-Thank you for raising Lindsey and Lauren with such unconditional love.  They've learned so much from you as a mothers and wives.
-Thank you for being a wonderful Nana to the boys.  They will miss your guidance and humor.
-Thank you for always giving me the 100% truth, though not always the easiest to hear.
-Thank you for being such a good wife to Tim.  He's such a great Papa to the boys, and a huge role model for me.
-Thank you for always letting me sleep on your couch (not sure what the hell it is with that couch and its ability to knock me out within five minutes).
-Thank you for the banana bread, cookies and assorted baked treats.
-Thank you for laughing at my often crude jokes.  "As a fellow fallen Catholic, Susan, you'll love this joke..."
Thank you. Thank you.  Thank you.

I'm missing you a lot today, mom.  And what is flooding into my mind are all the conversations about regular life things.  Like new tablecloths, or plants, or how proud you were of Sawyer, or how you want me to extend my house to make an office, or Colin's new tooth, or a bruise on my leg, or a funny thing Wilson or Timmy did, or Dad being on the roof, or buying groceries with Raleys e-cart, or how I haven't bought bar stools yet.  We've had thousands of these conversations with you, all of us. Lauren, Dad, Aunt Patty, Aunt Shelley, Aunt Lily, Val, Cyndi...the list goes on and on.  We all had so many of them with you.  And not enough.  Or maybe enough.  It just does't feel that way today.  I love you.

I learned a lot of things from my mom, and I’m sure you did too. I’m going to list some of them here, and add more as they come to me...please feel free to do the same.

• I learned to always help the underdog. Not just root for him or her, but to lend a hand.
• I learned to jump in and help.
• I learned that if there’s an opportunity to wear sequins, you should.
• I learned to stand up for what’s right.
• I learned to cherish my children.
• I learned to always take a jacket (I’m still working on this). I was horrified when she made me take a coat to a homecoming dance (it was pouring down rain, but still...).
• I learned that leftover day is the best dinner.
• I learned that it’s not okay to expect perfection from myself or others. Still working on this, too.
• I learned it’s important to work hard, but it’s also important to snuggle up with a book and relax.
• I learned that I didn’t need to earn love from my family.
• I learned that my mom was always proud of me, no matter what I did, no matter how small, or weird, or how far I diverged from her expectations.
• I learned that my mom always “loved me more”.
• I learned that measuring while cooking or baking is wholly unnecessary. Most of the time.
• I learned that although she didn’t leave me a plan, she did give me the skills to figure it out.
• I learned that earrings are a must.
• I learned that family is the most important.
• I learned that while living without my mom is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, I’m thankful I had 39 precious years with her, learning, laughing, loving.
• I learned it’s important to decorate walls in your home