Dear Mom...

Dear Mom,

Happy Mother's Day. Today is your day, along with all of the other wonderful mothers out there in the world. I could think of no other better way to make you feel special on your special day than by dedicating a blog post to you. I know that your love language is words of affirmation so this is the perfect way to show my appreciation and love for you.

I really don't know where to start. I obviously want to thank you for being the best mom in the world but there are so many amazing moms. As much as this post is all about appreciation for you, it's also for all of the other wonders mothers. I have been blessed to have other moms play a motherly role in my life as well. So this is also a post for them.

The earliestr memories I have about you mom is your work ethic. When Jack and I were little I remember spending a lot of time at grandma and grandpas because you and dad were at work and you were getting your Masters I believe. Like I said, that was a long time ago. I remember when you would come pick us up every afternoon after work and you would be joyful, energized and excited to pick us up. I didn't understand the strength that took when I was little, but when I sit here and write this it shows how strong willed you are.

Fast forward a few years and I begin playing sports. When you and dad first began taking us to parks and recreation sports you probably didn't realize what you were getting yourselves into. I remember you being so proud of how I would do, and you taught me humility. No matter how good or bad I did you were always encouraging to me. No matter if we won or lost, I knew that you wouldn't be upset. Parks and recreation was just a breeze compared to what was coming next.

But before we go to what happens next...let's forget you homeschooled me until 5th grade. You worked and you were my teacher. It was the best. A lot of the things that I learned when I was growing up was because of what you and dad had taught me. You guys made schooling fun. Even though I had to opportunity to be done with my school work before noon everyday, you made sure that Jack and I were active. You didn't let us be lazy. At a young age you helped me build healthy active habits.

In 5th grade it was time for me to go to public school. This is also the year when travel basketball, baseball, and soccer started. I will never forget all of the trips to practices and games in our old mini van of which my mom drove it like a boss. My mom was such a great sport through all of this and she probably didn't think she would be driving to games until I was 22. I was so thankful for all of the fun trips that we had to games back then. We ate so much fast-food because it was cheap, fast, and filled us up. Plus that was the age where I could absolutely smash McDonald's and it wouldn't affect me at all.

When jr. high began and I started to grow up I was beginning to hang out away from home more often. I was starting to get to the age where I would go to my friends houses to hang out and what I would hear from them was different than what I was used to at home. People are different and I was beginning to learn that at a young age. So now that I was around other people I began to want to sometimes do things differently than my parents would've wanted me to. This led to me disobeying my parents and the rules that they had for me.

I remember thinking that my parents were so strict because it seemed like they didn't want me to do anything. I used to get so mad about it. Nothing ever seemed like it was fair for me. A lot of those thoughts came because I was young and immature.

I remember being 13 and I still couldn't waited PG-13 movies. When I first got a phone in 8th grade they returned it. I had to put my phone on the kitchen counter every night until I was 18. My curfew always seemed to be earlier than everyones. Every time I had a grade below an 80 they took my phone. I don't share those for a pity party, I share those things because although it sucked, those things paid off in the way that they raised me. Every time I look back, I am so thankful for how strict they were.

The crazy thing is, it wasn't like I was a bad kid. I wasn't getting in trouble for crazy things, what got me in the most trouble was when I would lie about something.

High school. I couldn't believe I was already in high school. I loved how my mom prepared me for it. I was confident going into high school because of the way she and my dad had raised me. In high school things got even more busy. This is when AAU basketball took over our Spring's and Summer's. My mom really showed her superhero powers throughout my high school years. The love, the support, the prayers, the driving, etc. She did it all.

In high school was when I really saw the love that my mom had for Jesus first hand. Every night when I would walk up the stairs to go to bed, I would see her reading her Bible and journaling. There were so many times where I would walk by her and wonder how and the world she was able to read it every night. In high school I was't good at picking up my Bible and reading it but I was still motivated from watching my mom do it. It is amazing how one little thing can stick out when she was amazing at doing everything.

One of the greatest things I appreciated about mom when I was in high school is that she encouraged me to make my faith my own and not just based off of hers. She wasn't forcing me to read or do devotions, she was always encouraging me. If I would've been forced to do any of those things I wouldn't be the man that I am today.

Now high school wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. There were times were I lied and I got in big trouble. There were two things that stick out to me when I think about the times I have gotten in trouble. The very worst thing to ever hear is when your mom tells you that she is disappointed in you. Of all the things that anyone could ever say to me, there is nothing that makes me more sad than that. Looking at it from her eyes, I would've been disappointed in myself as well. The other thing that comes to mind when I would get in trouble is the kitchen counter. At our house, as soon as you walk through the garage and the laundry room, you open the door and there is the kitchen. When I knew I was in trouble and had to come home, there was nothing more terrifying then my mom sitting on the kitchen counter waiting for me. I say that out of humor because looking back at it, I laugh and I am sure that she will too when she reads this.

I will never forget when I was a junior in high school and I lied about what I was doing after a basketball game and my mom and dad found out. All I went to do was hang out with a girl and was too scared to ask so I lied and I disobeyed them. This was the second time I had lied about something in like a time frame of two months so they had enough of it. As a junior I was starting to make a name for myself on the court. My parents were so mad, I wasn't allowed to hang out with any friends and I couldn't drive anywhere for like 3 weeks. I remember getting dropped off at school by my mom everyday while all my friends got to drive. Getting picked up from basketball practice was so embarrassing because all my friends would walk straight to their cars. But I learned my lesson. I learned to admit when I was wrong and when I disobeyed my parents. Because of what I learned from that, I have no problem ever admitting when I am wrong about something and I screw up. That has been one of the most valuable things that I have learned from my mom and obviously my dad as well.

College. I was moving away to Mishawaka, IN to attend Bethel College. (Bethel University) I was ready for this stage in my life. It was so exciting for me. It didn't seem real that I was moving away from home. I could write a book about this part but I will try to keep it short. When I think about my four years at college, I got closer and closer to my mom as I got older. Right now we are closer than ever. This year, I made more phone calls home than I have made throughout my first three years. I think the key to all of that happening was really being open and honest with them about some of the things I was going through and realizing my parents were not only my parents but my best friends. I was finally opening up about so many things. I have never been good about sharing the details of everything with my mom and I am sure if you asked her and would tell you the same thing. It used to take a lot for my mom to get information out of me and now it just flows naturally.

I couldn't be more thankful for all the driving they have done all over the Midwest for my basketball games. I think in my four year they might have missed no more than 5 games. There was nothing better than being able to run out on the floor for a game and see your family sitting up in the same spot night after night. This past year, they didn't miss a single game.

Mom, I hope that this all made sense to you. You have been everything I could have ever dreamed and prayed for in a mother. You loved me when I made you proud and you loved me when I disappointed you. You have taught me more things about life than you will ever understand. You motivate me, inspire me, and make me want to be a better person everyday. The love you have for people is exactly what Jesus wants from us everyday. So many of my traits come from you. Love for people, love for missions, love of life, and love of relationships. You truly show love like Jesus in all that you do. I am so proud of you as well. The mission work you have done in Toledo and oversees is inspiring. You showed me that people right here in our backyard need to be shown the love of Jesus just as much as those oversees. You are loved by so many. My friends think you're awesome and when they get to meet you they tell me all about it. I couldn't be more blessed to have you as a mother. You are amazing because you love Jesus most. Your love for Jesus and your relationship with Christ is what makes you so special and such a delight to everyone who knows you. There is really no secret it that. I have seen the love of Jesus pour out of you from day 1 up until now. I love you mom.

Now I hope this post made sense to you and wasn't all over the place. I rapidly tried to write about my entire life and how awesome my mom has been in only a couple hundred words. I hope you enjoyed it.

To the moms who have been like as second mom...I appreciate you all so greatly. The love you have shown someone who isn't even your real son has been inspiring to me. Thank you for all of the encouragement. The food, goodies, snacks, meals, and everything you have done for me. Moms are awesome. There is something special about the heart of a mom that only mothers will understand, but to get a taste of it everyday is something that I will always cherish.

Moms you rock...

With love,