Every year, I have a birthday. (I know, weird, right?) Every year, several people send me birthday cards and even gifts! Dozens of kind friends write on my facebook page wishing me a happy birthday. But, in reality, I wouldn’t be here today, were it not for my amazing mother.

As I look around at today’s world, and I see unwed mothers by the hundreds, hear about abortions being performed daily, or the staggering divorce rate, I bow my head and thank my Heavenly Father for allowing me to be born, not aborted. I thank Him for my parents who, though not saved when they married, they married before they had children! I thank Him for their unwavering love for one another despite some very hard trials during their 40 + years of marriage. I am so blessed!

Thirty-three years ago today, I came into the world a week early. I was due to be born on April 1st, April Fool’s Day, and everyone in my family was relieved that I didn’t come on my due date! 🙂 My Mother was teaching at Jessieville High School at that time, as a Special Education teacher. I was born the Saturday before her spring break began, which worked out well since she’s a  hard worker and hates being absent from her commitments. She was able to rest on her spring break and then take one more week off and go back to work.

As soon as I came home, I cried every night, all night for three months! I had a bad case of colic and couldn’t sleep. My parents took turns rocking me to sleep, then whoever had me, slid down from the rocker onto a pre-made pallet on the floor and slept with me on their chest. Then, the one who slept miserably on the floor had to go to work all day long! This lasted until June. I know, I was a blessing from the start!

As I grew, so did my stubborn nature. In my childhood, I talked back, disobeyed, and spoke words which shouldn’t have been spoken. As I stumbled through my teen years, I questioned, shed tears for no reason, debated, and needed a lot of talks. I spent my share of time getting spankings, lectures, and many hours in prayer with my parents. I got a lot of spankings, because, well, I told you! I was stubborn!

As a child, I heard the saying that “You’ll thank me for this [spanking] someday.” and I never believed it. But, it’s true! I appreciate it even more now that I am a mother myself.  I am truly thankful for each moment of discipline (which was not as much spanking as it was instruction) that my parents gave me. Most of this discipline fell upon my Mom’s shoulders to mete out. She had to be strong and wise. She comforted me during the emotional-roller-coaster days of my teen years. She listened to me, she laughed with me, she loved me with all that was in her.

As an adult, my relationship with my Mom is the best relationship I have. She lets me “unload” on her, she shares her thoughts and listens to mine. She’s always available for lunch. She has encouraged me in some of my darkest hours. Since my Dad’s sudden death, she has kept going for the Lord, not wavering once. She has been an example of godliness and faithfulness.

As you can see from the kind of child I was, loving me and training me was hard to do! The only kind thing I did for her was being born the week before her spring break, and I didn’t really do that myself! 🙂

Thank you, Mom, for my life. I love you..