Dear Mom-

I have realized over the past 8 ½ years as a mother that there are many, many times where I feel invisible.  No matter how many times I ask, beg, and plead for the kids to put their clothes in the hamper, I still find myself picking up dirty socks from under the bed and putting them there myself.  I make countless meals without being thanked, clean laundry is folded and put away without anyone noticing that it took the entire day to do it, and as soon as I clean up the front room I no sooner turn around to realized that a 2 year-old-tornado left devastation in her wake.

It is the life of a mother.

So, from one mother to another, I have been thinking what I can give you for your birthday to show you how much I love you.  I don’t have a fancy trinket or trip planned (although I wish we had the latter!), but I do have this- I want you to know that I have been paying attention.

I HEARD you bear your testimony during sacrament meeting about our Savior Jesus Christ.

I LISTENED during family home evenings as we talked about covenants and serving one another.

I WATCHED as you read your scriptures in the morning while you were curling your hair.

I NOTICED when you put on your dress, picked up your snakeskin temple bag and headed to the temple.

I SAW you make meal after meal after meal in our kitchen so we could gather together to eat as a family.

I ENJOYED yearly family vacations where you planned and organized and showed us new things.

I AM TRYING to live up to the example you set for me.  Every day.  Thank you, mom.  It may not have seemed like it at the time, but I was paying attention to what you were teaching me.  We all were.

Happy Birthday.

I love you.

Amylee