My Momma

Today is my mom's birthday!

I have always had a really difficult time 

expressing my love for my mom.

I frequently feel like any words I might try to use to describe my feelings

completely miss the mark.

I don't feel comfortable when my easy ability at writing gets cramped.

So I have had a tendency of avoiding

"I love my mom" posts.

But today, I'm going to try my hardest.

My mom, Holly, is the woman who gave my my sense of adventure.

She has always been finding adventure, for as long as I can remember.

Every family vacation she talked about adventures, and sight-seeing,

and experiencing the world.

She was the first one I told about my desire to move across the country

to do the Disney College Program,

because I knew she would immediately support that adventure.

Taken just before my flight to Orlando

Big smile + squinty eyes = lots of excitement

I am so lucky to have a mom who gets so excited about things.

I'm also lucky to have a mom who is so sentimental.

She jokes that she can cry on demand

(and she really can)

but it has been so wonderful to be raised around a woman who so deeply cares for people.

She has always been, and will always be, my biggest supporter.

I don't look anything like my mom when it comes to the outsides

My nose is my dad's, my forehead is my dad's, even my earlobes are my dad's.

But the stuff on the inside?

The sentimentality, the desire to care for people, the 'soft heart'

I'm exactly like her. 

I wanted to be a nurse as a kid, 

because I loved hearing her stories about caring for patients 

as a radiation therapist. 

And now here I am,

almost done with nursing school!

LPN graduation

My mom gave me my love for all things Disney.

Growing up with season passes to Disneyland definitely set the foundation

for my lifetime fixation.

I remember how excited I was for my 20th birthday present…

3 day park tickets to Disneyland with my mom.

We had such a blast together!

It's one of my favorite trips to Disneyland I've ever had.

She has always been so good at finding awesome things to do.

Life is never dull with my mom around!

Another awesome perk of having my mom as my mom?

Her best friend Alisa, 

who happens to be my middle name's namesake.

But I digress.

I have some pretty awesome parents,

if you ask me.

They have given me such a wonderful life.

Mom, I can not tell you how grateful I am that you are my mom!

My mom is such a goofball,

Though she usually tries to hide it.

I still feel like I've completely missed the mark 

on explaining just how awesome my mom is.

I hope I've at least hit the target.

Not a bullseye,

but at least made contact with the board.

Above all else,

She is certainly the heart of our family!

I love you so much mom,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Love,

Courtney