For my Mom...

This morning on my way to school I had my iPod hooked up through the stereo and had it on the "shuffle" feature. This means I was listening to the most random collection of music ever put together. For example, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" was followed by "Jingle Bells" by Natalie Cole which was followed by "Take Me out to a Dancehall" by Pat Green.

Then, a song by Mark David Manders came on called "Halloween Costumes and Leftover Pizza." I must admit, my crazy little brother got me hooked on Texas Country music and loaded a bunch of songs on my iPod that I haven't listened to yet. This is one of those songs. I have to be in the mood for Texas country music, and something about this song made me not skip it this morning. I'm so glad I listened...

The song is about childhood memories... and that got me thinking about some of mine. I guess it has taken me all this time so far to explain my train of thought... I'm such a rambler.

SO HERE GOES... a list of childhood (and beyond) memories for my mom... Happy Mother's Day!

• Jay thinking he was Davy Crockett incarnate... and Mom having his picture made in the Davy Crockett suit (and stinky coon-skin cap) with Old Betsy :)
• hanging out at Camp Blue Haven while Mom and Dad were teachers... this was before I was old enough to be a camper
• driving to California to go to Disney Land in our brand new mini-van with a cooler between the seats
• summers back and forth with my cousin, Julie
• Mom came up with all these crafts for us to do... one year we made dolls
• raising rabbits
• getting T.P. and Fannie for our birthdays in 1991 at Sweet Linda's house
• my "Jewelry Party" birthday party
• another birthday in high school that was one of those "Host your own Mystery" parties
• Mom, Dad, and Linda dressed up as nerdy teachers
• decorating the house for Christmas each year
• especially the year Jay and I decided to do it ourselves
• the anniversary dinner Jay and I made for Mom and Dad... Jay drew a goofy mustache on himself to be the "waiter"
• the summer that Mom and Linda spent all those weeks in Dallas getting their Realtor licenses
• Dad and I alternated cooking nights... he made spaghetti, I made macaroni and cheese
• family get-togethers with all my aunts, uncles, and cousins
• home perms... these became known as "boys night out"
• Mom and Gui Via dressing up as Raggedy Ann and Andy
• the rainbow painted on my wall in my bedroom in Abernathy
• eating popsicles after having my tonsils taken out
• Disney World vacation my 11th grade year (we got to miss a week of school!)
• waking up every Sunday morning to BLARING music... different almost every week (Acappella, gospel, Kids Praise... it was always whatever Mom was in the mood for!)
• Miss 67th Street pageants...
  
• taking pictures out in Daddy J's flower beds
• Christmases at the Potts' house
• The cousins re-enactment of the Nativity! :) (we even got away with a baby GIRL for baby Jesus!)

I could list these on and on... but I do have a job to do! I love you Mom... My appreciation for all you did for me has a whole new meaning this year. You truly are the greatest! Happy Mother's Day.