Happy Birthday, Mawmaw.

I love you so much and I figured this was the best way to show it.

Thank you for all the things you have done for me.

Thank you for everything you have sacrificed, so that I could have everything I needed and most of what I wanted.

Thank you for all the late nights of driving me back and forth from dance and all the years you drove me back and forth from band and football games. Thank you for all the miles you have traveled just to see me perform and believing in me when I didn't think I could do it.

Thank you for all your encouraging words. Thank you for standing up for me when I had bullies. Thank you for teaching me how to be kind. Thank you for teaching me how to love. Thank you being understanding when I brought back bad grades in math after giving my 100 percent best and still getting a 'C.' Thank you for your patience.

Thank you for all the hours we spent watching "Say Yes To The Dress," "Four Weddings" and anything on HGTV. Thank you for all the birthday parties. Thank you for all the hours we spent in the kitchen baking. Thank you for everything you have taught me, it's too much to list.

Thank you for loving all my friends through the years just as you love me. Thank you for being there for me when I needed you 10 years ago. Thank you for changing my life and teaching me respect and how to be independent. Thank you for teaching me how to handle money and about owning a business.

Thank you for teaching me responsibility and to take credit for my actions, good or bad. Thank you for always encouraging me to follow my dreams and supporting me in whatever I do. Thank you for all the times you told me "no." It was always what was best for me. Thank you for all the times you let me tell my friends that you said "no" because I didn't really want to go somewhere or do something even though you said I could go. Thank you for all the times you did make me go even if I didn't want to because I ended up enjoying myself.

Here is a "thank you" for all the times you didn't receive a "thank you" or appreciation for something you did for me. Also, I'm sorry for all the times I didn't appreciate the things you did for me because I never realized at the time how important it was.

There's so many more things I could thank you for, but that would make this article way too long...

So, instead, I'll just say thank you for every little and big thing you've done for me and with me even the things that I might not have noticed. Thank you for all the love you have given me.

I love you and happy birthday, Mom.