This is a love letter for a very special person in my life: my "mama llama." The article is for Mother's Day, but the reasons why I'm thankful for her are for every day, for the last 20 years. I don't say it nearly often enough, and I'm so glad we've gotten so close even though I'm hundreds of miles away.

Here are just a handful of reasons we should all be thankful for our Moms today

1. For taking care of me

Whenever I'm sick, you're there with Sprite and Saltines. If I'm having a bad day, you're sending cookies to my door and you talk to me on the phone for an hour until we sort everything out.

2. For feeding me

I don't think I could ever say thank you enough for this one. Not only did you feed me for 18 years, but you did teach me to fend for myself, which I am grateful for.

3. For going on adventures with me

Paris and Rome will be hard to beat, but I have no doubt we'll get around to it sometime soon.

4. For being my personal photographer

Every soccer game, ballet recitals, graduation, you name it, you have photos of me. Even during those awkward years that I wish I could forget about.

5. For visiting me at school

I go to school in essentially the middle of nowhere, and yet you still manage to visit me once a semester. If that's not love and dedication, I don't know what is.

6. For treating my friends like they're your kids, too

It's hard admitting you miss your parents when you're off at college, but I'm proud to have a mom that all of my friends look forward to spending time with.

7. For supporting me and my big dreams

First, it was being an artist who only painted "tree zebras", then ballet, then film school, and finally law school. You've been there every step of the way, holding a paintbrush or a pointe shoe or whatever else my heart desired.

8. For taking care of my dog (and my brothers)

There's no one I trust more to take care of my Sage and my brothers of course. I love coming home and seeing how well you've treated them.

9. For ALWAYS knowing what's best

You have been the best judge of friends, boys, and decisions from day one. I don't know what it is, but you're always right. I look around at the wonderful people in my life, and I know they're here because you taught me who deserves to be here and who doesn't.

10. For being my best friend

I regret any moment I've ever taken you for granted because I know you've always had my best interests at heart. You make every second of the 12-hour drive worth it, and I can't wait until I'm home to spend the summer with you.

I love you, Mama Llama.