Dear Momma K,

Your birthday is coming up (or by the time you've seen this it may have already been passed, whoops), so I wanted to do something to commemorate it. I don't have much money, and I'm not sure you'd even want a physical gift from me, so I will give you the gift of my words (as much of a "gift" as they can be considered anyway). I've never truly thanked you for all you have done and continue to do for me. Not as if anything I can do could repay all that you've done, or even begin to paint the picture of my gratitude. Yet, here I am, attempting to do so. Human beings are silly like that.

First and foremost, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to know and love your son. Without your help, his and my relationship would most likely be based on internet communication alone. I wouldn't even begin to know the total amount of miles you have driven just so Mike and I could be together. I just know that it would be a lot of miles. You even faced treacherous and fearful road conditions to get to me and that continues to blow my mind. So thank you, for putting in an outrageous amount of effort to get me and Mike together. I don't know what I'd do without those numerous trips back and forth. I'd be a very sad turtle.

Secondly, thank you for letting me be an honorary family member. From the moment I met you, you and your family made me feel like I truly belong. Belonging is a fleeting feeling I have been searching for for quite some time now, and I had begun to think the feeling was a myth. But trust me, it's real, and I found it with your family. I hope I never overstay my welcome or betray your hospitality, and if I do, tell me and put me in my place. That is the last thing I would want to do is make you weary of me.

Thank you for being like a second mother to me. The nurturing of my well-being and very heart goes above and beyond what anyone would expect. I mentioned above how much you've driven back and forth between here and there, but you do so much more for me than just that. You answer my questions and help me with every little thing I come to you with. I haven't had a problem yet that you didn't say "I can fix that!". Being that my own mom is so far away and can't necessarily do all those things for me, I'm sure she is very grateful to you too. My whole family, really, is grateful to you. You are quite a dynamite gal, and I hope I get to continue to know you and be an honorary member of your family. Thank you so so much, and I hope you have (or had) a great birthday.

Love you lots,

-baby turtle