You never realize it until you get older, but Mothers are truly blessings in disguise. They put your life before theirs always, they give their last so you can have everything you want and need, they protect you, feed you, and keep you warm at night. For a long time in my life, it was just my mom, my brother and I because my dad was constantly working or deployed by the Army.

I never saw it before, but my mom did everything in her power to make sure that my brother and I grew up having the best childhood possible and I owe everything I have and am now to her. It's terrible that many times, you don't truly value your family until you pack up all your things, and leave the house. Thankfully, my time away at school has made me appreciate and love my family more than I ever have before.

I miss so many things from back home, including my Husky and my German Shepard puppy, my little brother, my besties Dinah and Mimi, my dad but the person I miss the most is my mom. My dear Mami. My twin (if you know her, you know I look exactly like my mom), my first best friend, my partner in crime when it comes to terrorizing my brother and my father, my counselor and so much more.

Mami, you were my very first best friend. My earliest memories involve you and I doing something together, whether it was you taking me somewhere, watching you take care of my little brother after you had him, and taking me to all my soccer practices, ballet recitals and dance practices and the obnoxious amount of after school activities I participated in throughout middle school and high school.

First off, I want to say thank you. Thank you for taking me to all those practices, for taking me to school when I would miss the bus, for letting me break down and cry when I felt my first heart break, for going on movie dates, pedicure dates, and lunch dates with me when you get off work. Thank you for laughing with me, crying with me, and all the lectures that turned into lessons because you barely let me get away with anything. You've shown me it's okay to be emotional and cry over everything, because I did get it from you after all, and it's okay to be myself even if no one likes it.

Second, I want to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all those years as a pre-teen/teenager where we argued over the pettiest stuff and I probably said some really hurtful things. I'm sorry for leaving you some nights to go hang out with my friends instead of staying in to watch Criminal Minds with you. I'm sorry for being mad at you because you wouldn't let me stay out past 11 even though I was almost 18, not knowing that you were just looking out for me and my safety.

All in all, I want to say, thank you for being Superwoman to my little brother and I. Thank you for always putting us before you, thank you for passing on your amazing genes, and for being just a quick phone call away when I need you the most. I hope you know you're the most important person in my life, and I love you so very much.

Your family is really all you have and I hope everyone reading this acknowledges that and calls their mom or their dad, or anyone who is special to you, to catch up and tell them how much you love them. Anything can happen and it is best to start appreciating what you have in front of you before it's too late.