Your laugh. You have your cackle, the screech, the hiss/snake and many others I'm yet to title (the people that live with you know what I'm talking about). We may mock you a little bit but it wouldn't be the same if you just had generic laugh.

6) Your love for helping others. You may tire yourself out doing it but really I don't know anybody else who gives as much as you do. I particularly think about Christmas time when our house is filled with clothes, toys, school supplies for so many kids that just don't have anything. Most people talk about helping others, but you do it.

7) Your husband. I'll expound more on father's day but I don't think you could have made a better choice.

8) You always let us pursue our dreams. No matter how short lived they were you exposed us to a variety of hobbies and activities. But the best part about it is you never forced us to do something just because you wanted us to. You always let us choose. You supported us when we wanted to do it, and you supported us when we said we didn't want to do it anymore.

9) This one is just a thank you for taking care of our pets. We know we said we'd do all the work, and obviously we're not perfect. So thanks for helping us out.

10) You taught us how important family is. Taking trips every summer halfway across the country really meant a lot to me. I wouldn't have the relationships I do with my relatives that I would have today if you weren't willing to drive all the way, by yourself, with a car full of grumpy complaining kids, listening to mulan and newsies over and over.

11) The little things. Maybe it was the treats after school got out, being woken up to a starbucks strawberry frappaccino, my own winter wonderland room, or taco bell at lunch during high school. Whatever it was, I noticed, and I knew it was because you loved me.

12) You love for crossword puzzles. I think I got it from you. My pastimes now are filled with crosswords and sodoku and I thank you.

13) Thank you for cooking for all these years. Now getting to that stage in my life where I know soon I won't be taken care of but taking care of everyone else I'm beginning to appreciate this a whole lot more. It cracked me up when we'd say we liked something and get it more frequently until we told you that maybe we try something else. I love all of your mom meals.

14) Momma Taylor. My friends loved you. They felt like you were a second mom and I think that just attests to how awesome of a person you are. It didn't matter who it was the instant they'd walk in the door they'd get a high-pitched sing song mom calling their name (Jordan Joy! Ben Alexander! Jeff Superchi!) followed by a giant hug, while I just sat smiling and feeling blessed that I get her everyday.

15) Game nights. I love Taylor Family Game nights. And I love our one on one Quiddler and dominoes games. period the end.

16) Getting put to bed when we were littler. I don't remember details I just remember being read a book and then getting back rubs and laid with. I know it was a sacrifice but thanks for staying with us until we fell asleep.

17) Thanks for giving me half of my stunning good looks.

18) Your love of old movies has also seemed to rub off. For the longest time I would walk in on you watching a black and white movie and just think that you were crazy and those couldn't simply be that interesting. But I get it now.

19) My middle name. It's not generic (though we may have to discuss the first name, though it is better than Courtney). It actually means something and it reminds me when I was born.

20) You are superwoman. From all your callings over the years, and doing carnivals and boyscout camps I've been blessed enough to observe how awesome you are. Not many can pull all of those things off, but you did and still can.

21) You're craftiness. Living in Utah definitely rubbed off on you. You can just create and create and create. Everything is so cute and clever and fun. If I could apprentice to your crafting for years, I would. I might constantly be bugging you for ideas and help, but hey that's what you sign up for when you got me.

22) Your testimony. We may make fun of you for crying every time you go up to the podium but your testimony of the gospel I know has helped me in gaining mine. Thank you for never letting me doubt for a second how you felt.

23) Nothing meant more over the years and has more of an impression on me than you putting us first. Nothing screams motherhood more than selflessness and you've seemed to be a natural at it from the start. You never were distracted by anything else. Whatever was happening with us was first priority. And honestly that is the only thing that I could ask for in a mom. If I am to be half the mother you are than I think I'm going to be a pretty darn good one.