Dear Mommy,

Thank you. Seriously, from the absolute bottom of my heart, I could never thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me in the past 19 years of my life. You carried me inside of you for nine months, gave me life, held me when I cried, cleaned me up when I got sick, literally wiped my butt, played with me when I was alone, gave me a little sister so that I could have a best friend, did my hair, picked out my outfits, took care of me when I got hurt, gave me two puppies to love endlessly, made my lunch, drove me around everywhere, sent me to school, instilled me with good morals and virtues, showed me what a woman of God looked like, showed me what a good mother, sister, daughter, aunt, and cousin looks like. I could go on for days. You did everything, and more, for me and Elizabeth, not because you had to, you didn’t have to do any of this to be a good mom, but because you wanted to and because you love us so much. And we love you back. You still do all of this for me, now, even at 18 years old because I will always be your baby. You’re always just one phone call away when I’m all the way in Delaware and you can’t be with me physically. I love our phone calls so much too because I get to catch up with your life and you get to catch up with mine, and it’s like we’re really together all the time.

I know this Mother’s Day is going to be hard for you. It’s the first one without your mom. I can’t even begin to imagine what that feels like. But I know that I’m going to be just a phone call away and Elizabeth will be right there with you. I think she would want you to celebrate yourself and everything you are as a mother, just as she did when she was still with us. No matter how many years pass, she’ll always be celebrating with us.

Anyway, I wanted to write this in the hopes of making you smile even from miles away. I guess it really is true when they say distance makes the heart grow fonder because after being away from home, I love and appreciate you on a whole other level. Once again, thank you for absolutely being the best mother I could ever ask for. Thank you for always being there for me, now and forever. I love you more than words can say.

Love, your baby girl.